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| Author |
Marr, I.; Farmer, K.; Krueger, K. |
| Title |
Evidence for Right-Sided Horses Being More Optimistic than Left-Sided Horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2018 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
| Volume |
8 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
219 |
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| Abstract |
An individual's positive or negative perspective when judging an ambiguous stimulus (cognitive bias) can be helpful when assessing animal welfare. Emotionality, as expressed in approach or withdrawal behaviour, is linked to brain asymmetry. The predisposition to process information in the left or right brain hemisphere is displayed in motor laterality. The quality of the information being processed is indicated by the sensory laterality. Consequently, it would be quicker and more repeatable to use motor or sensory laterality to evaluate cognitive bias than to perform the conventional judgment bias test. Therefore, the relationship between cognitive bias and motor or sensory laterality was tested. The horses (n = 17) were trained in a discrimination task involving a box that was placed in either a “positive” or “negative” location. To test for cognitive bias, the box was then placed in the middle, between the trained positive and negative location, in an ambiguous location, and the latency to approach the box was evaluated. Results indicated that horses that were more likely to use the right forelimb when moving off from a standing position were more likely to approach the ambiguous box with a shorter latency (generalized linear mixed model, p < 0.01), and therefore displayed a positive cognitive bias (optimistic). |
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2076-2615 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ ani8120219 |
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6439 |
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| Author |
Bernauer, K.; Kollross, H.; Schuetz, A.; Farmer, K.; Krueger, K. |
| Title |
How do horses (Equus caballus) learn from observing human action? |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
| Volume |
23 |
Issue |
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Pages |
1-9 |
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| Abstract |
A previous study demonstrated that horses can learn socially from observing humans, but could not draw any conclusions about the social learning mechanisms. Here we develop this by showing horses four different human action sequences as demonstrations of how to press a button to open a feed box. We tested 68 horses aged between 3 and 12 years. 63 horses passed the habituation phase and were assigned either to the group Hand Demo (N = 13) for which a kneeling person used a hand to press the button, Head Demo (N = 13) for which a kneeling person used the head, Mixed Demo (N = 12) for which a squatting person used both head and hand, Foot Demo (N = 12) in which a standing person used a foot, or No Demo (N = 13) in which horses did not receive a demonstration. 44 horses reached the learning criterion of opening the feeder twenty times consecutively, 40 of these were 75% of the Demo group horses and four horses were 31% of the No Demo group horses. Horses not reaching the learning criterion approached the human experimenters more often than those who did. Significantly more horses used their head to press the button no matter which demonstration they received. However, in the Foot Demo group four horses consistently preferred to use a hoof and two switched between hoof and head use. After the Mixed Demo the horses' actions were more diverse. The results indicate that only a few horses copy behaviours when learning socially from humans. A few may learn through observational conditioning, as some appeared to adapt to demonstrated actions in the course of reaching the learning criterion. Most horses learn socially through enhancement, using humans to learn where, and which aspect of a mechanism has to be manipulated, and by applying individual trial and error learning to reach their goal. |
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1435-9456 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ Bernauer2019 |
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6590 |
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Marr, I.; Preisler, V.; Farmer, K.; Stefanski, V.; Krueger, K. |
| Title |
Non-invasive stress evaluation in domestic horses (Equus caballus): impact of housing conditions on sensory laterality and immunoglobulin A |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Royal Society Open Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Royal Society Open Science |
| Volume |
7 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
191994 |
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The study aimed to evaluate sensory laterality and concentration of faecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) as non-invasive measures of stress in horses by comparing them with the already established measures of motor laterality and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs). Eleven three-year-old horses were exposed to known stressful situations (change of housing, initial training) to assess the two new parameters. Sensory laterality initially shifted significantly to the left and faecal FGMs were significantly increased on the change from group to individual housing and remained high through initial training. Motor laterality shifted significantly to the left after one week of individual stabling. Faecal IgA remained unchanged throughout the experiment. We therefore suggest that sensory laterality may be helpful in assessing acute stress in horses, especially on an individual level, as it proved to be an objective behavioural parameter that is easy to observe. Comparably, motor laterality may be helpful in assessing long-lasting stress. The results indicate that stress changes sensory laterality in horses, but further research is needed on a larger sample to evaluate elevated chronic stress, as it was not clear whether the horses of the present study experienced compromised welfare, which it has been proposed may affect faecal IgA. |
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Royal Society |
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doi: 10.1098/rsos.191994 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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6608 |
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| Author |
Krueger, K.; Esch, L.; Farmer, K.; Marr, I. |
| Title |
Basic Needs in Horses?--A Literature Review |
Type |
Magazine Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
| Volume |
11 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
1798 |
| Keywords |
abnormal behaviour; active responses; horse; movement; passive responses; roughage; stress; social contact |
| Abstract |
Every animal species has particular environmental requirements that are essential for its welfare, and when these so-called “basic needs” are not fulfilled, the animals suffer. The basic needs of horses have been claimed to be social contact, social companionship, free movement and access to roughage. To assess whether horses suffer when one or more of the four proposed basic needs are restricted, we examined several studies (n = 38) that reported behavioural and physiological reactions to these restrictions. We assigned the studies according to the four types of responses investigated: (a) Stress, (b) Active, (c) Passive, and (d) Abnormal Behaviour. Furthermore, the number of studies indicating that horses reacted to the restrictions were compared with the number of studies reporting no reaction. The limited number of studies available on single management restrictions did not allow conclusions to be drawn on the effect of each restriction separately, especially in the case of social companionship. However, when combinations of social contact, free movement and access to roughage were restricted, many of the horses had developed responses consistent with suffering. Passive Responses, indicating acute suffering, and Abnormal Behaviour, indicating suffering currently or at some time in the past, were especially clearly demonstrated. This provides further evidence of the usefulness of assessing behavioural parameters in combination with physiological measurements when evaluating horse welfare. This meta-analysis of the literature confirms that it is justified to claim that social contact, free movement and access to roughage are basic needs in horses. |
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Animals |
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11 |
Series Issue |
6 |
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2076-2615 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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6645 |
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Schwarz, S.; Marr, I.; Farmer, K.; Graf, K.; Stefanski, V.; Krueger, K. |
| Title |
Does Carrying a Rider Change Motor and Sensory Laterality in Horses? |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
| Volume |
12 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
992 |
| Keywords |
laterality; horse; rider; sensory laterality; motor laterality; novel object; side preference |
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Laterality in horses has been studied in recent decades. Although most horses are kept for riding purposes, there has been almost no research on how laterality may be affected by carrying a rider. In this study, 23 horses were tested for lateral preferences, both with and without a rider, in three different experiments. The rider gave minimal aids and rode on a long rein to allow the horse free choice. Firstly, motor laterality was assessed by observing forelimb preference when stepping over a pole. Secondly, sensory laterality was assessed by observing perceptual side preferences when the horse was confronted with (a) an unfamiliar person or (b) a novel object. After applying a generalised linear model, this preliminary study found that a rider increased the strength of motor laterality (p = 0.01) but did not affect sensory laterality (p = 0.8). This suggests that carrying a rider who is as passive as possible does not have an adverse effect on a horse�s stress levels and mental state. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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6667 |
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Krueger, K.; Schwarz, S.; Marr, I.; Farmer, K. |
| Title |
Laterality in Horse Training: Psychological and Physical Balance and Coordination and Strength Rather Than Straightness |
Type |
Magazine Article |
| Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
| Volume |
12 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
1042 |
| Keywords |
balance; body asymmetry; equitation; horse; motor laterality; sensory laterality; stress; welfare |
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For centuries, a goal of training in many equestrian disciplines has been to straighten the horse, which is considered a key element in achieving its responsiveness and suppleness. However, laterality is a naturally occurring phenomenon in horses and encompasses body asymmetry, motor laterality and sensory laterality. Furthermore, forcibly counterbalancing motor laterality has been considered a cause of psychological imbalance in humans. Perhaps asymmetry and laterality should rather be accepted, with a focus on training psychological and physical balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides instead of enforcing “straightness”. To explore this, we conducted a review of the literature on the function and causes of motor and sensory laterality in horses, especially in horses when trained on the ground or under a rider. The literature reveals that body asymmetry is innate but does not prevent the horse from performing at a high level under a rider. Motor laterality is equally distributed in feral horses, while in domestic horses, age, breed, training and carrying a rider may cause left leg preferences. Most horses initially observe novel persons and potentially threatening objects or situations with their left sensory organs. Pronounced preferences for the use of left sensory organs or limbs indicate that the horse is experiencing increased emotionality or stress, and long-term insufficiencies in welfare, housing or training may result in left shifts in motor and sensory laterality and pessimistic mentalities. Therefore, increasing laterality can be regarded as an indicator for insufficiencies in housing, handling and training. We propose that laterality be recognized as a welfare indicator and that straightening the horse should be achieved by conducting training focused on balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides. |
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Animals |
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12 |
Series Issue |
8 |
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2076-2615 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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6670 |
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Krueger, K.; Trager, L.; Farmer, K.; Byrne, R. |
| Title |
Tool Use in Horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
| Volume |
12 |
Issue |
15 |
Pages |
1876 |
| Keywords |
crowdsourcing; horse; innovation; mule; management; tool use |
| Abstract |
Tool use has not yet been confirmed in horses, mules or donkeys. As this subject is difficult to research with conventional methods, we used a crowdsourcing approach to gather data. We contacted equid owners and carers and asked them to report and video examples of �unusual� behaviour via a dedicated website. We also searched YouTube and Facebook for videos of equids showing tool use. From 635 reports, including 1014 behaviours, we found 20 cases of tool use, 13 of which were unambiguous in that it was clear that the behaviour was not trained, caused by reduced welfare, incidental or accidental. We then assessed (a) the effect of management conditions on tool use and (b) whether the animals used tools alone, or socially, involving other equids or humans. We found that management restrictions were associated with corresponding tool use in 12 of the 13 cases (p = 0.01), e.g., equids using sticks to scrape hay within reach when feed was restricted. Furthermore, 8 of the 13 cases involved other equids or humans, such as horses using brushes to groom others. The most frequent tool use was for foraging, with seven examples, tool use for social purposes was seen in four cases, and there was just one case of tool use for escape. There was just one case of tool use for comfort, and in this instance, there were no management restrictions. Equids therefore can develop tool use, especially when management conditions are restricted, but it is a rare occurrence. |
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Animals |
| Series Volume |
12 |
Series Issue |
15 |
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2076-2615 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6695 |
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