Stachurska, A., Janczarek, I., Wilk, I., & Kedzierski, W. (2015). Does Music Influence Emotional State in Race Horses? Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 35(8), 650–656.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of music featured in the barn, on the emotional state of race horses. Seventy 3-year-old Purebred Arabian horses in their first race season were divided into experimental group (EXP) of 40 horses and control group (CNT) of 30 horses and placed in separate barns. The EXP was subject to specifically composed music featured in the barn for 5 hours in the afternoon during the whole study. The emotional state in the horses was assessed at rest, saddling, and warm-up walk under rider. Measurements were taken six times, every 30 to 35 days, starting from the beginning of featuring the music. The horse's emotional state was assessed by cardiac activity variables. The music effect on the emotional state was also considered with regard to the horse's performance estimated by race records. The cardiac activity variables were compared with repeated measures design, whereas race records were analyzed with analysis of variance generalized linear model. The music positively affected the emotional state in race horses. The influence was noticeable already after the first month of featuring the music and increased in the second and third months. Despite the fact that later the variables began to return to initial levels, a positive effect of the music on prizes won by the horses in the EXP compared to the CNT was found (P < .05). The results suggest that the music may be featured in the barn, preferably for 2 to 3 months as a means of improving the welfare of race horses.
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Theodoropoulou, P., & Youlatos, D. (2012). Prevalence of stereotypies amongst Thoroughbred race horses (Equus caballus) in Greece. In K. Krueger (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting (Vol. in press). Wald: Xenophon Publishing.
Abstract: Thoroughbred horses are keen to develop stereotypies in higher rates compared to other breeds. In Greece, race horses are exclusively thoroughbreds, which are intensively kept under strict environments. Our study, the first of its kind in Greece, explores the prevalence of stereotypic behaviour in these horses and its interrelation to intrinsic and management factors. For these purposes, we recorded intrinsic (age, gender, indoors and outdoors temperament, playfulness, etc.) and management parameters (time spent out, number of horses per groom, etc.) in association with established stereotypic behaviours (box walking, weaving, head nodding, wind sucking, bed eating) in 209 horses in the Markopoulo Race Track, Attica, Greece. Our analysis showed an overall prevalence of 46.6 %, which is way too high compared to those reported for other race horses worldwide. Furthermore, box walking was strongly associated with indoors temperament (p=0.012), playfulness (p=0.03), and horses per groom (p<0.001). Bed eating with gender (p=0.009), outdoors temperament (p=0.018) and playfulness (p=0.004), while head nodding with indoors and outdoors temperament (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). These results corroborate with previous investigations in other race horses, and indicate the importance of intrinsic factors in developing stereotypies in Thoroughbreds.
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