| Records |
| Author |
Pritchard, J.C.; Barr, A.R.S.; Whay, H.R. |
| Title |
Validity of a behavioural measure of heat stress and a skin tent test for dehydration in working horses and donkeys |
Type |
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| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
38 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
433-438 |
| Keywords |
Age Factors; Animal Welfare; Animals; Behavior, Animal/physiology; Body Temperature/*physiology; Body Weight/physiology; Case-Control Studies; Dehydration/diagnosis/pathology/*veterinary; Drinking; *Equidae; Female; Heat Stress Disorders/diagnosis/physiopathology/*veterinary; Horse Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology; Horses; Hypovolemia/diagnosis/physiopathology/veterinary; Male; Osmolar Concentration; Pakistan; Respiration; Skin/*pathology; Species Specificity; Work |
| Abstract |
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Dehydration and heat stress are serious welfare issues for equids working in developing countries. There is a lack of any standardised method or validated interpretation of the skin tent test in horses and donkeys. Owners of dehydrated and heat-stressed animals often depend on veterinary examination for identification of these conditions, leading to delays in treatment and unnecessary reliance on external sources to effect welfare improvement. OBJECTIVES: To validate a standardised skin tent test for dehydration and a behavioural measure of heat stress in working equids; and to examine the effect of heat stress and dehydration on tripping and staggering behaviour. METHODS: The study was carried out on 130 working horses and donkeys in Pakistan. Associations between skin tent and blood parameters (packed cell volume [PCV], serum total protein [TP], serum osmolality), clinical parameters, resting and drinking behaviour were examined. Heat stress behaviour (increased respiratory rate and depth, head nodding, flared nostrils, apathy) was observed in conjunction with rectal temperature. Tripping and staggering were assessed using a simple obstacle course. RESULTS: In both species, heat stress behaviour was significantly associated with increased rectal temperature (P<0.001). A positive skin tent test was not significantly associated with PCV or TP, although in donkeys it was significantly associated with lower serum osmolality (P<0.001). More animals age >15 years had a positive skin tent than those in younger age groups (P = 0.037). Very thin horses were more likely to have a positive skin tent than those in thin or moderate condition (P = 0.028). There was no significant correlation between skin tent and tripping or staggering in either species. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Heat stress behaviour is related to increased body temperature in working horses and donkeys. Owners may use this to make judgements regarding rest and cooling, precluding the need to seek veterinary attention. The skin tent test for dehydration used in this study did not show a significant relationship with PCV or TP. However, the use of blood parameters to validate the skin tent test may be confounded by anaemia, hypoproteinaemia or electrolyte depletion. Alternative methods are needed to confirm or refute the validity of the skin tent test in working equids. |
| Address |
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, UK |
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English |
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0425-1644 |
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| Notes |
PMID:16986604 |
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no |
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1784 |
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| Author |
Christensen, J.W.; Rundgren, M.; Olsson, K. |
| Title |
Training methods for horses: habituation to a frightening stimulus |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
38 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
439-443 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; *Conditioning (Psychology); *Fear; Heart Rate/*physiology; Horses/physiology/*psychology; Learning; Male; Random Allocation; *Reinforcement (Psychology); Safety; Time Factors |
| Abstract |
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Responses of horses in frightening situations are important for both equine and human safety. Considerable scientific interest has been shown in development of reactivity tests, but little effort has been dedicated to the development of appropriate training methods for reducing fearfulness. OBJECTIVES: To investigate which of 3 different training methods (habituation, desensitisation and counter-conditioning) was most effective in teaching horses to react calmly in a potentially frightening situation. HYPOTHESES: 1) Horses are able to generalise about the test stimulus such that, once familiar with the test stimulus in one situation, it appears less frightening and elicits a reduced response even when the stimulus intensity is increased or the stimulus is presented differently; and 2) alternative methods such as desensitisation and counter-conditioning would be more efficient than a classic habituation approach. METHODS: Twenty-seven naive 2-year-old Danish Warmblood stallions were trained according to 3 different methods, based on classical learning theory: 1) horses (n = 9) were exposed to the full stimulus (a moving, white nylon bag, 1.2 x 0.75 m) in 5 daily training sessions until they met a predefined habituation criterion (habituation); 2) horses (n = 9) were introduced gradually to the stimulus and habituated to each step before the full stimulus was applied (desensitisation); 3) horses (n = 9) were trained to associate the stimulus with a positive reward before being exposed to the full stimulus (counter-conditioning). Each horse received 5 training sessions of 3 min per day. Heart rate and behavioural responses were recorded. RESULTS: Horses trained with the desensitisation method showed fewer flight responses in total and needed fewer training sessions to learn to react calmly to test stimuli. Variations in heart rate persisted even when behavioural responses had ceased. In addition, all horses on the desensitisation method eventually habituated to the test stimulus whereas some horses on the other methods did not. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Desensitisation appeared to be the most effective training method for horses in frightening situations. Further research is needed in order to investigate the role of positive reinforcement, such as offering food, in the training of horses. |
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Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Tjele, Denmark |
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0425-1644 |
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| Notes |
PMID:16986605 |
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no |
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Serial |
1783 |
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| Author |
Ödberg Fo, |
| Title |
A study on eliminative and grazing behaviour – the use of the field by captive horses |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
1976 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
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8 |
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Pages |
147-149 |
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| Notes |
from Professor Hans Klingels Equine Reference List |
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no |
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Serial |
1428 |
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| Author |
KYDD J et al, |
| Title |
Transfer of exotic equine embryos to domestic horses and donkeys |
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Journal Article |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
Suppl 3 |
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Pages |
80-83 |
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| Notes |
from Professor Hans Klingels Equine Reference List |
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no |
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1334 |
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| Author |
Francis-Smith, K.; Wood-Gush, D.G.M. |
| Title |
Copropgagia as seen in thoroughbred foals |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1977 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
9 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
155-157 |
| Keywords |
animal; article; coprophagy; defecation; eating; female; horse; horse disease; human; mastication |
| Abstract |
Four Thoroughbred foals were seen to quickly eat part of the faeces deposited by their own dams on some 40 per cent of the mare-defaecating occasions observed between the second and fifth week after birth. They did not do it before or after this period. This behaviour was thought to be a feeding pattern which formed a normal part of the foal's development. |
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| Notes |
from Professor Hans Klingels Equine Reference List |
Approved |
no |
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Serial |
1090 |
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DREVEMO S et al, |
| Title |
Equine locomotion: The analysis of linear and temporal stride characteristics of trotting standardbreds |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1980 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
12 |
Issue |
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Pages |
60-65 |
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from Professor Hans Klingels Equine Reference List |
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no |
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1025 |
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| Author |
Cooper, J.J. |
| Title |
Comparative learning theory and its application in the training of horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1998 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal. Supplement |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J Suppl |
| Volume |
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Issue |
27 |
Pages |
39-43 |
| Keywords |
Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Conditioning (Psychology); Horses/*psychology; *Learning; Reinforcement (Psychology) |
| Abstract |
Training can best be explained as a process that occurs through stimulus-response-reinforcement chains, whereby animals are conditioned to associate cues in their environment, with specific behavioural responses and their rewarding consequences. Research into learning in horses has concentrated on their powers of discrimination and on primary positive reinforcement schedules, where the correct response is paired with a desirable consequence such as food. In contrast, a number of other learning processes that are used in training have been widely studied in other species, but have received little scientific investigation in the horse. These include: negative reinforcement, where performance of the correct response is followed by removal of, or decrease in, intensity of a unpleasant stimulus; punishment, where an incorrect response is paired with an undesirable consequence, but without consistent prior warning; secondary conditioning, where a natural primary reinforcer such as food is closely associated with an arbitrary secondary reinforcer such as vocal praise; and variable or partial conditioning, where once the correct response has been learnt, reinforcement is presented according to an intermittent schedule to increase resistance to extinction outside of training. |
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Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK |
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English |
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| Notes |
PMID:10485003 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
846 |
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| Author |
Mills, D.S. |
| Title |
Applying learning theory to the management of the horse: the difference between getting it right and getting it wrong |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1998 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal. Supplement |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J Suppl |
| Volume |
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Issue |
27 |
Pages |
44-48 |
| Keywords |
Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Horses/*psychology; *Learning; Reinforcement (Psychology) |
| Abstract |
Horses constantly modify their behaviour as a result of experience. This involves the creation of an association between events or stimuli. The influence of people on the modification and generation of certain behaviour patterns extends beyond the intentional training of the horse. The impact of any action depends on how it is perceived by the horse, rather than the motive of the handler. Negative and positive reinforcement increase the probability of specific behaviours recurring i.e. strengthen the association between events, whereas punishment reduces the probable recurrence of a behaviour without providing specific information about the desired alternative. In this paper the term 'punishers' is used to refer to the physical aids, such as a whip or crop, which may be used to bring about the process of punishment. However, if their application ceases when a specific behaviour occurs they may negatively reinforce that action. Intended 'punishers' may also be rewarding (e.g. for attention seeking behaviour). Therefore, contingency factors (which define the relationship between stimuli, such as the level of reinforcement), contiguity factors (which describe the proximity of events in space or time) and choice of reinforcing stimuli are critical in determining the rate of learning. The many problems associated with the application of punishment in practice lead to confusion by both horse and handler and, possibly, abuse of the former. Most behaviour problems relate to handling and management of the horse and can be avoided or treated with a proper analysis of the factors influencing the behaviour. |
| Address |
De Montfort University Lincoln, School of Agriculture and Horticulture, Caythorpe, Lincs., UK |
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| Notes |
PMID:10485004 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
845 |
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| Author |
Harman, A.M.; Moore, S.; Hoskins, R.; Keller, P. |
| Title |
Horse vision and an explanation for the visual behaviour originally explained by the 'ramp retina' |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1999 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
31 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
384-390 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cell Count; Eye/*anatomy & histology; Ganglia, Sensory/cytology; Horses/*physiology; Refractive Errors/veterinary; Retina/cytology/*physiology; Vision/*physiology; Visual Acuity; Visual Fields |
| Abstract |
Here we provide confirmation that the 'ramp retina' of the horse, once thought to result in head rotating visual behaviour, does not exist. We found a 9% variation in axial length of the eye between the streak region and the dorsal periphery. However, the difference was in the opposite direction to that proposed for the 'ramp retina'. Furthermore, acuity in the narrow, intense visual streak in the inferior retina is 16.5 cycles per degree compared with 2.7 cycles per degree in the periphery. Therefore, it is improbable that the horse rotates its head to focus onto the peripheral retina. Rather, the horse rotates the nose up high to observe distant objects because binocular overlap is oriented down the nose, with a blind area directly in front of the forehead. |
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Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia |
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English |
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0425-1644 |
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| Notes |
PMID:10505953 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
836 |
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| Author |
Collery, L. |
| Title |
Observations of equine animals under farm and feral conditions |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1974 |
Publication |
Equine veterinary journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
| Volume |
6 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
170-173 |
| Keywords |
Aggression; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Breeding; Circadian Rhythm; Feeding Behavior; Female; Horses/*physiology; Housing, Animal; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Puberty; Reproduction; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Social Dominance |
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0425-1644 |
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PMID:4473340 |
Approved |
no |
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refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
680 |
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