Could snorts inform us on how horses perceive riding?
Abstract: Several previous studies have shown that working conditions (including riding) can induce stress in horses. Riders' actions and postures, when inappropriate, induce stress and conflict behaviours during riding and welfare impairment and negative emotional states outside work. Optimistic biases have been found in leisure horses, which, amongst positive management factors, were ridden with loose reins and low hands. Thus, one can wonder whether horses may positively perceive work or parts of it. Indicators of positive emotions are poorly known yet but we recently found that, out of the working context, a non-vocal acoustic signal, snorts, could reflect mild positive emotions in horses. We hypothesized that snorts could help identifying the working phases and actions appreciated by horses. An overview of snort production in 127 horses spread over 16 riding schools was first conducted to highlight a potential site effect. Results show a great difference in snorts frequency between facilities which may be due to different riding techniques. In order to test this hypothesis, we then focused on 37 horse-rider dyads by scoring horses' postures (neck) and riders' positions (hand, reins) during, but also out of the context of snort production. Results show that snorts were particularly associated with phases when the rider technique, i.e. long and loose reins, allowed more comfort for the horse, especially while walking. Results were more mitigated for higher paces since the association of snorts with signs of comfort was less clear-cut. Snorts could therefore be useful tools for identifying better practices, especially at slower gaits. However, care has to be taken at higher paces.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-01-07 PubMed ID: 31923434DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104041Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores the potential of horse snorts as indicators of comfort and stress levels in horses during different phases and types of riding. This is based on the premise that the working conditions for horses, including certain riding techniques and riders’ bodily positions, can cause stress in these animals, impacting their wellbeing.
Research Objectives
- The main objective of this study was to explore the possibility of using snorts as indicators of horses’ positive emotional states, and thus, as a potential measure of horse welfare.
- The researchers also aimed to determine the impact of riders’ techniques and positions on horse comfort, based on the frequency and contexts of snort production.
Methodology
- The research was conducted with 127 horses in 16 different riding schools.
- The study began with an overview of snort production in these horses to identify potential differences due to varying riding techniques across schools.
- The researchers then narrowed their focus down to 37 horse-rider pairs, closely observing and scoring the postures of horses and positions of riders during and outside the context of snort production.
Findings
- Significant differences were found in snort frequency among horses at different riding schools, potentially due to diverse riding techniques used at these facilities.
- Snorts were particularly associated with periods when the horse experienced more comfort, such as when riders used long and loose reins, especially while walking.
- However, the implications were less clear-cut for higher paces, where the association between snorts and signs of comfort was less apparent.
Conclusions and Implications
- The findings suggest that snorts could serve as useful tools to identify better riding practices that promote horse welfare, particularly at slower gaits.
- However, the researchers noted the need for caution when interpreting snort frequency at higher paces, as the link to comfort is not as clear in these instances.
Cite This Article
APA
Stomp M, Masson A, Henry S, Hausberger M, Lesimple C.
(2020).
Could snorts inform us on how horses perceive riding?
Behav Processes, 172, 104041.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104041 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale Et Humaine) - UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France. Electronic address: mathilde.stomp@hotmail.fr.
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale Et Humaine) - UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France.
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale Et Humaine) - UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France.
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale Et Humaine) - UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France.
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale Et Humaine) - UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Emotions / physiology
- Female
- Gait
- Horses / physiology
- Humans
- Male
- Posture
- Vocalization, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Hall C, Kay R. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part 2: Horse-human interactions. Anim Welf 2024;33:e41.
- Bogossian PM, Pereira JS, da Silva NF, Hilgert AR, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Belli CB, Fernandes WR. Social facilitation of trotting: Can horses perceive and adapt to the movement of another horse?. PLoS One 2024;19(8):e0309474.
- Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to 150 Horses with Musculoskeletal Pain before and after Diagnostic Anaesthesia. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 9;13(12).
- Kelly KJ, McDuffee LA, Mears K. The Effect of Human-Horse Interactions on Equine Behaviour, Physiology, and Welfare: A Scoping Review. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 24;11(10).
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