Abstract: The relationship between ration and behavior in horses has not been extensively studied, though it is widely thought that the type of feed fed can influence how a horse behaves. For example rations high in sugar and starch have been documented to increase young horses' reactivity to novel stimuli. Since the temperament of a horse has been linked to the ease with which it can be trained, documenting if a horse’s behavior can be altered by its ration would be of interest to the equine industry. We hypothesized that increasing the starch intake of young mustangs by addition of corn or oats to a forage-based total mixed ration (TMR) would alter their reactivity to stimuli and responsiveness to learned commands. To test this hypothesis 8 recently tamed mustangs (4 geldings and 4 fillies, one and two years of age) were used. The mustangs were divided into two groups based on age, sex and temperament. In a series of three experiments they were fed TMR cubes with or without 10% added corn free choice (Exp. 1, Fall, 2010), or a basal ration of TMR cubes free choice with morning meals of 1kg TMR cubes versus an equicaloric amount of corn (exp. 2, Spring, 2011) or oats (Exp. 3, Spring 2011) in a simple crossover design with 2 to 2.5 week adaptation periods for each trial. The horses’ trainability and reactivity to stimuli were evaluated before the treatments were initiated and after each adaptation period 60 to 90 minutes after the morning meals were fed. In the tests the horses were asked to perform a standardized series of commands (ie: walk on, turn, stop and stand still, back up), and were then confronted with a novel stimulus, which varied with each trial. A single handler (SLR) led each horse through the tests, which was then repeated on the next day using a student handler instead. Treatments were then switched and the horses were re-tested, so that each horse was tested on each feed type in all 3 experiments. Each horse’s performance was scored by 2 judges, who were both professional trainers who had been assigned 4 horses to train throughout the study. These judges scored the horses' performances as the tests were done. Each test was videotaped for further evaluation by a third judge (D. Ramnath) who was not familiar with the horses and who was blind to the ration being fed. The performances were scored using a numerical scale of 0-5, with 0=total noncompliance and 5=perfect execution of the tasks asked of the horse. There were no differences (p>0.1) in responses to commands or reactivity to stimuli between rations in any of the trials or with respect to which trainer had trained the horse. There were, however, differences (P<0.05) among horses, handlers and judges with respect to the scores. It appears that addition of a moderate amount of starchy feed to a horse's ration has less influence on the horse's trainability and reactivity than the animal's natural temperament and handler ability. KW -

Abstract: Results from studies on the social behaviour of the Icelandic horse kept in different types of groups will be presented. Most groups were studied for more than 75 hours. The groups vary in composition and in stability. Some groups include stallions (6 groups) while others breeding mares and foals (1), geldings, mares, sub-adults and foals (3), geldings, sub-adults and mares (2), geldings and mares (4), one-sex 1year olds (3) and sub-adults (1). In some of the groups the residency of individual horses was similar (stable groups) while in others the composition changed frequently or unfamiliar horses were all put together at the same time. The results show that both negative and positive interactions are more frequent in unstable groups. Also, interesting differences emerged when different group types were compared. The results are important for management and will be discussed in that context. KW -

Abstract: Recent studies have tested the ability of horses to understand human gestures. But even at the moment results are rather contradictory. This study was aimed at analyzing ability of horses to understand, remember and use human-given cues in a delayed three choice task. After the training period, sixteen horses had to choose between three blue buckets. One of them hid a carrot. Eight horses (A-group) saw the person hiding the carrot and they had to choose the correct bucket only after the person had hidden carrot and gone away. Control group, eight horses (B-group) did not know where the carrot was, and could only choose the bucket through the use of smell or by random choice. Each horse carried out 10 trials in the same test session. A-group chose the correct bucket to a greater extent on the first try (4.37±1.42), compared to the second (3.00±0.53) and the third try (0.75±0.71). With significant differences between the first and the second try (t14=2.582, p=0.022), the first and the third try (t14=6.508, p=0.000), and between the second and the third try (t14=7.180, p=0.000). Also the B-group chose the correct bucket to a greater extent on the first try (3.87±0.83) compared to the second (3.37±1.51) and the third (1.75±1.49). Anyway, there was no differences between the first and the second try (t14=0.821, p=0.425). As regards the B-group, statistical differences were found between the first and the third try (t14=3.523, p=0.003) and between the second and the third try (t14=2.171, p=0.048). Moreover, A-group showed a negative correlation (r=-0.652, p=0.0409) between the number of correct answers at first trial, and seemed that they used human information during the first half of the trials. As the trials proceeded, the average time required to find carrot decreased, with a negative correlation (r=-0.779, p=0.0079) over trials while, the number of overturned bucket to find carrot increased over trials (r=0.770, p=0.0091). As the trials proceeded, the horses tended to choose at first the bucket where the carrot had been found in the previous trial (r=0.450, p=0.013). Any kind of correlation over trials was found in B-group. In the first trials, the horses we studied seemed to understand human given-cues information, store it and use it appropriately even in absence of a person. As trials proceeded they seemed to change strategy, searching carrots where it had been found in the previous trial. Therefore, horses could use human given-cues or other cognitive strategy depending on the time, energy cost and mental effort required to solve the task. KW -

Abstract: While detailed information exists on the cardiovascular response of horses to racing or endurance, much less is known about cardiovascular function of the rider in equestrian sports. Combined analysis of the horse-rider-team has not been investigated so far. In this study, we have analyzed changes in heart rate and heart variability (HRV) variables SDRR (standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval) and RMSSD (root mean square of successive beat-to-beat intervals) both in well-trained horses (n=9) and their highly experienced riders (n=7) during the airs above the ground (sauteurs en liberté of the Cadre noir de Saumur) at a public performance and at an identical, but non-public training session, both lasting for exactly 7 min. Heart rate in the horses and riders increased during the airs above the ground, both in training and in the public performance (p<0.001 over time). In the horses, this increase did not differ between training and public performance (training: from 35±6 in the stable to 97±17 beats/min during riding, performance: from 43±13 to 103±13 beats/min, respectively). In contrast, in the riders, the increase in heart rate was significantly more pronounced (p<0.01) during the public performance (basal value 91±10, maximum 150±15 beats/min) than during training (basal value 94±10, maximum 118±12 beats/min). With regard to HRV in horses, overall SDRR did not change significantly over time and did not differ significantly between training and performance. RMSSD decreased during both training and performance to the same extent, indicating a decrease in parasympathetic (vagal) tone. In the riders, both HRV variables decreased significantly during riding (p<0.001) and for SDRR the decrease was more pronounced (p<0.05) during an equestrian performance compared to a training session. During the performance SDRR decreased from a basal value of 5.0±1.5 to a minimum of 3.2±0.6 msec while respective values for the training session were 5.3±1.1 and 2.3±1.1 msec. Both a public performance and an identical training session of the airs above the ground in the ridden horse caused an increase in heart rate and a decrease in HRV variables. While increases in heart rate are mainly caused by physical activity, decreases in HRV also indicate a stress response. The cardiovascular response in the horses did not differ between a training session and a public performance but clear differences could be demonstrated in the riders. During a public performance, the increase in heart rate and decrease in SDRR were more pronounced than during a similar training session. In conclusion, the presence of an audience thus causes more pronounced sympathoadrenal activity in experienced riders than the same equestrian tasks ridden without spectators present. In contrast, the presence of an audience was without effect on sympathoadrenal activity in experienced horses. KW -

Abstract: Summary Reasons for performing study: The distance travelled by Australian feral horses in an unrestricted environment has not previously been determined. It is important to investigate horse movement in wilderness environments to establish baseline data against which the movement of domestically managed horses and wild equidae can be compared. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the travel dynamics of two groups of feral horses in unrestricted but different wilderness environments. Methods: Twelve feral horses living in two wilderness environments (2,000 km2 vs. 20,000 km2) in outback Australia were tracked for 6.5 consecutive days using custom designed, collar mounted global positioning systems (GPS). Collars were attached after darting and immobilising the horses. The collars were recovered after a minimum of 6.5 days by re-darting the horses. Average daily distance travelled was calculated. Range use and watering patterns of horses were analysed by viewing GPS tracks overlaid on satellite photographs of the study area. Results: Average distance travelled was 15.9 ± 1.9 km/day (range 8.1-28.3 km/day). Horses were recorded up to 55 km from their watering points and some horses walked for 12 hours to water from feeding grounds. Mean watering frequency was 2.67 days (range 1 – 4 days). Central Australian horses watered less frequently and showed a different range use compared to horses from central Queensland. Central Australian horses walked for long distances in direct lines to patchy food sources whereas central Queensland horses were able to graze close to water sources and moved in a more or less circular pattern around the central water source. Conclusions: The distances travelled by feral horses were far greater than those previously observed for managed domestic horses and other species of equidae. Feral horses are able to travel long distances and withstand long periods without water allowing them to survive in semi-arid conditions.