|
|
Hausberger, M., & Richard-Yris, M. - A. (2005). Individual differences in the domestic horse, origins, development and stability. In D. S. Mills, & McDonnell (Eds.), The domestic horse : the origins, development, and management of its behaviour (pp. 33–52). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2005.
|
|
|
|
de Boyer des Roches, A., Durier, V., Richard-Yris, M. - A., Blois-Heulin, C., Ezzaouïa, M., Hausberger, M., et al. (2011). Differential outcomes of unilateral interferences at birth. Biology Letters, 7(2), 177–180.
Abstract: Behavioural modifications, including modifications of emotional reactivity, can occur following early experience such as handling (manual rubbing). Here, we investigated the effects of unilateral tactile stimulation at an early stage on emotional reactions later on. We handled newborn foals intensively on one side of their body. This early unilateral tactile experience had medium-term effects: the reactions of foals to a human approach, when they were 10 days old, differed according to the side stimulated at birth. Fewer right-handled foals accepted contact with humans, they delayed first contact longer and they evaded approaching humans sooner than did non-handled and left-handled foals. These results raise questions concerning the organization of neonatal care in animals and humans.
|
|
|
|
Sankey, C., Henry, S., Clouard, C., Richard-Yris, M. - A., & Hausberger, M. (2011). Asymmetry of behavioral responses to a human approach in young naive vs. trained horses. Physiology & Behavior, 104(3), 464–468.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of training experience on young horses (Equus caballus)’ lateralized responses to an approaching human. The results show that the one year old untrained horses display asymmetrical responses to an approaching human, with more negative reactions (escapes, threats) when approached from the left side, while approaches towards the right shoulder elicited more positive behaviors. On the contrary, two years old trained horses reacted equally positively to approaches and contact on both sides. Our findings support those of previous studies investigating a link between emotionality and laterality and confirm the role of the left hemisphere in the processing of novel or negative stimuli. Moreover, the data underline the impact work and training can have on this laterality in horses.
|
|
|
|
Henry, S., Zanella, A. J., Sankey, C., Richard-Yris, M. - A., Marko, A., & Hausberger, M. (2012). Adults may be used to alleviate weaning stress in domestic foals (Equus caballus). Physiology & Behavior, 106(4), 428–438.
Abstract: The present study aims to investigate whether the presence of unrelated adult horses at weaning would reduce the social stress of weaning and the emergence of undesirable behaviours. We tested this hypothesis in 32 domestic foals by comparing short and medium term behavioural and physiological responses to weaning in foals maintained in homogeneous groups of peers (PW) to those of foals grouped with both peers and unrelated adults (AW). In total, three trials were conducted, which each trial consisting of one AW group and one PW group. In all foals, weaning was followed by increased vocalization, increased locomotion and increased salivary cortisol concentration. However, signs of stress were less pronounced and shorter in duration in weanlings housed with unrelated adults (e.g. whinnies: p < 0.05; salivary cortisol: p < 0.05). Only foals without adults exhibited increased aggressiveness towards peers (p < 0.05) and abnormal behaviours (p < 0.05) such as excessive wood-chewing and redirected sucking towards peers. In conclusion, introducing adults to minimize weaning stress in foals and later on aggressiveness and abnormal behaviours appears as the most promising approach to date.
|
|
