Stereotype Behavior in horses
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Stereotype Behavior in horses Drs.M.Kuypers Dronten University The Netherlands
Transcript of Stereotype Behavior in horses
Stereotype Behaviorin horses
Drs.M.KuypersDronten UniversityThe Netherlands
Introduction
• Monique Kuypers, equine veterinarian.• Practising equine veterinarian 15 years ,
the Netherlands and Australia.• Government official veterinarian :import
and export legislation.• Teaching equine courses: Equine
business management, Dronten Universityof applied sciences.The Netherlands.
Stereotypic behavior in horses
• What is stereotype behavior.• When does stereotype behavior occur• What is the reason stereotype behavior
occurs.• Which horses at risk?• What can we do about it.
What is stereotype behavior
Behavior that is:• Repetitive• Invariant form• Appears to have no function.
When does it occur?
• Boredom??
Do horses get bored?
When does it occur
Inadequate diet or environment.
• Inadequate diet will give oral stereotype behavior.
• Inadequate environment will givelocomotory stereotype behavior.
Possible theory
What could be a possible reason forStereotype behavior:
1. Away of coping.2. Addiction.3. Has a function
Away of coping
Environment or diet not sufficient :STRESS.Stereotype behavior may reduce stress.
• Decrease of stress hormone: cortisol• Increase of endorfine• Decrease of heart rate
Addiction
Endorfine: opiad preduced by the body in stress full situations.The animal getsaddicted to endorfines.
Stereotype horses dosed withnaloxone:opiad antagonist .
• Some decrease of performance• Some no influence
Function
• Activity of bowl reduced.• Endorfine baseline low,compaired to
normal horses• Acidity of the stomage has to be
neurtalised. Saliva is only produced duringchewing.
Preventing behavior
• Welfare is compromised
High Risk• Foals one month after weaning• Weaning management• No social contact• Thoroughbreds, 5- 15% , warmbloods 7%• Discipline, endurance low, dressage and
eventing high• Forage vs concentrates not less 6,8 kg fourage• Frequenties feeding• Time spent out of stable
Stereotype behavior
Management problem.The closer to nature the environment, the
less risk.
• Social• Locomotory• Fourage
