Cooper, J. J., & Mason, G. J. (1998). The identification of abnormal behaviour and behavioural problems in stabled horses and their relationship to horse welfare: a comparative review. Equine Vet J Suppl, (27), 5–9.
Abstract: Many behaviours in domestic animals, such as the 'stable vices' of horses, are treated because they are considered undesirable for economic or cultural reasons, and not because the activity affects the horse's quality of life. The impact of a behaviour on the human reporter is not a function of its impact on the animal performer, and an understanding of the causes and effects of the particular activity is necessary to assess the costs and benefits of treatment. Where the behaviour is a sign of poor welfare, such as an inadequate environment, treatment can best be achieved by removing these underlying causal factors. Pharmacological or physical prevention of a behaviour can be justified only if the behaviour causes harm to the performer or to others. In these cases, prevention of the behaviour without addressing its causes is no cure and may result in its perseverance in a modified form or the disruption of the animal's ability to adapt to its environment. Where the behavioural 'problem' causes no harm and is not related to poor housing, then the education of the reporter, rather than treatment of the performer, may be the best solution.
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Summerley, H. L., Thomason, J. J., & Bignell, W. W. (1998). Effect of rider and riding style on deformation of the front hoof wall in warmblood horses. Equine Vet J Suppl, (26), 81–85.
Abstract: A rider modifies the weight distribution and dynamic balance of the horse. But what effect does a rider have on the mechanical behaviour of the hoof during each stance phase? Does riding style have any effect on this behaviour? We attempted to answer these questions using strains recorded from 5 rosette strain gauges glued to the surface of the front hooves of 4 Warmblood horses. Comparisons were made between strains with and without a rider, and when the rider was sitting, rising at a trot, or in a forward seated position. The change in strains from trot to lead or nonlead at a canter, and the effect of turning were also studied. Changing lead at a canter had as least as much effect on strain magnitudes as did turning; strains were up to 43% higher for the nonlead foot, but with little redistribution. Perhaps surprisingly, strains were significantly lower on the quarters by up to 30% with a rider than without, with a 10% increase or decrease at the toe, depending on the individual. Riding style changed strain magnitudes by up to 20% and also caused strain redistribution: strains were higher medially for sitting, and laterally for forward seat, with strains for a rising trot being more evenly distributed and intermediate in magnitude. Studying the range of, and causes of variation in hoof wall strain gives baseline data aimed, in the long term, at providing a biomechanical definition of hoof balance.
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Aronson, L. (1998). Animal behavior case of the month. Aggression directed toward other horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 213(3), 358–359.
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Waran, N. K. (1997). Can studies of feral horse behaviour be used for assessing domestic horse welfare? (Vol. 29).
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Zeeb, K. (1994). [Possibilities for the all-year free-range raising of horses]. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 101(3), 122–123.
Abstract: The ethological concept concerning supply of needs an avoidance of damage is mentioned as a possibility for the evaluation of welfare aspects related to animal management. The 250 Dulmen horses kept on 300 ha by the Duke of Croy show what must be provided for horse-keeping in a semi-natural environment: Sufficient food and water, efficient shelter as well as adequate structures for the needs of horses concerning social and comfort behaviour. A catalogue of factors, functions and facilities for this kind of horse-keeping is presented.
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Luescher, U. A. (1993). More on self-mutilative behavior in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 203(9), 1252–1253.
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McDonnell, S. M. (1993). More on self-mutilative behavior in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 202(10), 1545–1546.
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McClure, S. R., & Chaffin, M. K. (1993). Self-mutilative behavior in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 202(2), 179–180.
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Ratzlaff, M. H., Wilson, P. D., Hyde, M. L., Balch, O. K., & Grant, B. D. (1993). Relationship between locomotor forces, hoof position and joint motion during the support phase of the stride of galloping horses. Acta Anat (Basel), 146(2-3), 200–204.
Abstract: Three methods were used simultaneously to determine the relationships between the vertical forces exerted on the hooves and the positions of the limbs and hooves at the times of peak vertical forces from 2 horses galloping on a track straightaway. Vertical forces were recorded from an instrumented shoe, fetlock joint motion was measured with an electrogoniometer and the angles of the carpus, fetlock and hoof were determined from slow-motion films. At hoof contact, the mean angles of the carpus and fetlock were 181-182 degrees and 199-206 degrees, respectively. Peak vertical forces on the heel occurred at or near maximum extension of the carpal and fetlock joints. Peak forces on the toe occurred during flexion of the fetlock joint and at mean hoof angles of 28-31 degrees from the horizontal. The mean angles of the hoof from the horizontal at the time of heel contact were 6-7 degrees. Hoof lift occurred at mean carpal angles of 173-174 degrees and mean fetlock angles of 199-200 degrees.
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Colahan, P., Lindsey, E., & Nunier, C. (1993). Determination of the center of pressure of the hoofs of the forelimbs of horses standing on a flat level surface. Acta Anat (Basel), 146(2-3), 175–178.
Abstract: The pressure exerted on a flat level surface by recently trimmed, unshod hoofs of the front limbs of 23 sound, adult horses was measured using pressure-sensitive film and a specially built cassette. The horses were tranquilized and stood with one foot on the 2.9-cm-thick cassette and the other on a block of equal height. The hoofs were observed for motion during the measurement, and the developed film was examined for improper alignment of the film or slipping of the hoof. The center of pressure was located using the method of weighted proportions of Barrey. This static measurement system with a long measurement time and the number of measurements reduced the influence of variables inherent in the horses' behavior and the measuring system. The calculated point was recorded as falling medial to, lateral to or on a line bisecting the central sulcus of the frog. In the dorsal to palmar orientation the point was classified with reference to a line drawn halfway between the most dorsal and the most palmar mark on the film. Forty-six percent of the calculated centers of pressure were located in the medial heel area. Binomial analysis for large samples indicates that this was a significant variation from a random distribution. Seventy-six percent of the centers were located in or on the borders of the medial heel.
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