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Waran, N. K. (1997). Can studies of feral horse behaviour be used for assessing domestic horse welfare? (Vol. 29).
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McGreevy, P. D., McLean, A. N., Warren-Smith, A. K., Waran, N., & Goodwin, D. (2005). Defining the terms and processes associated with equitation. Proceedings of the First International Equitation Science Symposium, , 10–43.
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Waran, N. K., Robertson, V., Cuddeford, D., Kokoszko, A., & Marlin, D. J. (1996). Effects of transporting horses facing either forwards or backwards on their behaviour and heart rate. Vet. Rec., 139(1), 7–11.
Abstract: The effects of transporting horses facing either forwards or backwards were compared by transporting six thoroughbred horses in pairs in a lorry on one journey facing in the direction of travel, and on another journey facing away from the direction of travel, over a standard one-hour route. Heart rate monitors were used to record their heart rate before, during and after the journey and the horses' behaviour was recorded by scan sampling each horse every other minute. The average heart rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when the horses were transported facing backwards, and they also tended to rest on their rumps more (P = 0.059). In the forward-facing position, the horses moved more frequently (P < 0.05) and tended to hold their necks in a higher than normal position and to vocalise more frequently (P = 0.059). During loading the average peak heart rate was 38 bpm lower (P < 0.05) when the horses were backed into the horse box for rear-facing transport than when they were loaded facing forwards. However, there was no difference between transport facing forwards or backwards in terms of the peak unloading heart rate, or the average heart rate during loading or unloading. The horses seemed to find being transported less physically stressful when they were facing backwards than when they were facing forwards.
Keywords: Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Female; *Heart Rate; *Horses; Male; Posture/*physiology; *Transportation
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Goodwin, D., McGreevy, P. D., Heleski, C., Randle, H., & Waran, N. (2008). Equitation science: The application of science in equitation. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 11(3), 185–190.
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Goodwin, D., McGreevy, P., Waran, N., & McLean, A. (2009). How equitation science can elucidate and refine horsemanship techniques. Special Issue: Equitation Science, 181(1), 5–11.
Abstract: The long-held belief that human dominance and equine submission are key to successful training and that the horse must be taught to [`]respect' the trainer infers that force is often used during training. Many horses respond by trialling unwelcome evasions, resistances and flight responses, which readily become established. When unable to cope with problem behaviours, some handlers in the past might have been encouraged to use harsh methods or devices while others may have called in a so-called [`]good horseman' or [`]horse whisperer' to remediate the horse. Frequently, the approaches such practitioners offer could not be applied by the horse's owner or trainer because of their lack of understanding or inability to apply the techniques. Often it seemed that these [`]horse-people' had magical ways with horses (e.g., they only had to whisper to them) that achieved impressive results although they had little motivation to divulge their techniques. As we begin to appreciate how to communicate with horses sensitively and consistently, misunderstandings and misinterpretations by horse and trainer should become less common. Recent studies have begun to reveal what comprises the simplest, most humane and most effective mechanisms in horse training and these advances are being matched by greater sharing of knowledge among practitioners. Indeed, various practitioners of what is referred to here as [`]natural horsemanship' now use techniques similar to the [`]whisperers' of old, but they are more open about their methods. Reputable horse trainers using natural horsemanship approaches are talented observers of horse behaviour and respond consistently and swiftly to the horse's subtle cues during training. For example, in the roundpen these trainers apply an aversive stimulus to prompt a flight response and then, when the horse slows down, moves toward them, or offers space-reducing affiliative signals, the trainer immediately modifies his/her agonistic signals, thus negatively reinforcing the desired response. Learning theory and equine ethology, the fundamentals of the emerging discipline of equitation science, can be used to explain almost all the behaviour modification that goes on in these contexts and in conventional horsemanship. By measuring and evaluating what works and what does not, equitation science has the potential to have a unifying effect on traditional practices and developing branches of equitation.
Keywords: Horse; Training; Equitation; Learning theory; Ethology; Cognition
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Seaman, S. C., Davidson, H. P. B., & Waran, N. K. (2002). How reliable is temperament assessment in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)? Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 78(2-4), 175–191.
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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Marlin, D. J., Schroter, R. C., White, S. L., Maykuth, P., Matthesen, G., Mills, P. C., et al. (2001). Recovery from transport and acclimatisation of competition horses in a hot humid environment. Equine Vet J, 33(4), 371–379.
Abstract: The aims of the present field-based study were to investigate changes in fit horses undergoing acclimatisation to a hot humid environment and to provide data on which to base recommendations for safe transport and acclimatisation. Six horses (age 7-12 years) were flown from Europe to Atlanta and underwent a 16 day period of acclimatisation. Exercise conditions during acclimatisation (wet bulb globe temperature index 27.6+/-0.0 [mean +/- s.e.]) were more thermally stressful compared with the European climate from which the horses had come (22.0+/-1.8, P<0.001). Following the flight, weight loss was 4.1+/-0.8% bodyweight and took around 7 days to recover. Water intake during the day was significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with night during acclimatisation. Daily mean exercise duration was 72+/-12 min and the majority of work was performed with a heart rate below 120 beats/min. Respiratory rate (fR) was increased (P<0.05) throughout acclimatisation compared with in Europe, but resting morning (AM) and evening (PM) rectal temperature (TREC), heart rate (fC) and plasma volume were unchanged. White blood cell (WBC) count was significantly increased at AM compared with in Europe on Days 4 and 10 of acclimatisation (P<0.01), but was not different by Day 16. In conclusion, horses exposed to hot humid environmental conditions without prior acclimatisation are able to accommodate these stresses and, with appropriate management, remain fit and clinically healthy, without significant risk of heat illness or heat-related disorders, provided they are allowed sufficient time to recover from transport, acclimatisation is undertaken gradually and they are monitored appropriately.
Keywords: Acclimatization/*physiology; Animals; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Breeding; Feeding Behavior; Female; Heart Rate; Heat; Heat Stroke/prevention & control/veterinary; Horse Diseases/prevention & control; Horses/*physiology; Humidity; Male; Respiration; Sports; *Transportation; Tropical Climate
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Waran, N., Leadon, D., & Friend, T. (2002). The Effects of Transportation on the Welfare of Horses. In The Welfare of Horses (pp. 125–150).
Abstract: Typically, horses are transported many times in their lives, this is with the exception of the horses reared for meat. Although difficult to estimate the extent of the movement of horses worldwide, it is clear that this is a substantial and growing practice. Until recently research into the effects of the different methods of transport (road, sea and air), was limited. This may have been because it was presumed that, because of their financial and emotional value, horses experience higher standards of transportation, than other large domestic animals. The process of transporting horses includes a range of potential Stressors, and there is scientific evidence that many of these can impact upon the welfare of the horse. In this chapter, we examine the effects of the different modes used to transport horses and we offer suggestions where possible for improvements in this practice.
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Waran, N. K., Clarke, N., & Farnworth, M. (2008). The effects of weaning on the domestic horse (Equus caballus). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 110(1-2), 42–57.
Abstract: For free-living or feral horses weaning takes place naturally at around 8-9 months [Gill, E.L., 1988. Factors affecting body condition of New Forest Ponies. Ph.D. Thesis. Department of Biology, University of Southampton]. Some mares will continue to suckle their foal until shortly before the arrival of their next foal, gestation being approximately 342 days depending upon the breed of the horse [Ropiha, R.T., Mathews, G., Butterfield, R.M., 1969. The duration of pregnancy in Thoroughbred mares. Vet. Rec. 84, 552-555]. Under domestic conditions, weaning tends to take place earlier, typically between 4 and 6 months of age. The weaning process has been identified as associated with potential psychological, physical and nutritional stressors that are of welfare concern. Following a review of the literature it is evident that there is a need for detailed research into what should constitute best practice with respect to foal and mare welfare. In addition, there is a need to understand the potential long-term impact of weaning on, for example, trainability and later maternal behaviour, and whether the stresses associated with early weaning have detrimental effects on the performance horse. There is also a lack of clear information concerning the most frequently observed weaning practices and the reasons why certain weaning methods are chosen. Some variables should be closely managed during weaning in order to minimise stress responses. These include: early creep feeding to familiarise the young animal with the food it will be exposed to during weaning, feeding a high fibre diet and keeping the animal in extensive conditions using a gradual approach to weaning. However, we conclude that there may not be one best method for weaning, since the chosen method must take into account a number of factors including: available resources, the housing environment, the individual foal's stage of development, the strength of the mare-foal attachment, the foal's ability to cope with changes in social conditions and the ability of the horse owner to implement the chosen method. We do however suggest that the fewest stress responses appear to occur where foals are weaned gradually and allowed to have social contact either with other foals or with older horses.
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Waran, N., McGreevy, P., & Casey, R. (2002). Training Methods and Horse Welfare. In The Welfare of Horses (pp. 151–180).
Abstract: Many aspects of horse care and handling are based upon convenience and traditional practices. Many of these methods of management and practice do not take into account the natural behaviour of horses. This is despite the belief that although domestic horses are probably more docile, stronger, faster growing and faster moving than their ancestors, they are unlikely to have lost any natural behaviours. The performance or sport horse is expected to perform a wide variety of movements and tasks, some of which are unnatural or exaggerated and most of which must be learned. The term “training” is commonly used to describe the processes whereby the human handler introduces the horse to new situations and associations. Performance horses are often required to tolerate stimuli that are innately aversive or threatening, such as having a person on their backs. They are also trained to respond to a stimulus with often unnatural or over-emphasised behaviour, such as some of the dressage movements. Effective and humane training requires an understanding of the processes underlying behaviour. These include knowledge of behaviour under natural conditions, learning processes, the influence of early experience and motivational forces. Horses differ from the other main companion animal species, namely cats and dogs, in that they are a prey species. They most commonly flee from dangerous and painful situations. Horses readily learn to avoid potentially threatening situations and if their attempts to avoid associated stimuli are prevented, they will often exhibit problem behaviours. In this chapter the history of horse training, the application of learning theory and a knowledge of equine behaviour to training, and innovative training methods are all considered.
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