Behavioural responses of Konik Polski horses to natural, familiar sound of thunderstorm, and unfamiliar similar-sounding sounds of volcanic eruption and sea storms.
Abstract: It is not clear, if modern Konik Polski horses have retained the ability to identify sounds in terms of danger. The aim of the study was to identify differences in their behaviour in response to the reproduction of volcanic eruption and sea storm sounds, assumed to be unfamiliar to these horses, as compared to their response to a thunderclap sound, considered by the horses as potentially dangerous. The study included 13 adult mares of the Konik Polski breed, kept under a free-range system. Their behavioural responses to the reproduction of the three natural sounds with an intensity of over 50 dB, were registered. They were analysed distance of each horse to the central point of the pasture and to the exit from the enclosure, and time and/or frequencies of elements of behaviour categorised as: increased anxiety (walking, trotting and cantering), vigilance (snoring, vocalisation, high head position, high tail position, sticking together), foraging (time of grazing), comfort (playing, examining the surroundings, sniffing), maintenance of hygiene (rubbing against objects, auto- or allogrooming, rolling) and resting. The obtained data were analysed by the Dwass, Steel and Critchlow-Fligner method using the SAS program. Results: Most of analysed elements increased in response to reproduced sounds and decreased after sounds were stop playing (p < 0.05), however, they were no significant differences in general response to each studied sound. Conclusions: The responses of horses to similar sounds of both known and unknown origins, i.e. the sound of a thunderstorm, sea storm and volcanic eruption, are similar. The sound stimuli applied were not too stressful for the horses.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2022-05-30 PubMed ID: 35637528PubMed Central: PMC9150375DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03314-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper investigates how Konik Polski horses, a breed native to Poland, respond to familiar and unfamiliar loud natural sounds. It observes how the horses’ behaviour changes when exposed to the sounds of thunderstorms (familiar) and sea storms and volcanic eruptions (unfamiliar).
Research Objective
- The main goal of this research was to determine if the Konik Polski horses could distinguish between different types of loud natural sounds.
- The researchers aimed to identify any behavioural changes in response to each sound and ascertain whether the horses could identify particular sounds as more dangerous than others.
Research Methodology
- The experiment included 13 adult Konik Polski mares living in a free-range system.
- Researchers presented the horses with three different natural sounds above 50 dB: thunderstorm (familiar), sea storm and volcanic eruption (unfamiliar).
- They measured the horses’ distance from the centre of the pasture and the enclosure exit as a possible indication of fear or discomfort, as well as observing behavioural changes, including signs of anxiety, vigilance, foraging, comfort, cleanliness, and rest.
Data Analysis
- The data gathered was analysed using the Dwass, Steel, and Critchlow-Fligner method in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) program.
Research Findings
- The behaviour of the horses changed significantly when exposed to the loud sounds, becoming more alert and anxious.
- However, there was no significant difference in their response to the three different sounds, indicating that they likely did not distinguish between them in terms of danger levels.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that Konik Polski horses do not distinguish between the sounds of thunderstorms, sea storms, and volcanic eruptions in terms of perceived threat level.
- While the sounds used did increase their vigilance and caused minor distress, they were not overly stressful for the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Wiśniewska A, Janczarek I, Ryżak M, Tkaczyk E, Kędzierski W.
(2022).
Behavioural responses of Konik Polski horses to natural, familiar sound of thunderstorm, and unfamiliar similar-sounding sounds of volcanic eruption and sea storms.
BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 207.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03314-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
- Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland. iwona.janczarek@up.lublin.pl.
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland.
- Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 str, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Acoustic Stimulation / veterinary
- Animals
- Female
- Horses
- Sound
- Volcanic Eruptions
Conflict of Interest Statement
All authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 46 references
Citations
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