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Houpt, K. A., & Fraser, A. F. (1988). Przewalski horses. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 21(1-2), 1–3.
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Houpt, K. A., & Rudman, R. (2002). Foreword to special issue on equine behavior. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 78(2-4), 83–85.
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Houpt, K. A. (1995). Learning in horses. In The thinking horse. (pp. 12–17). Guelph, Canada: Equine Research Centre.
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Houpt, K. A. (1981). Equine behavior problems in relation to humane management. Int. J. Stud. Anim. Prob., 2(6), 329–337.
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Crowell-Davis, S. L., Houpt, K. A., & Carini, C. M. (1986). Mutual grooming and nearest-neighbor relationships among foals of Equus caballus. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 15(2), 113–123.
Abstract: A 3-year study was carried out on the developmental behavior of foals from birth to 24 weeks of age and the behavior of mares living with foals. Mutual-grooming partners of foals were primarily other foals. The peak frequency of mutual grooming occurred during Weeks 9-12, when fillies mutual-groomed 1.6 times h-1 and colts mutual-groomed 0.9 times h-1. Fillies mutual-groomed more frequently than colts (P < 0.025). Fillies mutual-groomed randomly with colts and other fillies (P < 0.05), whereas colts mutual-groomed almost exclusively with fillies (P = 0.03). At all ages studied, if a foal's nearest neighbor was not its mother, it was more likely to be another foal than would be expected if the foal was associating randomly with non-mother ponies. Fillies were more likely than expected to have a filly rather than a colt as their nearest neighbor (P = 0.01). Thus, during their first few months of life, the foals studied exhibited patterns of behavior which were consistent with the development of the usual social milieu of unmanaged adults, in which several mares form a cohesive herd with one or more stallions associating with them.
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Boyd, L. E., Carbonaro, D. A., & Houpt, K. A. (1988). The 24-hour time budget of Przewalski horses. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 21(1-2), 5–17.
Abstract: A herd of 8 Przewalski horses were observed on pasture in summer. Fifteen-minute focal animal samples were used to determine the time budget of the horses during the periods 00.00-04.00, 04.00-08.00, 08.00-12.00, 12.00-16.00, 16.00-20.00 and 20.00-24.00 h EDT. The behavioral states recorded were feeding (grazing and eating grain), nursing, drinking, standing, stand-resting, self-grooming, mutual grooming, locomoting, playing, and lying laterally and sternally. The average number of behavioral states occurring per hour, and the defecation, urination, aggression and vocalization rates were also determined. Overall, the horses spent 46.4 +/- 5.9% of their time feeding, 1.3 +/- 0.1% nursing, 0.5 +/- 0.1% drinking, 20.6 +/- 5.4% standing, 15.7 +/- 3.2% stand-resting, 1.7 +/- 0.2% self-grooming, 2.2 +/- 0.7% mutual grooming, 7.4 +/- 1.0% locomoting, 1.2 +/- 0.3% playing, 1.2 +/- 0.5% lying laterally and 4.1 +/- 3.0% lying sternally. The horses averaged 45.2 +/- 5.8 behavioral states per hour, and 0.2 +/- 0.0 defecations, 0.3 +/- 0.0 urinations, 1.5 +/- 0.3 aggressions and 0.7 +/- 0.1 vocalizations per hour. The horses spent the greatest amount of time foraging between 20.00 and 04.00 h, when the temperatures were lower. They spent 68.2 +/- 2.2% of their time between 20.00 and 24.00 h feeding, but only 31.2 +/- 2.1% of their time feeding between 08.00 and 12.00 h. Recumbent rest was most common between 00.00 and 04.00 h. As temperatures rose during the daylight hours, the horses spent more time drinking and standing, rather than grazing. Stand-resting was the most common form of rest during the day. The horses exhibited the greatest number of activities per hour from 08.00 to 20.00 h. While standing in close proximity to one another during these hours, the horses exhibited the highest number of aggressions per hour (1.9-2.4).
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Crowell-Davis, S. L., & Houpt, K. A. (1986). Techniques for taking a behavioral history. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 2(3), 507–518.
Abstract: A thorough behavioral history is essential for adequate assessment of a given case. In reviewing the chief complaint, a description of what actually happened, rather than the owner's interpretation of what happened, is required. Other behavior problems, environment, rearing history, and training need to be reviewed. Sample question sets for some common problems are given.
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Sackman, J. E., & Houpt, K. A. (2018). Equine Personality: Association with Breed, Use and Husbandry Factors. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, .
Abstract: Abstract
Temperament can be defined as innate properties of the nervous system whereas personality includes the complex behavioral traits acquired through life. Association between personality and behavior is important for breeding, selection, and training of horses. For the first time, we evaluated if equine personality components previously identified in Japan and Europe were consistent when applied to American horses. We examined the association of personality with breed, age, sex, management, training, stereotypies and misbehaviors.
Materials and Methods
The owner directed personality survey consisted of 25 questions. An online version of the survey was created. The principal component analysis (PCA) method was used to associate behavioral traits with personality components. Factor analysis with orthogonal transformation was performed on scores for personality related questions.
Results
847 survey responses were used. Quarter horses, “other” breed and Thoroughbred were the most common breeds. Three principal personality components were extracted as each behavioral trait belonged to one of these three components. Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds and Walking horses were the most nervous and Quarter horses, Paints, Appaloosas and Drafts were the least nervous. No trained discipline was significantly associated with any personality component. There were no significant associations between stereotypies and misbehaviors and nervous or curious personality.
Conclusions
For the first time in predominantly American horses, we have evaluated personality components and their association with breed, age, sex, training discipline and stereotypies. We refute links between personality and trained discipline and confirm the lack of association between nervous personality and stereotypies and misbehaviors.
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Houpt, K. A. (2012). Horse husbandry and equine stereotypies. In K. Krueger (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting (Vol. in press). Wald: Xenophon Publishing.
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Shaw, E. B., Houpt, K. A., & Holmes, D. F. (1988). Body temperature and behaviour of mares during the last two weeks of pregnancy. Equine Vet J, 20(3), 199–202.
Abstract: Average daily core body temperature and behavioural patterns of pregnant mares were studied, in search of definitive signs of parturition within 24 h of the event. Nineteen pony mares were sampled twice daily for core body temperature. A significant temperature drop, averaging 0.1 degrees C (0.2 degrees F) was observed during the day prior to parturition. Between 18.00 h and 06.00 h, during the two weeks before parturition, Thoroughbred and Standardbred mares (n = 52) spent an average 66.8 per cent of their time standing, 27.0 per cent eating, 4.9 per cent lying in sternal recumbency, 1.0 per cent lying in lateral recumbency, and 0.3 per cent walking. On the night before parturition, mares spent significantly less time lying in sternal recumbency than on previous nights and on the night of parturition all behaviour patterns except eating were significantly different from the nights of the two weeks before parturition. There was an increase in walking (5.3 per cent), lying in sternal recumbency (8 per cent) and lying in lateral recumbency (5.3 per cent) whereas standing (53.3 per cent) was decreased. In 58 observed pregnancies, 54 mares (97 per cent) foaled in a recumbent position and 50 mares (86 per cent) foaled between 18.00 h and 06.00 h.
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