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Author Houpt, K.A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Formation and dissolution of the mare-foal bond Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 319-328  
  Keywords Maternal; Horse; Foal; Separation; Ontogeny  
  Abstract The behavior of mares at foaling and their behavior during subsequent weekly brief separations from their foals was quantified. Thirteen multiparous pony mares were observed for the first 30 min after foaling. Activities directed toward the foal and toward the fetal membranes were recorded. There were 16+/-8 contacts with the fetal membranes, most in the first 10 min post-partum. There were 81+/-12 activities directed toward the foal. There was a downward trend in foal contacts over the first 30 min. Eight of the 13 mares were observed for the 30-60 min post-partum during which licking and touching the foal continued. Only one of the foals suckled in the first 30 min, but half had suckled by 60 min. Ten mares and foals were separated for 5 min each week for 9 weeks. Although mare responses (neighs and steps) decreased with age of the foal, the foals' responses increased from weeks 1 to 2 and then decreased with foal age. This indicates that foal attachment to the mare is not complete until it is 2 weeks old.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3624  
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Author Nicol, C. J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Equine learning: progress and suggestions for future research Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 193-208  
  Keywords Learning; Horse; Equine; Discrimination; Training  
  Abstract Horses are well able to form classical and instrumental associations and so the focus of much recent research has been on the stimulus control of instrumental learning. Horses appear to discriminate using spatial cues more easily than other stimulus features, as indicated both by the speed of initial task acquisition and by the extent to which acquired discriminations can be reversed. Phenomena associated with discrimination learning in laboratory animals, including generalisation and peak shift, have been demonstrated in horses. However, the ability of horses to classify stimuli into categories is more controversial. Although there is some evidence that horses may be able to form categories based on similarities in the physical appearance of different stimuli, there is currently no evidence that they are able to develop abstract concepts. Their performance on social learning tasks has also been poor. Few correlations are observed between the learning ability of individual horses on different tasks, suggesting that it may not be possible to classify individual horses as `good' or `poor' learners. Better learning performance by horses that are naturally calm is probably due to reduced interference in the learning process. Correct handling procedures can lower reactivity levels in horses, and may facilitate learning in some circumstances. Future research on equine learning needs to take into account the complex nature of equine social interaction. Studies on the effects of stress on learning, and on social and spatial cognition, are also particularly needed.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 405  
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Author Seaman, S.C.; Davidson, H.P.B.; Waran, N.K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title How reliable is temperament assessment in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)? Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 175-191  
  Keywords Temperament assessment; Behavioural tests; Horses; Active and passive copers; Factor analysis  
  Abstract Differences in behavioural characteristics between individuals of the same species are often described as being due to the temperament of the individuals. These differences can have enormous implications for welfare with some individuals apparently being able to adapt to environmental challenge more easily than others. Such differences have resulted in animals often being described as either `active' copers, which try to escape from or remove an aversive stimulus, or `passive' copers, which show no outward signs of a situation being aversive, thus, appearing to be unaffected. Tests previously developed to assess the temperament of animals have been criticised for several reasons. Behaviour is often recorded and categorised using methods that are not objective and tests are generally carried out once with no consideration of whether or not behavioural responses are consistent over time. This study takes these factors into account. The behaviour of 33 horses was recorded in three types of test--an arena test, response to a person and response to an object. In order to test whether or not responses were consistent over time, the tests were repeated three times with an average of 9 days between trials. Test results were validated using responses from questionnaires completed by the farm team leader. The data were analysed using an initial principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis. The horses were found to behave consistently over the three trials in their responses in the arena test. The responses to the person test and the object test were similar to each other; however, these responses were not consistent over trials. The behaviour in the arena test was unable to be used to make a prediction of behaviour in the person and object tests and vice versa. The responses shown by the horses did not enable them to be categorised as either active or passive copers. Behavioural responses in the tests were not predictive of the response to a startle test (water spray), nor could they be used to predict status or response to being reintroduced to the group after testing. There was no relationship between the responses in the tests and the ratings given by the farm team leader. It was concluded that horses vary widely in their responses to artificial behavioural tests, with only the responses to an open-field arena test being consistent over time, and therefore, the only type of test which can indicate some core factor of temperament.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 520  
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Author King, S.R.B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Home range and habitat use of free-ranging Przewalski horses at Hustai National Park, Mongolia Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 103-113  
  Keywords Przewalski horse; Equus przewalskii; Takhi; Home range; Re-introduction; Habitat use  
  Abstract Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii), also known as takhi, were first re-introduced to the wild in Hustai National Park, Mongolia, in 1994. Since then the number of free harems increased to a maximum of seven; there are currently six (October 2000). The size of the home range of each of the harems changed among years and among seasons. The horses tended to settle in a home range close to where they were released although they explored the surrounding area. The use of the habitat within each home range changed through the day, with the horses grazing in the valleys during the morning and evening, and moving to higher places to stand rest and use as a refuge from heat and flies during the middle of the day. Range establishment and area, as well as habitat use are discussed.  
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  ISSN 0168-1591 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4682  
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Author Flannigan, G.; Stookey, J.M. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Day-time time budgets of pregnant mares housed in tie stalls: a comparison of draft versus light mares Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 125-143  
  Keywords Horse; Time budget; Stereotypies; Housing  
  Abstract Day-time (08.30-05.30 h) time budgets were generated from 55 light and 55 draft late pregnancy mares housed in tie stalls from ten pregnant mares' urine (PMU) farms using continuous video recording. Equal numbers of light and draft mares were filmed on each farm during the months of February and early March. The actions recorded included eating, drinking, resting (standing and recumbent), standing active, and interactions between horses (aggressive and non-aggressive). In addition, the presence and duration of stereotypic behaviours such as cribbing, head bobbing, weaving, and wood/bar chewing were recorded. Light mares spent significantly more time feeding and significantly less time standing active and standing resting (P<0.05, Rank Sum Two Sample Test). However, the time budget of both groups fell within the range of previously published activity budgets of feral horses. Therefore, the differences noted may not be clinically relevant. Three light and two draft mares performed repetitive behaviours at a level that is considered stereotypic (at >5% of their daily time budget). There was no significant difference in the number of horses performing stereotypies between light and draft mares. When the time budgets of both light and draft mares who performed stereotypies were pooled, the activities did not differ significantly from their counterparts who did not perform stereotypies. Because of the overall low prevalence of stereotypies and the fact that time budgets were similar to free-range horses, we believe that the management practice of keeping large numbers of pregnant mares in tie stalls is rational and that the welfare of mares is sound. Furthermore, we did not see a behavioural justification for a bias in the weight class of horses used within this management system.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3637  
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Author Boyd, L.; Bandi, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Reintroduction of takhi, Equus ferus przewalskii, to Hustai National Park, Mongolia: time budget and synchrony of activity pre- and post-release Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 87-102  
  Keywords Equids; Przewalski's horses; Takhi; Behaviour patterns; Time budgets; Behavioural synchrony; Reintroduction  
  Abstract A harem of takhi (Equus ferus przewalskii) was observed during introduction to the Hustain Nuruu Steppe Reserve of Mongolia. The goals were to examine whether the harem exhibited significant behavioural synchrony, whether release had an effect on time budget, and what the implications might be regarding acclimatisation to the wild. Behaviours were scan sampled every 10 min between the hours of 06:00 and 22:00, twice before release, twice immediately after release, and twice 2 years after reintroduction. Time budgets were constructed from these data. Considerable behavioural synchrony was evidenced both before and after release. Crepuscular grazing and midday resting were typical, regardless of the date relative to release. Upon release, the amount of time spent moving doubled for all age classes. It is suggested that this increase resulted from exploration. The amount of time spent grazing and standing remained unchanged; the increased amount of time spent moving came at the expense of resting. Two years later, the horses still spent more time moving than when captive. Somewhat less time was spent grazing, although the difference was not significant. More time was spent resting in 1996 than immediately after release. These time budgets provide evidence of successful acclimatisation to the wild. Trekking between favoured sites could account for the persistent increase in time spent moving, with concomitantly less time needed to meet nutritional needs by grazing and more time available for resting. Housing captive takhi in large enclosures is evidently insufficient to permit the amount of movement exhibited by this wild harem. The time budget of the 1- and 2-year olds was more similar to that of adults than foals, indicating approaching adulthood. That 1- and 2-year olds were nursed, without loss of body condition by the dam, provided additional evidence that the takhi achieved excellent nutritional status in the wild.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 3690  
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Author Hausberger, M.; Muller, C. url  doi
openurl 
  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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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 329  
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Author Christensen, J.W.; Zharkikh, T.; Ladewig, J.; Yasinetskaya, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Social behaviour in stallion groups (Equus przewalskii and Equus caballus) kept under natural and domestic conditions Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 76 Issue 1 Pages 11-20  
  Keywords Domestic horse; Przewalski horse; Stallion group; Social behaviour; Equus caballus; Equus przewalskii  
  Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate social behaviour in differently reared stallions in their respective environments; one group of stallions was reared under typical domestic conditions whereas the other group was reared and lives under natural conditions. The domestic group consisted of 19, 2-year-old stallions (Equus caballus), which were all weaned at 4 months of age and experienced either individual or group housing facilities before being pastured with the other similarly aged stallions. The natural living and mixed age group of Przewalski stallions (E. przewalskii) consisted of 13 stallions, most of which were juveniles (n=11, <=4 years; n=2, >9 years). The domestic group was studied in a 4-ha enclosure at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the Przewalski group under free-ranging conditions in a 75-ha enclosure in the Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine. Behavioural data was collected during 168 h of direct observation. The occurrence of 14 types of social interactions was recorded and group spacing behaviour was studied using nearest neighbour recordings. In spite of very different environments, reflecting domestic and natural rearing conditions, many similarities in behaviour was found. Play and play fight behaviour was very similar in the two stallion groups. Quantitative differences were found in social grooming since Przewalski stallions groomed more frequently (P=0.004), and in investigative behaviours, since domestic stallions showed more nasal (P=0.005) and body sniffing (P<0.001), whereas Przewalski stallions directed more sniffing towards the genital region (P<0.001). These differences may, however, be attributed to environmental factors and in the period of time the stallions were together prior to the study period. Quantitative differences appeared in some agonistic behaviours (kick threat, P<0.001; and kick, P<0.001), but data do not support earlier findings of Przewalski horses being significantly more aggressive than domestic horses. In general, Przewalski stallions engaged in more social interactions, and they showed less group spacing, i.e. maintained a significantly shorter distance between neighbours (P<0.001). The study indicates that also domestic horses, which have been reared under typical domestic conditions and allowed a period on pasture, show social behaviour, which is very similar to that shown by their non-domestic relatives.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 776  
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Author Christensen, J.W.; Ladewig, J.; Sondergaard, E.; Malmkvist, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Effects of individual versus group stabling on social behaviour in domestic stallions Type Journal Article
  Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 75 Issue 3 Pages 233-248  
  Keywords Horse; Individual stabling; Group stabling; Social behaviour  
  Abstract Domestic horses (Equus caballus) are typically kept in individual housing systems, in which they are deprived of physical contact. In order to study the effects of social restrictions on behaviour in young horses, nineteen 2-year-old stallions were housed either singly (n=7), or in groups of three (n=12) for 9 months. Subsequently, the stallions were released into two separate 2 ha enclosures according to treatment, and recordings were made on social interactions and nearest neighbours during a 6-week-period, 28 h per week. Previously group stabled stallions frequently had a former group mate as their nearest neighbour (P=0.001), whereas previously singly stabled stallions did not associate more with their former box neighbours, to whom physical contact was limited by bars during the previous treatment. The nearest neighbour was more frequently recorded to be within one horselength of singly stabled than of group stabled stallions (P=0.005). More aggressive behaviour was recorded in the group of previously singly stabled stallions, i.e. bite threats (P=0.032), whereas group stabled stallions tended to make more use of subtle agonistic interactions (displacements, submissive behaviour). Singly stabled stallions also responded to the 9 months of social deprivation by significantly increasing the level of social grooming (P<0.001) and play behaviour (P<0.001), when subsequently interacting freely with other horses. The increased occurrence may relate to a build-up of motivation (a rebound effect), as well as to external factors, such as playful pasture companions and the increased space allowance of the pasture. It is concluded that 2-year-old domestic stallions are sensitive to social deprivation and that stabling has long-term effects, lasting 6 weeks at least, on the social behaviour in stallions.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2257  
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Author Visser, E.K.; van Reenen, C.G.; Hopster, H.; Schilder, M.B.H.; Knaap, J.H.; Barneveld, A.; Blokhuis, H.J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Quantifying aspects of young horses' temperament: consistency of behavioural variables Type Journal Article
  Year 2001 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.  
  Volume 74 Issue 4 Pages 241-258  
  Keywords Horses; Temperament; Individual differences; Behavioural variables; Pca  
  Abstract Performance of horses, whether in sports or in leisure, depends on both physical abilities as well as temperament. The aim of the present work was to measure individual variation and consistency of behavioural variables, related to temperament, in young horses of the same breed and age, and reared under controlled housing conditions and management. A total of 41 Dutch Warmblood horses were tested at 9, 10, 21 and 22 months of age in two behavioural tests, i.e. the novel object test and the handling test. In the novel object test horses were confronted with an open umbrella that was lowered from the ceiling. In the handling test horses were led by a human to cross a bridge. Per test, behavioural variables in the following behavioural classes were observed: locomotor activity, latency times, postural expressions and vocalisations. Within years, all behavioural variables in the handling test, and all but two in the novel object test were positively correlated (0.36<Rs<0.81, P<0.05). For both tests, at 9, 10, 21 and 22 months of age, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to examine whether there were indications for underlying components of these individual behavioural variables that could possibly serve as measures for temperamental traits. The first component in the novel object test could be regarded as `flightiness' and the second as `sensitiveness'. In the handling test, the first component was suggested to relate to `patience', the second component to `willingness to perform'. The temperamental trait `flightiness' (novel object test) as well as the temperamental trait `patience' (handling test) were positively correlated within both years (0.36<Rs<0.65, P<0.05). For the traits `sensitiveness' (novel object test) and `willingness to perform' (handling test) a positive correlation was only found within the first year (0.44<Rs<0.57, P<0.01). A few individual behavioural variables showed consistency over years. Additionally, just one out of four temperamental traits, namely `flightiness', proved to be consistent over years (Rs=0.49, P<0.01). The temperamental trait `patience' showed a trend between years (Rs=0.31, 0.05<P<0.1). It is concluded that the behavioural tests employed in the present study can be used to reliably identify individual behavioural variables and temperamental traits in young horses. Long-term consistency, i.e. between subsequent years, could not be demonstrated convincingly. Nevertheless, future work may indicate that employing the same approach and considering an even longer time period or different phases of the horse's life, long-term consistency does exist.  
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  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 324  
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