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| Author | Baragli, P.; Demuru, E.; Scopa, C.; Palagi, E. | ||||
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Are horses capable of mirror self-recognition? A pilot study | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2017 | Publication | Plos One | Abbreviated Journal | Plos One |
| Volume | 12 | Issue | 5 | Pages | e0176717 |
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| Abstract | Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) unveils complex cognitive, social and emotional skills and it has been found only in humans and few other species, such as great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies. In this pilot study, we tested if horses show the capacity of MSR. Four subjects living socially under naturalistic conditions were selected for the experiment. We adopted the classical mark test, which consists in placing a coloured mark on an out-of-view body part, visible only through mirror inspection. If the animal considers the image as its own, it will use its reflection to detect the mark and will try to explore it. We enhanced the classical paradigm by introducing a double-check control. Only in the presence of the reflecting surface, animals performed tactile and olfactory exploration of the mirror and looked behind it. These behaviors suggest that subjects were trying to associate multiple sensory cues (visual, tactile and olfactory) to the image in the mirror. The lack of correspondence between the collected stimuli in front of the mirror and the response to the colored mark lead us to affirm that horses are able to perceive that the reflected image is incongruent when compared with the memorized information of a real horse. However, without replication of data, the self-directed behavior towards the colored marks showed by our horses cannot be sufficient per se to affirm that horses are capable of self-recognition. | ||||
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| Publisher | Public Library of Science | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 6158 | ||
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| Author | Sighieri, C.; Tedeschi, D.; De Andreis, C.; Petri, L.; Baragli, P. | ||||
| Title |
Behaviour Patterns of Horses Can be Used to Establish a Dominant-Subordinate Relationship Between Man and Horse | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2003 | Publication | Abbreviated Journal | Animal Welfare | |
| Volume | 12 | Issue | 4 | Pages | 705-708 |
| Keywords | animal welfare; behaviour patterns; dominance; unhandled horse | ||||
| Abstract | This paper describes how man can enter the social hierarchy of the horse by mimicking the behaviour and stance it uses to establish dominance. A herd is organised according to a dominance hierarchy established by means of ritualised conflict. Dominance relationships are formed through these confrontations: one horse gains the dominant role and others identify themselves as subordinates. This study was conducted using five females of the Haflinger breed, totally unaccustomed to human contact, from a free-range breeding farm. The study methods were based on the three elements fundamental to the equilibrium of the herd: flight, herd instinct and hierarchy. The trainer-horse relationship was established in three phases: retreat, approach and association. At the end of the training sessions, all of the horses were able to respond correctly to the trainer. These observations suggest that it is possible to manage unhandled horses without coercion by mimicking their behaviour patterns. | ||||
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| Publisher | Cambridge University Press | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
| Language | Summary Language | Original Title | |||
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| Series Volume | Series Issue | Edition | 2023/01/11 | ||
| ISSN | 0962-7286 | ISBN | Medium | ||
| Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 6713 | ||
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| Author | Sighieri, C.; Tedeschi, D.; De Andreis, C.; Petri, L.; Baragli, P. | ||||
| Title |
Behaviour patterns of horses can be used to establish a dominantsubordinate relationship between man and horse | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2003 | Publication | Animal Welfare | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 12 | Issue | Pages | 705-708 | |
| Keywords | ANIMAL WELFARE; BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS; DOMINANCE; UNHANDLED HORSE | ||||
| Abstract | This paper describes how man can enter the social hierarchy of the horse by mimicking the behaviour and stance it uses to establish dominance. A herd is organised according to a dominance hierarchy established by means of ritualised conflict. Dominance relationships are formed through these confrontations: one horse gains the dominant role and others identify themselves as subordinates. This study was conducted using five females of the Haflinger breed, totally unaccustomed to human contact, from a free-range breeding farm. The study methods were based on the three elements fundamental to the equilibrium of the herd: flight, herd instinct and hierarchy. The trainer-horse relationship was established in three phases: retreat, approach and association. At the end of the training sessions, all of the horses were able to respond correctly to the trainer. These observations suggest that it is possible to manage unhandled horses without coercion by mimicking their behaviour patterns. | ||||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4089 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Regolin, L | ||||
| Title |
Cognitive Tests in Equids (Equus caballus and Equus Asinus) | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2008 | Publication | IESM 2008 | Abbreviated Journal | |
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| Abstract | For ages horses and donkeys constituted the most important domesticated animals. Even though equids were often bred and kept in close proximity to humans, surprisingly little is known about their cognitive abilities. Traditionally, horses are not regarded as clever animals; common beliefs maintain that the horses“ behaviour is merely driven by conditioned-responses. Additionally, from an anthropomorphic point of view donkeys are believed to be ”stupid“ animals. Our study investigates the equids” ability to recover a hidden object. For this purpose the animal has to create and maintain a representation of the object and its location in space, from the moment in which it disappears from direct perception, till the moment in which it reappears. The knowledge about objects being entities that continue to exist even when they are no longer available for direct perception is refered to as the well known concept of “object permanence”. We primarly assessed the ability of Esperia's pony and donkeys to solve a Detour problem while employing an opaque “U-shaped” barrier. Each animal observed a food bucket moving and disappearing behind the barrier. Immediately after the object"s disappearance, the animal was released to search for the object. If it solved the task by detouring the barrier it was positively reinforced. The ability to retain in memory the hidden object as well as its spatial location was subsequently tested in the presence of two, rather than one, screens (Working Memory testing phase). The food bucket was made to move and hidden behind one of the two identical screens, while the animal was watching it. Following a pre-established delayed period of 10 sec, the animal was set free to look for the food. In such a test the detour problem is combined with the classical delayed-response task, which is in use for the comparison of memory duration in different species. In order to recover the hidden objects, animals must encode, maintain and correctly regain from their working memory the existence of the no longer visible object and its location from their working memory. Both donkeys and ponies performed the Detour task showing to grasp the fact that an object which is no longer perceivable still continues to exist and can be regained. They also were able to correctly retrieve the goal object after a delay of 10 s in the Working Memory tasks, showing that they had encoded, maintained and correclty retrieved from their working memory the spatial location of the hidden object as well as its existence. Nevertheless, when Standardbreds, raised in traditional stables, were tested in identical conditions to those describe for the ponies and donkeys, they could not succeed in the Detour tasks. The reason for such differences needs to be studied Even though it would be interesting to focus on handling differences, i.e., the ponies had been living in an environment rich in natural stimuli, while the Standardbreds had lived in a man-controlled environment since birth. It is also noteworthy that, like donkeys, the Esperia's pony have a reputation for being hard to handle. Several considerations could arise from our preliminary investigations, and we will have the pleasure to leave them open for discussion. |
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| Address | University of Pisa- Dept of Veterinary Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology | ||||
| Corporate Author | Baragli, P. | Thesis | |||
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| Area | Expedition | Conference | IESM 2008 | ||
| Notes | Talk 15 min IESM 2008 | Approved | yes | ||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4461 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Vitale, V.; Paoletti, E.; Sighieri, C.; Reddon, A.R. | ||||
| Title |
Detour behaviour in horses (Equus caballus) | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2011 | Publication | Journal of Ethology | Abbreviated Journal | J. Ethol. |
| Volume | 29 | Issue | 2 | Pages | 227-234 |
| Keywords | Detour behaviour; Equus caballus; Horses; Lateralization; Spatial reasoning | ||||
| Abstract | The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of horses (Equus caballus) to detour around symmetric and asymmetric obstacles. Ten female Italian saddle horses were each used in three detour tasks. In the first task, the ability to detour around a symmetrical obstacle was evaluated; in the second and third tasks subjects were required to perform a detour around an asymmetrical obstacle with two different degrees of asymmetry. The direction chosen to move around the obstacle and time required to make the detour were recorded. The results suggest that horses have the spatial abilities required to perform detour tasks with both symmetric and asymmetric obstacles. The strategy used to perform the task varied between subjects. For five horses, lateralized behaviour was observed when detouring the obstacle; this was consistently in one direction (three on the left and two on the right). For these horses, no evidence of spatial learning or reasoning was found. The other five horses did not solve this task in a lateralized manner, and a trend towards decreasing lateralization was observed as asymmetry, and hence task difficulty, increased. These non-lateralized horses may have higher spatial reasoning abilities. | ||||
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| Publisher | Springer Japan | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
| Language | English | Summary Language | Original Title | ||
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| Series Volume | Series Issue | Edition | |||
| ISSN | 0289-0771 | ISBN | Medium | ||
| Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5686 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Mariti, C.; Petri, L.; De Giorgio, F.; Sighieri, C. | ||||
| Title |
Does attention make the difference? Horses' response to human stimulus after 2 different training strategies | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2011 | Publication | Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research | Abbreviated Journal | J Vet Behav Clin Appl Res |
| Volume | 6 | Issue | 1 | Pages | 31-38 |
| Keywords | attention; exploration; horse; human stimulus; training | ||||
| Abstract | We hypothesized that in an open environment, horses cope with a series of challenges in their interactions with human beings. If the horse is not physically constrained and is free to move in a small enclosure, it has additional options regarding its behavioral response to the trainer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of 2 different training strategies on the horse’s behavioral response to human stimuli. In all, 12 female ponies were randomly divided into the following 2 groups: group A, wherein horses were trained in a small enclosure (where indicators of the level of attention and behavioral response were used to modulate the training pace and the horse’s control over its response to the stimuli provided by the trainer) and group B, wherein horses were trained in a closed environment (in which the trainer’s actions left no room for any behavioral response except for the one that was requested). Horses’ behavior toward the human subject and their heart rate during 2 standardized behavioral tests were used to compare the responses of the 2 groups. Results indicated that the horses in group A appeared to associate human actions with a positive experience, as highlighted by the greater degree of explorative behavior toward human beings shown by these horses during the tests. The experience of the horses during training may have resulted in different evaluations of the person, as a consequence of the human’s actions during training; therefore, it seems that horses evaluate human beings on daily relationship experiences. |
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| Address | attention; exploration; horse; human stimulus; training | ||||
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| ISSN | 1558-7878 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5286 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Vitale, V.; Paoletti, E.; Mengoli, M.; Sighieri, C. | ||||
| Title |
Encoding the Object Position for Assessment of Short Term Spatial Memory in Horses (Equus caballus) | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2011 | Publication | International Journal of Comparative Psychology | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 24 | Issue | 3 | Pages | |
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| Abstract | In this study, the detour problem was combined with the classic delayed-response task to investigate equine short-term spatial memory. Test subjects were eight female horses, divided into two groups (A and B) of four subjects each. The motivating object was made to move and disappear behind one oftwo identical obstacles in a two-point-choice apparatus. After a 10 s (Group A) or 30 s (Group B) delay the animal was released to seek the object. Both groups made more correct (14.8 ± 1.3 forGroup A and 13.5 ± 3.1 for Group B, mean ± SD) than incorrect choices (5.3 ± 1.3 for Group A and6.5 ± 3.1 for Group B, mean ± SD) and the performance of each group was significantly above chance level (z = 4.14, p = 0.000, for Group A and z = 3.02, p = 0.002, for Group B). Therefore, tested animals were able to recover the object by approaching the correct obstacle after 10 s or 30 s delays, showing that they had encoded and recovered from memory the existence of the target object and its location. | ||||
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| ISSN | 2168-3344 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Notes | Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 6178 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Tedeschi, D.; Masini, A.P.; Magnaghi, N.; Martelli, F.; Sighieri, C. | ||||
| Title |
Estimation of performance in elite endurance horses by means of an exercise test in field conditions | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2001 | Publication | Ippologia | Abbreviated Journal | Valutazione della performance in cavalli da endurance di elite mediante test diesercizio in campo |
| Volume | 12 | Issue | 1 | Pages | 13-19 |
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| Abstract | In human sports medicine exercise tests are normally used to check training progression. Correlation tests between blood lactate concentration and exercise speed are often used for this purpose. Studies have been done to adjust exercise tests for athletic horses using the same principle. The aim of this work was to verify the practical possibility that the anaerobic threshold in elite endurance horses could be calculated by adjusting a submaximal exercise field test in order to obtain reference parameters for endurance horses. Ten selected horses from the Italian National Endurance Team were used for this study. The tests were conducted on an 800 meters grass oval. Horses performed three steps (800 meters every step), at increasing speed with two minute intervals between each step. Riders were informed of the ideal speed for every step (5, 7.5, 10 m/s) and the real velocity was calculated on the basis of time taken to finish a single step. Blood samples were obtained via venipuncture from the jugular vein, immediately before the beginning of the test and 60 seconds after the end of each step. The following parameters were evaluated for each horse: individual anaerobic threshold (VSI), anaerobic threshold (V4) and exercise velocity corresponding to a lactate concentration of 2 mM/I (V2). Analysis of results indicate that lactate concentration is exponentially related to exercise speed for the entire test. VSI, V4, V2, were (mearttsd): 25.7±5.1; 30.5±2.5; 21.1±2.9 km/h respectively. | ||||
| Address | Dipto. Anat., Biochim. Fisiol. Vet., Univ. degli Studi di Pisa | ||||
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| Notes | Export Date: 13 November 2008; Source: Scopus | Approved | no | ||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4654 | ||
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| Author | Gatta, D.; Baragli, P.; Ferrarini, N.; Ciattini, F.; Sighieri, C.; Colombani, B. | ||||
| Title |
Fitness evaluation in endurance horses by standardised exercise test on treadmill | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 1998 | Publication | Ippologia | Abbreviated Journal | Valutazione dello stato di allenamento del cavallo da endurance mediante test standardizzato su trea |
| Volume | 9 | Issue | 4 | Pages | 57-69 |
| Keywords | Endurance; Horses; Treadmill | ||||
| Abstract | Endurance horses, like marathon runners, undertake sub-maximal, longterm physical exercises and in both cases thermoregulation plays a critical role. A standardised sub-maximal treadmill test was used to assess fitness and training state in endurance horses. Literature reports that trained human athletes dissipate head load better than not trained ones; in this study parameters related to thermoregulation were recorded together with other haematologic and metabolic ones. Six endurance horses, divided into two groups according to their training state, performed two submaximal tests at a distance of one week. Blood samples were collected at rest, during exercise, at the end and during recovery (10, 30 and 60 minutes after work). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal (RT) and skin (ST) temperatures were monitored through the exercise (and recovery for HR). HR resulted significantly lower (P<0.01) in trained horses than in untrained ones, especially during recovery. Also rectal and skin temperatures resulted significantly lower (P<0.05) in trained horses and ST increased more gradually during exercise. The values of haematocrit and haemoglobin resulted significantly lower (P<0.05) at rest, during exercise and recovery samples. In this study, the parameters related to thermoregulation, in accordance with data from human athletes, resulted significantly different in trained and untrained horses, while other parameters didn't vary significantly between the two groups. Thermoregulatory responses to exercise-generated heat load in a standardised test, studied by simple parameters, can thus offer useful information about fitness and training state of endurance horses. | ||||
| Address | Dipto. Anat., Biochim. Fisiol. Vet., Univ. degli Studi di Pisa | ||||
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| Notes | Cited By (since 1996): 2; Export Date: 13 November 2008; Source: Scopus | Approved | no | ||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4655 | ||
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| Author | Lovrovich, P.; Sighieri, C.; Baragli, P. | ||||
| Title |
Following human-given cues or not? Horses (Equus caballus) get smarter and change strategy in a delayed three choice task | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Applied Animal Behaviour Science | Abbreviated Journal | Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
| Volume | 166 | Issue | Pages | 80-88 | |
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| Abstract | Highlights �Horses remember the location of food hidden by the experimenter after a delay. �They understand the communicative meaning of a human positioned close to the target. �The same horses are capable of changing their decision-making strategy. �They are able to shift from accuracy inferred from human given cues to speed. �Horses can use human cues or not depending on time, cost, experience and reward. Abstract To date, horses have seemed capable of using human local enhancement cues only when the experimenter remains close to the reward, since they fail to understand the communicative meaning of the human as momentary local enhancement cue (when the human is not present at the moment of the animal's choice). This study was designed to analyse the ability of horses to understand, remember and use human-given cues in a delayed (10 s) three-choice task. Twelve horses (experimental group) had to find a piece of carrot hidden under one of three overturned buckets after seeing the experimenter hide it. The results were then compared with those of a control group (twelve horses) that had to find the carrot using only the sense of smell or random attempts. At the beginning, the experimental horses made more correct choices at the first attempt, although they took more time to find the carrot. Later the same horses were less accurate but found the carrot in less time. This suggests that the value of the proximal momentary local enhancement cues became less critical. It seemed, in fact, that the experimental and control group had aligned their behaviour as the trials proceeded. Despite this similarity, in the second half of the trials, the experimental group tended to first approach the bucket where they had found the carrot in the immediately preceding trial. Our findings indicate that horses are capable of remembering the location of food hidden by the experimenter after a delay, by using the human positioned close to the target as valuable information. The same horses are also capable of changing their decision-making strategy by shifting from the accuracy inferred from human given cues to speed. Therefore, horses are able to decide whether or not to use human given-cues, depending on a speed-accuracy trade-off. |
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| Publisher | Elsevier | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
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| Notes | doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.02.017 | Approved | no | ||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5849 | ||
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