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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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ISSN | 2076-2615 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ ani8120219 | Serial | 6439 | ||
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Author | Wolter, R.; Stefanski, V.; Krueger, K. | ||||
Title | Parameters for the Analysis of Social Bonds in Horses | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2018 | Publication | Animals | Abbreviated Journal | Animals |
Volume | 8 | Issue | 11 | Pages | 191 |
Keywords | feral horses; mutual grooming; social bonds; social bond analysis; spatial proximity | ||||
Abstract | Social bond analysis is of major importance for the evaluation of social relationships in group housed horses. However, in equine behaviour literature, studies on social bond analysis are inconsistent. Mutual grooming (horses standing side by side and gently nipping, nuzzling, or rubbing each other), affiliative approaches (horses approaching each other and staying within one body length), and measurements of spatial proximity (horses standing with body contact or within two horse-lengths) are commonly used. In the present study, we assessed which of the three parameters is most suitable for social bond analysis in horses, and whether social bonds are affected by individual and group factors. We observed social behaviour and spatial proximity in 145 feral horses, five groups of Przewalski�s horses (N = 36), and six groups of feral horses (N = 109) for 15 h per group, on three days within one week. We found grooming, friendly approaches, and spatial proximity to be robust parameters, as their correlation was affected only by the animals� sex (GLMM: N = 145, SE = 0.001, t = �2.7, p = 0.008) and the group size (GLMM: N = 145, SE < 0.001, t = 4.255, p < 0.001), but not by the horse breed, the aggression ratio, the social rank, the group, the group composition, and the individuals themselves. Our results show a trend for a correspondence between all three parameters (GLMM: N = 145, SE = 0.004, t = 1.95, p = 0.053), a strong correspondence between mutual grooming and friendly approaches (GLMM: N = 145, SE = 0.021, t = 3.922, p < 0.001), and a weak correspondence between mutual grooming and spatial proximity (GLMM: N = 145, SE = 0.04, t = 1.15, p = 0.25). We therefore suggest either using a combination of the proactive behaviour counts mutual grooming and friendly approaches, or using measurements of close spatial proximity, for the analysis of social bonds in horses within a limited time frame. | ||||
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ISSN | 2076-2615 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 6428 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K. | ||||
Title | Behaviour of horses in the “round pen technique” | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2007 | Publication | Applied Animal Behaviour Science | Abbreviated Journal | Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
Volume | 104 | Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 162-170 |
Keywords | Learning; Dominance relationship; Horse; Human-animal relationships | ||||
Abstract | I investigated the behavioural background of the way horses learn to follow humans in the “round pen technique” suggested by “horse whisperers” as a gentle method for initial horse training. Though the practicability of this technique has been adequately demonstrated in the past, the horses' behaviour during such training has not yet been documented in detail. In a riding arena, horses, that did not follow the trainer immediately, were chased away so that they galloped around the trainer. Galloping horses showed specific behaviour such as turning the ear to the trainer, chewing, licking, and stretching head and throat downwards. In subsequent trials horses needed to be chased for less time and finally followed immediately, even when conditions were changed or the trainer was replaced by another person. This suggests that horses learn to follow in this particular situation and also show some generalisation. However, following did not occur on a pasture even after several successful trials in the riding arena. | ||||
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Call Number | refbase @ user @ | Serial | 280 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K.; Flauger, B. | ||||
Title | Social learning in horses from a novel perspective | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2007 | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. |
Volume | 76 | Issue | 1 | Pages | 37-39 |
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Call Number | refbase @ user @ | Serial | 625 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K.; Flauger, B. | ||||
Title | Social feeding decisions in horses (Equus caballus) | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2008 | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. |
Volume | 78 | Issue | 1 | Pages | 76-83 |
Keywords | Feeding decision; Horse; Rank; Social behaviour | ||||
Abstract | Like many other herbivores, in a natural environment equids feed on rather evenly distributed resources. However, the vegetation in their vast habitats constantly changes. If food is plentiful only little competition occurs over food, and in non-competitive situations domestic horses tend to return to the same feeding site until it is overgrazed. In contrast, they compete over limited food for which the social status of the individuals appears to be important. Especially in ruminants several studies have proved an influence of social organisations, rank, sex and the depletion of feeding sites on the feeding behaviour of individuals. However, it is not yet understood whether and how social aspects affect horses“ feeding decisions. Curiosity about the influence of social rank on the horses” feeding decisions between two, equally with high-quality surplus food-filled buckets placed in different social feeding conditions, led us to create the test below. The observer horses were alternately tested with a dominant and a subordinate demonstrator placed in one of the three different positions. We conclude that domestic horses use social cognition and strategic decision making in order to decide where to feed in a social feeding situation. When possible they tend to return to the same, continuously supplied feeding site and switch to an “avoidance tendency” in the presence of dominant horses or when another horse is already feeding there. Thus, the social rank and the position of conspecifics affect the feeding strategy of horses. | ||||
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Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 4394 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K.; Marr, I.; Dobler, A.; Palme, R. | ||||
Title | Preservation of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and immunoglobulin A through silica gel drying for field studies in horses | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2019 | Publication | Conservation Physiology | Abbreviated Journal | conphys |
Volume | 7 | Issue | 1 | Pages | |
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Abstract | Non-invasive methods enable stress evaluation through measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the feces avoiding stressful blood drawing or stressful restraining of animals in the field. However, FGMs and IgA are mostly analysed in freshly frozen samples, which is difficult when fresh samples cannot be frozen immediately or frozen samples cannot be stored or transported. Good results were also derived from air-dried fecal samples, which are hampered by unstable air humidity in the field. These difficulties may be overcome, when drying of samples could be induced with colorless silica gel (SiO2) granules in a secure set-up, such as an air tight tube. We determined the speed of drying 1.5 g of a fresh fecal sample from six horses on air and on silica gel. Furthermore, FGMs and IgA were analysed in differently stored subsamples from 12 horses: in frozen fecal samples, in air- or silica gel-dried samples stored for 1 day and for 7 days, and in wet fecal samples kept in a tube at room temperature for 7 days. FGM levels remained stable in feces dried on air or on silica gel for 7 days, whereas IgA quantities showed a significant loss. Under field conditions, when freezing or transporting the frozen samples is not possible and humidity hampers air drying, drying samples on silica gel in air tight tubes appears to be very helpful and reliable for analysing FGMs. | ||||
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ISSN | 2051-1434 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 6594 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K.; Flauger, B.; Farmer, K.; Hemelrijk, C. | ||||
Title | Movement initiation in groups of feral horses | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2014 | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. |
Volume | 103 | Issue | Pages | 91-101 | |
Keywords | Horse; Equus ferus caballus; Distributed leadership; Herding; Departure; Rank | ||||
Abstract | Abstract Herds of ungulates, flocks of birds, swarms of insects and schools of fish move in coordinated groups. Computer models show that only one or very few animals are needed to initiate and direct movement. To investigate initiation mechanisms further, we studied two ways in which movement can be initiated in feral horses: herding, and departure from the group. We examined traits affecting the likelihood of a horse initiating movement i.e. social rank, affiliative relationships, spatial position, and social network. We also investigated whether group members join a movement in dominance rank order. Our results show that whereas herding is exclusive to alpha males, any group member may initiate movement by departure. Social bonds, the number of animals interacted with, and the spatial position were not significantly associated with movement initiation. We did not find movement initiation by departure to be exclusive to any type of individual. Instead we find evidence for a limited form of distributed leadership, with higher ranking animals being followed more often. | ||||
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ISSN | 0376-6357 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5738 | ||
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Author | Wolter, R.; Pantel, N.; Stefanski, V.; Möstl, E.; Krueger, K. | ||||
Title | The role of an alpha animal in changing environmental conditions | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2014 | Publication | Physiology & Behavior | Abbreviated Journal | Physiol. Behav. |
Volume | 133 | Issue | Pages | 236-243 | |
Keywords | Alpha male; Horse; Equus ferus przewalskii; Bachelor group; Group structure | ||||
Abstract | Abstract The maintenance and development of conservation areas by grazing of large herbivores, such as Przewalski's horses, is common practice. Several nature conservation areas house male bachelor groups of this species. When males are needed for breeding they are removed from the groups, often without considering group compositions and individual social positions. However, alpha animals are needed for ensuring group stability and decision making in potentially dangerous situations in several species. To investigate the role of the alpha male in a bachelor group, we observed the behaviour of five Przewalski's horse males during the enlargement of their enclosure. We analyzed the group's social structure and movement orders, as well as the animals' connectedness, activity budgets, and whether they moved with preferred group members and how factors such as social rank influenced the horses' behaviour. We also investigated the excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) via faeces of the horses while exploring a new area as a parameter of glucocorticoid production. Our results show that the alpha male is important for a bachelor group in changing environmental conditions. The alpha male had the highest level of connectedness within the group. When exploring the new environment, its position in the group changed from previously being the last to being the first. Furthermore the whole group behaviour changed when exploring the new area. The stallions showed reduced resting behavior, increased feeding and did not stay close to each other. We found that the excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites of most horses rose only marginally during the first days on the new area while only the alpha male showed a significant increased amount of glucocorticoid production during the first day of the enclosure enlargement. | ||||
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ISSN | 0031-9384 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5818 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K. | ||||
Title | Social learning and innovative behaviour in horses | Type | Conference Article | ||
Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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Keywords | social learning, innovative behaviour, Equus caballus, cognitive capacities | ||||
Abstract | The evaluation of important parameters for measuring the horses’ cognitive capacities is one of the central topics of the equine behaviour team at Nürtingen-Geislingen University. Social complexity has been said to be one of the settings in which needs for cognitive capacities arise in animals. A variety of studies throughout the last two decades proved the horses’ social complexity to be far more elaborate than previously assumed. Horses form social bonds for the protection of offspring, intervene in encounters of others, identify group mates individually and easily orientate in a fission fusion society. In such socially complex societies, animals will benefit from learning socially. In many bird and primate species the degree of social complexity correlates nicely with the species abilities for social learning. Social learning was, therefore, argued to be an indicator for elaborate mental capacities in animals. We were delighted to prove that horses actually copy social behaviour and techniques for operating a feeding apparatus from older and higher ranking group members. In a recent study we found young horses, at the age of 3 to 12, to copy the operation of a feeding apparatus from a human demonstrator. Social learning seems to work nicely in horses when the social background of the animals is considered. The degree to which individual animals adapt to changes in their social or physical environment by finding innovative solution appears to be the other side of the coin, of whether animals adjust to challenges by social learning. It is not very astonishing, that along with the animals’ social complexity and their ability to learn socially also the degree to which they show innovative behaviour was claimed to be one of the most important demonstrations of advanced cognitive capacities. In a recent approach, we started to ask horse owners and horse keepers in many countries to tell us about unusual behaviour of their horses via a web site (http://innovative-behaviour.org). To date, we received 204 cases of innovative behaviour descriptions from which six cases were clear examples of tool use or borderline tool use. We categorized the innovative behaviours into the classes, a) innovations to gain food, b) innovations to gain freedom, c) social innovations, d) innovations to increase maintenance, and e) innovations that could not be clearly assigned to a category. About 20% of the innovative horses showed more than one innovation. These animals could be termed “true innovators”. Again, young horses were more innovative than older ones with the age group 5 – 9 showing the highest number of innovative behaviour descriptions. In a nutshell, the horses’ cognitive capacities appear to be underestimated throughout the last decades. The horses’ social complexity is far more elaborate than previously assumed, horses learn socially from conspecific and humans, some of them demonstrate innovative behaviour adaptations to their environment and even simple forms of tool use. |
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Corporate Author | Krueger, K. | Thesis | |||
Publisher | Xenophon Publishing | Place of Publication | Wald | Editor | |
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Series Volume | in prep | Series Issue | Edition | ||
ISSN | ISBN | 978-3-95625-000-2 | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5848 | ||
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Author | Krueger, K.; Schneider, G.; Flauger, B.; Heinze, J. | ||||
Title | Context-dependent third-party intervention in agonistic encounters of male Przewalski horses | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2015 | Publication | Behavioural Processes | Abbreviated Journal | Behav. Process. |
Volume | 121 | Issue | Pages | 54-62 | |
Keywords | Equus ferus przewalskii; Group conflict; Rank orders; Social bonds; Social control; Third-party intervention | ||||
Abstract | Abstract One mechanism to resolve conflict among group members is third party intervention, for which several functions, such as kin protection, alliance formation, and the promotion of group cohesion have been proposed. Still, empirical research on the function of intervention behaviour is rare. We studied 40 cases of intervention behaviour in a field study on 13 semi-wild bachelor horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in (a) standard social situations, and (b) when new horses joined the group (i.e. introductions). Only interventions in agonistic encounters were analysed. Eight of 13 animals directed intervention behaviour toward threatening animal in agonistic encounters of group members. One stallion was particularly active. The stallions did not intervene to support former group mates or kin and interventions were not reciprocated. In introduction situations and in standard social situations, the interveners supported animals which were lower in rank, but targeted, threatening animals of comparable social rank. After introductions, stallions received more affiliative behaviour from animals they supported and thus appeared to intervene for alliance formation. In standard social situations, interveners did not receive more affiliative behaviour from animals they supported and may primarily have intervened to promote group cohesion and to reduce social disruption within the group. | ||||
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ISSN | 0376-6357 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Notes | Approved | no | |||
Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5925 | ||
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