Could work be a source of behavioural disorders? A study in horses.
Abstract: Stress at work, as shown by a number of human studies, may lead to a variety of negative and durable effects, such as impaired psychological functioning (anxiety, depression...). Horses share with humans this characteristic of working on a daily basis and are submitted then to work stressors related to physical constraints and/or more "psychological" conflicts, such as potential controversial orders from the riders or the requirement to suppress emotions. On another hand, horses may perform abnormal repetitive behaviour ("stereotypies") in response to adverse life conditions. In the present study, we investigated whether the type of work the horses are used for may have an impact on their tendency to show stereotypic behaviour (and its type) outside work. Observations in their box of 76 horses all living in the same conditions, belonging to one breed and one sex, revealed that the prevalence and types of stereotypies performed strongly depended upon the type of work they were used for. The stereotypies observed involved mostly mouth movements and head tossing/nodding. Work constraints probably added to unfavourable living conditions, favouring the emergence of chronic abnormal behaviours. This is especially remarkable as the 23 hours spent in the box were influenced by the one hour work performed every day. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of potential effects of work stressors on the emergence of abnormal behaviours in an animal species. It raises an important line of thought on the chronic impact of the work situation on the daily life of individuals.
Publication Date: 2009-10-28 PubMed ID: 19862328PubMed Central: PMC2763287DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007625Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research focuses on the effects of work stress on horses and its potential contribution to behavioral disorders. The type of work given to the horses is shown to influence the prevalence and types of abnormal repetitive behaviours they displayed.
Objective of the Study
- The study investigated the impact of the type of work assigned to horses on their tendency to exhibit abnormal repetitive behaviors, also known as stereotypies, outside of work. It aimed to determine if stress from work could potentially cause behavioral disorders in horses.
Methodology
- The researchers observed 76 horses of the same breed and sex, all living under the same conditions. They took note of the different types of stereotypies performed by the horses and the prevalence of these behaviors.
- The stereotypies witnessed mostly involved mouth movements and head tossing/nodding actions. These behaviors were considered in relation to the type of work the horses were assigned to.
Findings
- The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the type of work the horses performed and the occurrence and type of stereotypies they exhibited.
- It was observed that work stress, presumably combined with unfavorable living conditions, led to the emergence of these abnormal behaviors. This was noteworthy as the behaviors expressed during the 23 hours spent in the horses’ boxes were influenced by the one hour of work they performed each day.
Conclusion and Implication
- The study concluded that work stressors could potentially contribute to the development of abnormal behaviors in horses.
- This is significant as it marks the first evidence of work-related stress having an impact on behavioral disorders in an animal species. The findings suggest a vital line of exploration on the chronic effects of work situations on the daily life of individuals, beyond just humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Hausberger M, Gautier E, Biquand V, Lunel C, Ju00e9go P.
(2009).
Could work be a source of behavioural disorders? A study in horses.
PLoS One, 4(10), e7625.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0007625 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Universitu00e9 de Rennes 1, UMR 6552 Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Unitu00e9 Mixte de Recherche CNRS, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France. martine.hausberger@univ-rennes1.fr
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Breeding
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / psychology
- Horses
- Housing, Animal
- Mental Disorders / veterinary
- Stress, Psychological
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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Citations
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