| Records |
| Author |
Pawluski, J.; Jego, P.; Henry, S.; Bruchet, A.; Palme, R.; Coste, C.; Hausberger, M. |
| Title |
Low plasma cortisol and fecal cortisol metabolite measures as indicators of compromised welfare in domestic horses (Equus caballus) |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2017 |
Publication |
Plos One |
Abbreviated Journal |
Plos One |
| Volume |
12 |
Issue |
9 |
Pages |
e0182257 |
| Keywords |
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| Abstract |
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to chronic stress is far from straight forward, particularly with regards to animal welfare. There are reports of no effect as well as both decreases and increases in cortisol after chronic stressors. Therefore, the first aim of the present study was to determine how measures of compromised welfare, such as chronic pain and haematological anomalies, related to cortisol levels in domestic horses (Equus caballus). Domestic horses are an informative model to investigate the impact of chronic stress (due to environment, pain, work, housing conditions...) on the HPA axis. The second aim was to determine whether levels of fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) may be used as an indicator of welfare measures. The present study used fifty-nine horses (44 geldings and 15 mares), from three riding centres in Brittany, France. The primary findings show that horses whose welfare was clearly compromised (as indicated by an unusual ears backward position, presence of vertebral problems or haematological anomalies, e.g. anaemia) also had lower levels of both FCM and plasma cortisol. This work extends our previous findings showing that withdrawn postures, indicators of depressive-like behavior in horses, are associated with lower plasma cortisol levels. We also found that evening plasma cortisol levels positively correlated with FCM levels in horses. Future research aims to determine the extent to which factors of influence on welfare, such as living conditions (e.g. single stalls versus group housing in pasture or paddocks), early life factors, and human interaction, act as mediators of cortisol levels in horses. |
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Public Library of Science |
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no |
Call Number  |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6516 |
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| Author |
Lesimple, C.; Sankey, C.; Richard, M.-A.; HAUSBERGER, M. |
| Title |
Do Horses Expect Humans to Solve Their Problems? |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Frontiers in Psychology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Front. Psychol. |
| Volume |
3 |
Issue |
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Pages |
306 |
| Keywords |
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| Abstract |
Domestic animals are highly capable of detecting human cues, while wild relatives tend to perform less well (e.g. responding to pointing gestures). It is suggested that domestication may have led to the development of such cognitive skills. Here, we hypothesized that because domestic animals are so attentive and dependant to humans' actions for resources, the counter effect may be a decline of self sufficiency, such as individual task solving. Here we show a negative correlation between the performance in a learning task (opening a chest) and the interest shown by horses towards humans, despite high motivation expressed by investigative behaviours directed at the chest. If human-directed attention reflects the development of particular skills in domestic animals, this is to our knowledge the first study highlighting a link between human-directed behaviours and impaired individual solving task skills (ability to solve a task by themselves) in horses. |
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| ISSN |
1664-1078 |
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Approved |
no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6568 |
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| Author |
Lesimple, C.; Reverchon-Billot, L.; Galloux, P.; Stomp, M.; Boichot, L.; Coste, C.; Henry, S.; Hausberger, M. |
| Title |
Free movement: A key for welfare improvement in sport horses? |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
| Volume |
225 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
104972 |
| Keywords |
Horse; Housing; Free movement; Horse welfare; Stereotypic behaviour; Oxytocin |
| Abstract |
Horses, and in particular sport horses, remain housed predominantly in single stalls. One of the main reported reasons is the fear that they will become agitated and injure themselves and thereby impair their performance if released in paddocks. The hour spent daily at work is also assumed to be sufficient to satisfy the horses' needs for locomotion. Growing scientific evidence shows that single stall housing has negative consequences on horses' welfare and that time for free movement is necessary. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of allowing sport horses used to staying permanently in their stall (except for 1 h riding/day) daily free time in a paddock and to evaluate its potential impact on their welfare using two behavioural reliable indicators (stereotypic behaviours and ear position), as well as selected blood parameters (blood cell count, oxytocin and serotonin concentrations). Two experiments were conducted on the same site. The first experiment evaluated sport horses' habituation to the novel situation of daily sessions in a paddock, and recorded welfare indicators in their stall before and during the experiment, comparing horses that were taken outdoors (experimental) and those that stayed in their stall (control). The second experiment evaluated the impact of this daily free time in a paddock on horses' welfare and its durability, focusing on positive indicators. Behavioural observations in paddocks showed that even horses that had never experienced free movement outside their stall habituated rapidly to this situation. The presence of hay in the paddock, may have speeded up habituation. Their restricted living conditions were associated with abnormalities in blood cell count that were not overcome during the time of daily paddock sessions but behavioural indicators showed that their welfare improved. In the second study, the experimental horses' welfare improved during the paddock release period, in particular their stereotypic behaviours decreased and oxytocin levels increased. No effects on serotonin concentrations could be evidenced. These effects were directly associated with being in paddock, as the indicators returned rapidly to their previous levels indicating compromised welfare when the paddock release sessions stopped. In conclusion, it can be recommended to release sport horses for free movement in paddocks as welfare is improved and subjective assessment by caretakers indicated minimal risks. |
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| ISSN |
0168-1591 |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6619 |
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| Author |
Stomp, M.; d'Ingeo, S.; Henry, S.; Cousillas, H.; Hausberger, M. |
| Title |
Brain activity reflects (chronic) welfare state: Evidence from individual electroencephalography profiles in an animal model |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
| Volume |
236 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
105271 |
| Keywords |
Laterality; Electroencephalography; Theta wave; Welfare; Horses |
| Abstract |
Assessing the animal welfare state is a challenge given the subjective individual cognitive and emotional processing involved. Electroencephalography (EEG) spectrum analysis has proved an ecologically valid recording situation to assess the link between brain processes and affective or cognitive states in humans: a higher slow wave/fast wave ratio has been associated with a positive internal state. In particular, a high production of theta power (3-8 Hz) has been related to positive emotions. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that a left hemisphere (LH) dominance may be associated with a better welfare state. Here, we test the hypothesis that individual differences in the resting-state quantitative EEG power spectrum of adult horses (N = 18) and its lateralization pattern may reflect individual subjective perception of their conditions of life and welfare state. The results show clear individual differences in the proportions of the different waves and their inter-hemispheric distribution. Three different EEG power spectrum profiles were highlighted, from a bilateral predominance of theta waves in horses in a more positive welfare state to a bilateral predominance of beta waves in horses with clear expressions of compromised welfare. Interestingly, particular correlations were found between wave power activity and welfare parameters. We found a negative correlation between the number of stereotypic behaviours per hour and the median proportion of theta waves in the left hemisphere. and between the overall state (total chronic stress score) of welfare and gamma production in the right hemisphere (RH). These findings go along the hypothesis of a particular involvement of the left hemisphere for positive processing and of the right hemisphere for negative processing. However, the pattern of laterality did not appear as the most important feature here as both extreme clusters in terms of welfare showed bilateral predominance of one wave type. It is possible that hemispheric specialization makes more sense during acute emotion-inducing conditions rather than in this resting-state context (i.e. in absence of any high emotion-inducing stimulation), although the opposition gamma versus theta waves between both hemispheres in the horses with an intermediate welfare state is noticeable and intriguing. It seems that bilateral but also LH theta activity is a promising neurophysiological marker of good welfare in horses, while a bilateral or RH high production of gamma waves should alert about potential welfare alterations. Quantitative resting-state EEG power spectrum appears as a highly promising tool for exploring the brain processes involved in the subjective perception of chronic welfare, as a useful complementary tool for welfare assessment. |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Issue |
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| ISSN |
0168-1591 |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6628 |
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| Author |
Stomp, M.; d'Ingeo, S.; Henry, S.; Cousillas, H.; Hausberger, M. |
| Title |
Brain activity reflects (chronic) welfare state: Evidence from individual electroencephalography profiles in an animal model |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
236 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
105271 |
| Keywords |
Laterality; Electroencephalography; Theta wave; Welfare; Horses |
| Abstract |
Assessing the animal welfare state is a challenge given the subjective individual cognitive and emotional processing involved. Electroencephalography (EEG) spectrum analysis has proved an ecologically valid recording situation to assess the link between brain processes and affective or cognitive states in humans: a higher slow wave/fast wave ratio has been associated with a positive internal state. In particular, a high production of theta power (3-8 Hz) has been related to positive emotions. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that a left hemisphere (LH) dominance may be associated with a better welfare state. Here, we test the hypothesis that individual differences in the resting-state quantitative EEG power spectrum of adult horses (N = 18) and its lateralization pattern may reflect individual subjective perception of their conditions of life and welfare state. The results show clear individual differences in the proportions of the different waves and their inter-hemispheric distribution. Three different EEG power spectrum profiles were highlighted, from a bilateral predominance of theta waves in horses in a more positive welfare state to a bilateral predominance of beta waves in horses with clear expressions of compromised welfare. Interestingly, particular correlations were found between wave power activity and welfare parameters. We found a negative correlation between the number of stereotypic behaviours per hour and the median proportion of theta waves in the left hemisphere. and between the overall state (total chronic stress score) of welfare and gamma production in the right hemisphere (RH). These findings go along the hypothesis of a particular involvement of the left hemisphere for positive processing and of the right hemisphere for negative processing. However, the pattern of laterality did not appear as the most important feature here as both extreme clusters in terms of welfare showed bilateral predominance of one wave type. It is possible that hemispheric specialization makes more sense during acute emotion-inducing conditions rather than in this resting-state context (i.e. in absence of any high emotion-inducing stimulation), although the opposition gamma versus theta waves between both hemispheres in the horses with an intermediate welfare state is noticeable and intriguing. It seems that bilateral but also LH theta activity is a promising neurophysiological marker of good welfare in horses, while a bilateral or RH high production of gamma waves should alert about potential welfare alterations. Quantitative resting-state EEG power spectrum appears as a highly promising tool for exploring the brain processes involved in the subjective perception of chronic welfare, as a useful complementary tool for welfare assessment. |
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0168-1591 |
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Approved |
no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6629 |
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| Author |
d'Ingeo, S.; Quaranta, A.; Siniscalchi, M.; Stomp, M.; Coste, C.; Bagnard, C.; Hausberger, M.; Cousillas, H. |
| Title |
Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2019 |
Publication |
Scientific Reports |
Abbreviated Journal |
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| Volume |
9 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
11568 |
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| Abstract |
Brain lateralization is a phenomenon widely reported in the animal kingdom and sensory laterality has been shown to be an indicator of the appraisal of the stimulus valence by an individual. This can prove a useful tool to investigate how animals perceive intra- or hetero-specific signals. The human-animal relationship provides an interesting framework for testing the impact of the valence of interactions on emotional memories. In the present study, we tested whether horses could associate individual human voices with past positive or negative experiences. Both behavioural and electroencephalographic measures allowed examining laterality patterns in addition to the behavioural reactions. The results show that horses reacted to voices associated with past positive experiences with increased attention/arousal (gamma oscillations in the right hemisphere) and indicators of a positive emotional state (left hemisphere activation and ears held forward), and to those associated with past negative experiences with negative affective states (right hemisphere activation and ears held backwards). The responses were further influenced by the animals' management conditions (e.g. box or pasture). Overall, these results, associating brain and behaviour analysis, clearly demonstrate that horses' representation of human voices is modulated by the valence of prior horse-human interactions. |
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Edition |
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2045-2322 |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ d'Ingeo2019 |
Serial |
6582 |
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| Author |
Hausberger, M.; Richard-Yris, M.-A. |
| Title |
Individual differences in the domestic horse, origins, development and stability |
Type |
Book Chapter |
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
The domestic horse : the origins, development, and management of its behaviour |
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Pages |
33-52 |
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Cambridge University Press 2005 |
Place of Publication |
Cambridge |
Editor |
Mills, D.S.; McDonnell, |
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ISBN |
13 978-0-521-81414-6 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ Feh2005 |
Serial |
4819 |
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| Author |
Henry, S.; Fureix, C.; Rowberry, R.; Bateson, M.; Hausberger, M. |
| Title |
Do horses with poor welfare show 'pessimistic' cognitive biases? |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2017 |
Publication |
The Science of Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Sci. Nat. |
| Volume |
104 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
8 |
| Keywords |
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| Abstract |
This field study tested the hypothesis that domestic horses living under putatively challenging-to-welfare conditions (for example involving social, spatial, feeding constraints) would present signs of poor welfare and co-occurring pessimistic judgement biases. Our subjects were 34 horses who had been housed for over 3 years in either restricted riding school situations (e.g. kept in single boxes, with limited roughage, ridden by inexperienced riders; N = 25) or under more naturalistic conditions (e.g. access to free-range, kept in stable social groups, leisure riding; N = 9). The horses' welfare was assessed by recording health-related, behavioural and postural indicators. Additionally, after learning a location task to discriminate a bucket containing either edible food ('positive' location) or unpalatable food ('negative' location), the horses were presented with a bucket located near the positive position, near the negative position and halfway between the positive and negative positions to assess their judgement biases. The riding school horses displayed the highest levels of behavioural and health-related problems and a pessimistic judgment bias, whereas the horses living under more naturalistic conditions displayed indications of good welfare and an optimistic bias. Moreover, pessimistic bias data strongly correlated with poor welfare data. This suggests that a lowered mood impacts a non-human species' perception of its environment and highlights cognitive biases as an appropriate tool to assess the impact of chronic living conditions on horse welfare. |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
1432-1904 |
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Approved |
no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ Henry2017 |
Serial |
6665 |
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| Author |
Larose, C.; Richard-Yris, M.-A.; Hausberger, M.; Rogers, L.J. |
| Title |
Laterality of horses associated with emotionality in novel situations |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Laterality |
Abbreviated Journal |
Laterality |
| Volume |
11 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
355-367 |
| Keywords |
Affect/*physiology; Animals; Brain/*physiology; Female; Functional Laterality/*physiology; Horses; Male; *Social Behavior; *Social Environment |
| Abstract |
We have established that lateral biases are characteristic of visual behaviour in 65 horses. Two breeds, Trotters and French Saddlebreds aged 2 to 3, were tested on a novel object test. The main finding was a significant correlation between emotionality index and the eye preferred to view the novel stimulus: the higher the emotionality, the more likely that the horse looked with its left eye. The less emotive French Saddlebreds, however, tended to glance at the object using the right eye, a tendency that was not found in the Trotters, although the emotive index was the same for both breeds. The youngest French Saddlebreds did not show this trend. These results are discussed in relation to the different training practices for the breeds and broader findings on lateralisation in different species. |
| Address |
Universite de Rennes 1, France |
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English |
Summary Language |
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Edition |
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1357-650X |
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| Notes |
PMID:16754236 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ room B 3.029 |
Serial |
1826 |
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| Author |
Hausberger, M.; Muller, C. |
| Title |
A brief note on some possible factors involved in the reactions of horses to humans |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
| Volume |
76 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
339-344 |
| Keywords |
Horses; Aggressiveness; Behavioural reactions; Human-animal relationship |
| Abstract |
In order to investigate relationships of adult horses to humans, we developed a simple evaluation test and scores based on observations. The first reactions of 224 adult horses to the presence of an experimenter were observed and scored. All these horses belonged to the same riding school, had the same general housing conditions and were all geldings. The evaluation was based on the horse's posture. Individual differences that could be related to some extent to the breed but also to human factors emerged clearly. French saddlebreds showed more often friendly behaviour than Angloarabs, whereas thoroughbreds were more indifferent. Clear variations occurred between groups of horses that depended on different caretakers. In this school, one caretaker is responsible for the whole daily management of a group of horses and is probably a very important factor in their well-being. The effects of this daily relation to a human seemed to be involved in the reactions to a strange person. Further studies are required to investigate what, in practice, may be determinant. |
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refbase @ user @ |
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329 |
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