Assessing equine anxiety-related parameters using an isolation test in combination with a questionnaire survey.

The study focuses on understanding equine (horse) anxiety by using a behavior test and correlating it with a questionnaire answered by the caretakers. It found that the time taken by an isolated horse to break tethering cords and its heart rate when isolated were indicators of anxiety, and females were more anxious than males.

About the experiment

• The study intended to identify parameters that could mirror equine anxiety traits. The researchers approached this by comparing output from a behavior test and an anxiety score given by the horses’ familiar caretakers.
• In the experiment, horses were individually guided into an unfamiliar room (to trigger potential anxiety) and loosely tethered using the common two-leads cross-tying technique, which allowed some movement for the horse and stress release via breakable plastic cords.
• The horses were accompanied by their caretakers for the first 2 minutes, after which they were left alone for another 2 minutes.

Measurements and results

• Different parameters were recorded during the test, such as the duration taken to break the plastic cords (latency), heart rate, and the number of steps and pawings the horse made.
• It was observed that most parameters changed significantly when the horse was left alone, indicating increased levels of anxiety. Some parameters also differed based on the sex of the horse.

Correlation analysis

• A correlation analysis was conducted between the behavior test results and anxiety scores given by the caretakers. This revealed a significant association: a lower latency to break the tethering cords and a higher heart rate when isolated correlated with higher anxiety scores.
• This analysis suggested these two parameters—latency to break cords and heart rate—could be potential markers for assessing the anxiety levels in unfamiliar horses.
• The analysis also showed female horses are often more anxious than their male counterparts.

Conclusion and future application

• The study concludes that combining behavioral tests with caretaker-assessed questionnaires could be a valuable tool for assessing equine anxiety.
• The researchers also suggest this methodology might be beneficial in gauging other temperament traits in horses, broadening the potential applications of this work.