FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Die Naturwissenschaften2017; 104(1-2); 8; doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1429-1

Do horses with poor welfare show ‘pessimistic’ cognitive biases?

Abstract: This field study tested the hypothesis that domestic horses living under putatively challenging-to-welfare conditions (for example involving social, spatial, feeding constraints) would present signs of poor welfare and co-occurring pessimistic judgement biases. Our subjects were 34 horses who had been housed for over 3 years in either restricted riding school situations (e.g. kept in single boxes, with limited roughage, ridden by inexperienced riders; N = 25) or under more naturalistic conditions (e.g. access to free-range, kept in stable social groups, leisure riding; N = 9). The horses' welfare was assessed by recording health-related, behavioural and postural indicators. Additionally, after learning a location task to discriminate a bucket containing either edible food ('positive' location) or unpalatable food ('negative' location), the horses were presented with a bucket located near the positive position, near the negative position and halfway between the positive and negative positions to assess their judgement biases. The riding school horses displayed the highest levels of behavioural and health-related problems and a pessimistic judgment bias, whereas the horses living under more naturalistic conditions displayed indications of good welfare and an optimistic bias. Moreover, pessimistic bias data strongly correlated with poor welfare data. This suggests that a lowered mood impacts a non-human species' perception of its environment and highlights cognitive biases as an appropriate tool to assess the impact of chronic living conditions on horse welfare.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2017-01-12 PubMed ID: 28083632DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1429-1Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a study that aimed to understand if horses living under difficult conditions show signs of poor welfare and a pessimistic judgement bias. It concluded that poor living conditions do indeed reflect in a horse’s health, behavior, and their perception of their environment.

Study Overview

  • The study observed 34 horses under two markedly different conditions. 25 horses lived under challenging conditions in restricted riding schools, while the other 9 lived under more natural, free-range conditions with stable social groups and leisure riding.
  • The welfare of these horses was assessed on several measures, including health-related indicators, behavioural signs, and posture.
  • The primary objective was to investigate if the living conditions correlated with the horses’ judgment biases. Judgment bias was measured by training the horses to discriminate between a bucket containing edible food (‘positive’ location) and a bucket with unpalatable food (‘negative’ location). The horses were later presented with a bucket in three different locations – closer to the ‘positive’ location, closer to the ‘negative’ location, and in between – to understand their bias.

Key Findings

  • The study noted significant behavioural and health-related problems among the horses living in restricted riding school conditions. These horses also demonstrated a pessimistic judgment bias, indicating that their living conditions significantly affected their mood and behaviors.
  • On the other hand, the horses living under naturalistic conditions exhibited signs of good welfare and showcased an optimistic bias. This reflects that their environment positively influenced their perception and wellbeing.
  • A critical finding was the correlation between pessimistic bias and poor welfare data among the restricted-living horses. This implies that the overall mood of the horses, associated with their living conditions, heavily influences their environment perception.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that horses’ living conditions significantly impact their welfare and cognitive biases. Poor conditions correspond to poor welfare signs and a pessimistic bias, whereas good conditions correspond to better welfare and an optimistic bias.
  • Furthermore, the strong correlation between living conditions and judgement biases confirms the role of cognitive biases as an effective tool in assessing the impact of long-term living conditions on a horse’s welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Henry S, Fureix C, Rowberry R, Bateson M, Hausberger M. (2017). Do horses with poor welfare show ‘pessimistic’ cognitive biases? Naturwissenschaften, 104(1-2), 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1429-1

Publication

Die Naturwissenschaften
ISSN: 1432-1904
NlmUniqueID: 0400767
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 104
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 8

Researcher Affiliations

Henry, S
  • Université Rennes 1-UMR 6552 CNRS-Ethologie animale et humaine, Station Biologique de Paimpont, Paimpont, France. severine.henry@univ-rennes1.fr.
Fureix, C
  • Université Rennes 1-UMR 6552 CNRS-Ethologie animale et humaine, Station Biologique de Paimpont, Paimpont, France.
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Rowberry, R
  • Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
Bateson, M
  • Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
Hausberger, M
  • CNRS UMR 6552-Université Rennes 1-Ethologie animale et humaine, Rennes, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry / standards
  • Animal Welfare
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / psychology

References

This article includes 55 references
  1. Keen HA, Nelson OL, Robbins CT, Evans M, Shepherdson DJ, Newberry RC. Validation of a novel cognitive bias task based on difference in quantity of reinforcement for assessing environmental enrichment.. Anim Cogn 2014 May;17(3):529-41.
    pubmed: 24045850doi: 10.1007/s10071-013-0684-1google scholar: lookup
  2. Brilot BO, Asher L, Bateson M. Stereotyping starlings are more 'pessimistic'.. Anim Cogn 2010 Sep;13(5):721-31.
    pubmed: 20464439doi: 10.1007/s10071-010-0323-zgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Boissy A, Lee C. How assessing relationships between emotions and cognition can improve farm animal welfare.. Rev Sci Tech 2014 Apr;33(1):103-10.
    pubmed: 25000782doi: 10.20506/rst.33.1.2260google scholar: lookup
  4. Bateson M, Emmerson M, Ergün G, Monaghan P, Nettle D. Opposite Effects of Early-Life Competition and Developmental Telomere Attrition on Cognitive Biases in Juvenile European Starlings.. PLoS One 2015;10(7):e0132602.
    pubmed: 26222390doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132602google scholar: lookup
  5. Salmeto AL, Hymel KA, Carpenter EC, Brilot BO, Bateson M, Sufka KJ. Cognitive bias in the chick anxiety-depression model.. Brain Res 2011 Feb 10;1373:124-30.
    pubmed: 21156165doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.12.007google scholar: lookup
  6. MacLeod C, Mathews A, Tata P. Attentional bias in emotional disorders.. J Abnorm Psychol 1986 Feb;95(1):15-20.
    pubmed: 3700842doi: 10.1037//0021-843x.95.1.15google scholar: lookup
  7. Pomerantz O, Terkel J, Suomi SJ, Paukner A. Stereotypic head twirls, but not pacing, are related to a 'pessimistic'-like judgment bias among captive tufted capuchins (Cebus apella).. Anim Cogn 2012 Jul;15(4):689-98.
    pubmed: 22526692doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0497-7google scholar: lookup
  8. Benhajali H, Ezzaouia M, Lunel C, Charfi F, Hausberger M. Temporal feeding pattern may influence reproduction efficiency, the example of breeding mares.. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e73858.
    pubmed: 24098636doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073858google scholar: lookup
  9. Bachmann I, Audigé L, Staﾬher M. Risk factors associated with behavioural disorders of crib-biting, weaving and box-walking in Swiss horses.. Equine Vet J 2003 Mar;35(2):158-63.
    pubmed: 12638792doi: 10.2746/042516403776114216google scholar: lookup
  10. Henry S, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M. Influence of various early human-foal interferences on subsequent human-foal relationship.. Dev Psychobiol 2006 Dec;48(8):712-8.
    pubmed: 17111402doi: 10.1002/dev.20189google scholar: lookup
  11. Fureix C, Jego P, Henry S, Lansade L, Hausberger M. Towards an ethological animal model of depression? A study on horses.. PLoS One 2012;7(6):e39280.
    pubmed: 22761752doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039280google scholar: lookup
  12. Lesimple C, Fureix C, De Margerie E, Sénèque E, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Towards a postural indicator of back pain in horses (Equus caballus).. PLoS One 2012;7(9):e44604.
    pubmed: 22970261doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044604google scholar: lookup
  13. Dionne CE, Bourbonnais R, Frémont P, Rossignol M, Stock SR, Larocque I. A clinical return-to-work rule for patients with back pain.. CMAJ 2005 Jun 7;172(12):1559-67.
    pubmed: 15939915doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1041159google scholar: lookup
  14. Lesimple C, Fureix C, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Human direct actions may alter animal welfare, a study on horses (Equus caballus).. PLoS One 2010 Apr 28;5(4):e10257.
    pubmed: 20442766doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010257google scholar: lookup
  15. Verbeek E, Ferguson D, Lee C. Are hungry sheep more pessimistic? The effects of food restriction on cognitive bias and the involvement of ghrelin in its regulation.. Physiol Behav 2014 Jan 17;123:67-75.
    pubmed: 24096007doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.09.017google scholar: lookup
  16. Neave HW, Daros RR, Costa JH, von Keyserlingk MA, Weary DM. Pain and pessimism: dairy calves exhibit negative judgement bias following hot-iron disbudding.. PLoS One 2013;8(12):e80556.
    pubmed: 24324609doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080556google scholar: lookup
  17. Harris PA. How should we feed horses--and how many times a day?. Vet J 2007 Mar;173(2):252-3.
    pubmed: 17393570
  18. Bateson M, Nettle D. Development of a cognitive bias methodology for measuring low mood in chimpanzees.. PeerJ 2015;3:e998.
    pubmed: 26082875doi: 10.7717/peerj.998google scholar: lookup
  19. Sankey C, Richard-Yris MA, Henry S, Fureix C, Nassur F, Hausberger M. Reinforcement as a mediator of the perception of humans by horses (Equus caballus).. Anim Cogn 2010 Sep;13(5):753-64.
    pubmed: 20490592doi: 10.1007/s10071-010-0326-9google scholar: lookup
  20. Harding EJ, Paul ES, Mendl M. Animal behaviour: cognitive bias and affective state.. Nature 2004 Jan 22;427(6972):312.
    pubmed: 14737158doi: 10.1038/427312agoogle scholar: lookup
  21. Hausberger M, Gautier E, Biquand V, Lunel C, Jégo P. Could work be a source of behavioural disorders? A study in horses.. PLoS One 2009 Oct 28;4(10):e7625.
    pubmed: 19862328doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007625google scholar: lookup
  22. Anderson MH, Hardcastle C, Munafò MR, Robinson ES. Evaluation of a novel translational task for assessing emotional biases in different species.. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci 2012 Jun;12(2):373-81.
    pubmed: 22183974doi: 10.3758/s13415-011-0076-4google scholar: lookup
  23. Jeffcott LB. Disorders of the thoracolumbar spine of the horse--a survey of 443 cases.. Equine Vet J 1980 Oct;12(4):197-210.
    pubmed: 7439145doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1980.tb03427.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  24. Broom DM. Animal welfare: concepts and measurement.. J Anim Sci 1991 Oct;69(10):4167-75.
    pubmed: 1778832doi: 10.2527/1991.69104167xgoogle scholar: lookup
  25. Mendl M, Brooks J, Basse C, Burman O, Paul E, Blackwell E, Casey R. Dogs showing separation-related behaviour exhibit a 'pessimistic' cognitive bias.. Curr Biol 2010 Oct 12;20(19):R839-40.
    pubmed: 20937467doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.08.030google scholar: lookup
  26. Nicol CJ, Davidson HP, Harris PA, Waters AJ, Wilson AD. Study of crib-biting and gastric inflammation and ulceration in young horses.. Vet Rec 2002 Nov 30;151(22):658-62.
    pubmed: 12498408doi: 10.1136/vr.151.22.658google scholar: lookup
  27. Rochais C, Fureix C, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. Lower attention to daily environment: a novel cue for detecting chronic horses' back pain?. Sci Rep 2016 Jan 29;6:20117.
    pubmed: 26823123doi: 10.1038/srep20117google scholar: lookup
  28. Hothersall B, Gale EV, Harris P, Nicol CJ. Cue use by foals (Equus caballus) in a discrimination learning task.. Anim Cogn 2010 Jan;13(1):63-74.
    pubmed: 19521725doi: 10.1007/s10071-009-0245-9google scholar: lookup
  29. Nettle D, Bateson M. The evolutionary origins of mood and its disorders.. Curr Biol 2012 Sep 11;22(17):R712-21.
    pubmed: 22975002doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.06.020google scholar: lookup
  30. Wolff A, Hausberger M, Le Scolan N. Experimental tests to assess emotionality in horses.. Behav Processes 1997 Sep;40(3):209-21.
    pubmed: 24895882doi: 10.1016/s0376-6357(97)00784-5google scholar: lookup
  31. Schick A, Wessa M, Vollmayr B, Kuehner C, Kanske P. Indirect assessment of an interpretation bias in humans: neurophysiological and behavioral correlates.. Front Hum Neurosci 2013;7:272.
    pubmed: 23781193doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00272google scholar: lookup
  32. Goodwin D, Davidson HP, Harris P. Responses of horses offered a choice between stables containing single or multiple forages.. Vet Rec 2007 Apr 21;160(16):548-51.
    pubmed: 17449710doi: 10.1136/vr.160.16.548google scholar: lookup
  33. Möstl E, Palme R. Hormones as indicators of stress.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2002 Jul;23(1-2):67-74.
    pubmed: 12142227doi: 10.1016/s0739-7240(02)00146-7google scholar: lookup
  34. Doyle RE, Lee C, Deiss V, Fisher AD, Hinch GN, Boissy A. Measuring judgement bias and emotional reactivity in sheep following long-term exposure to unpredictable and aversive events.. Physiol Behav 2011 Mar 28;102(5):503-10.
    pubmed: 21236279doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.01.001google scholar: lookup
  35. Lesimple C, Fureix C, Biquand V, Hausberger M. Comparison of clinical examinations of back disorders and humans' evaluation of back pain in riding school horses.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Oct 15;9:209.
    pubmed: 24128080doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-209google scholar: lookup
  36. Bateson M, Desire S, Gartside SE, Wright GA. Agitated honeybees exhibit pessimistic cognitive biases.. Curr Biol 2011 Jun 21;21(12):1070-3.
    pubmed: 21636277doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.05.017google scholar: lookup
  37. McGreevy PD, Cripps PJ, French NP, Green LE, Nicol CJ. Management factors associated with stereotypic and redirected behaviour in the thoroughbred horse.. Equine Vet J 1995 Mar;27(2):86-91.
    pubmed: 7607155doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb03041.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  38. Fureix C, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Partners with bad temper: reject or cure? A study of chronic pain and aggression in horses.. PLoS One 2010 Aug 26;5(8):e12434.
    pubmed: 20865160doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012434google scholar: lookup
  39. Hausberger M, Muller C, Lunel C. Does work affect personality? A study in horses.. PLoS One 2011 Feb 9;6(2):e14659.
    pubmed: 21347405doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014659google scholar: lookup
  40. Ashley FH, Waterman-Pearson AE, Whay HR. Behavioural assessment of pain in horses and donkeys: application to clinical practice and future studies.. Equine Vet J 2005 Nov;37(6):565-75.
    pubmed: 16295937doi: 10.2746/042516405775314826google scholar: lookup
  41. Hausberger M, Fureix C, Bourjade M, Wessel-Robert S, Richard-Yris MA. On the significance of adult play: what does social play tell us about adult horse welfare?. Naturwissenschaften 2012 Apr;99(4):291-302.
    pubmed: 22402927doi: 10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8google scholar: lookup
  42. Papciak J, Popik P, Fuchs E, Rygula R. Chronic psychosocial stress makes rats more 'pessimistic' in the ambiguous-cue interpretation paradigm.. Behav Brain Res 2013 Nov 1;256:305-10.
    pubmed: 23993861doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.08.036google scholar: lookup
  43. Cooper JJ, McDonald L, Mills DS. The effect of increasing visual horizons on stereotypic weaving: implications for the social housing of stabled horses.. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2000 Aug 1;69(1):67-83.
    pubmed: 10856785doi: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00115-5google scholar: lookup
  44. Gordon DJ, Rogers LJ. Cognitive bias, hand preference and welfare of common marmosets.. Behav Brain Res 2015;287:100-8.
    pubmed: 25813746doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.03.037google scholar: lookup
  45. Taylor JM. Kendall's and Spearman's correlation coefficients in the presence of a blocking variable.. Biometrics 1987 Jun;43(2):409-16.
    pubmed: 3607205
  46. Pincus T, Pearce S, Perrott A. Pain patients' bias in the interpretation of ambiguous homophones.. Br J Med Psychol 1996 Sep;69 ( Pt 3):259-66.
    pubmed: 8883977doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1996.tb01868.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  47. Boissy A, Manteuffel G, Jensen MB, Moe RO, Spruijt B, Keeling LJ, Winckler C, Forkman B, Dimitrov I, Langbein J, Bakken M, Veissier I, Aubert A. Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare.. Physiol Behav 2007 Oct 22;92(3):375-97.
    pubmed: 17428510doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.02.003google scholar: lookup
  48. Fureix C, Hausberger M, Seneque E, Morisset S, Baylac M, Cornette R, Biquand V, Deleporte P. Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparative study of behavioural postures.. Naturwissenschaften 2011 Jul;98(7):583-92.
    pubmed: 21573691doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0803-2google scholar: lookup
  49. Pincus T, Morley S. Cognitive-processing bias in chronic pain: a review and integration.. Psychol Bull 2001 Sep;127(5):599-617.
    pubmed: 11548969doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.127.5.599google scholar: lookup
  50. Fureix C, Jego P, Sankey C, Hausberger M. How horses (Equus caballus) see the world: humans as significant "objects".. Anim Cogn 2009 Jul;12(4):643-54.
    pubmed: 19381698doi: 10.1007/s10071-009-0223-2google scholar: lookup
  51. Müller CA, Riemer S, Rosam CM, Schößwender J, Range F, Huber L. Brief owner absence does not induce negative judgement bias in pet dogs.. Anim Cogn 2012 Sep;15(5):1031-5.
    pubmed: 22870825doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0526-6google scholar: lookup
  52. Visser EK, Neijenhuis F, de Graaf-Roelfsema E, Wesselink HG, de Boer J, van Wijhe-Kiezebrink MC, Engel B, van Reenen CG. Risk factors associated with health disorders in sport and leisure horses in the Netherlands.. J Anim Sci 2014 Feb;92(2):844-55.
    pubmed: 24352963doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6692google scholar: lookup
  53. Hales CA, Stuart SA, Anderson MH, Robinson ES. Modelling cognitive affective biases in major depressive disorder using rodents.. Br J Pharmacol 2014 Oct;171(20):4524-38.
    pubmed: 24467454doi: 10.1111/bph.12603google scholar: lookup
  54. Benhajali H, Richard-Yris MA, Ezzaouia M, Charfi F, Hausberger M. Foraging opportunity: a crucial criterion for horse welfare?. Animal 2009 Sep;3(9):1308-12.
    pubmed: 22444907doi: 10.1017/S1751731109004820google scholar: lookup
  55. Paul ES, Harding EJ, Mendl M. Measuring emotional processes in animals: the utility of a cognitive approach.. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2005 May;29(3):469-91.
    pubmed: 15820551doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2005.01.002google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 33 times.
  1. Krueger K, Gruentjens T, Hempel E. Wolf contact in horses at permanent pasture in Germany. PLoS One 2023;18(8):e0289767.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289767pubmed: 37561797google scholar: lookup
  2. d'Ingeo S, Siniscalchi M, Straziota V, Ventriglia G, Sasso R, Quaranta A. Relationship between asymmetric nostril use and human emotional odours in cats. Sci Rep 2023 Jul 6;13(1):10982.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38167-wpubmed: 37414814google scholar: lookup
  3. Zollinger A, Wyss C, Bardou D, Bachmann I. Social Box: A New Housing System Increases Social Interactions among Stallions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 20;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13081408pubmed: 37106974google scholar: lookup
  4. Marliani G, Vannucchi I, Kiumurgis I, Accorsi PA. Limitations of Spatial Judgment Bias Test Application in Horses (Equus ferus caballus). Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 3;12(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12213014pubmed: 36359138google scholar: lookup
  5. Wilson C, Hall N, Aviles-Rosa EO, Campbell K, Arnott G, Reeve C. The effect of repeated testing on judgement bias in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Anim Cogn 2023 Mar;26(2):477-489.
    doi: 10.1007/s10071-022-01689-3pubmed: 36094748google scholar: lookup
  6. Long M, Dürnberger C, Jenner F, Kelemen Z, Auer U, Grimm H. Quality of Life within Horse Welfare Assessment Tools: Informing Decisions for Chronically Ill and Geriatric Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 17;12(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12141822pubmed: 35883370google scholar: lookup
  7. Krueger K, Schwarz S, Marr I, Farmer K. Laterality in Horse Training: Psychological and Physical Balance and Coordination and Strength Rather Than Straightness. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 16;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12081042pubmed: 35454288google scholar: lookup
  8. Horback KM, Parsons TD. Judgement bias of group housed gestating sows predicted by behavioral traits, but not physical measures of welfare. PLoS One 2022;17(2):e0264258.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264258pubmed: 35213574google scholar: lookup
  9. Pinto M, Navas González FJ, Heleski C, McLean A. Judgement Bias in Miniature Donkeys: Conditioning Factors and Personality Links. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 19;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092737pubmed: 34573703google scholar: lookup
  10. Lerch N, Cirulli F, Rochais C, Lesimple C, Guilbaud E, Contalbrigo L, Borgi M, Grandgeorge M, Hausberger M. Interest in Humans: Comparisons between Riding School Lesson Equids and Assisted-Intervention Equids. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 28;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092533pubmed: 34573500google scholar: lookup
  11. Hausberger M, Lesimple C, Henry S. Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11082249pubmed: 34438708google scholar: lookup
  12. Merkies K, Franzin O. Enhanced Understanding of Horse-Human Interactions to Optimize Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 9;11(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11051347pubmed: 34065156google scholar: lookup
  13. Hausberger M, Lerch N, Guilbaud E, Stomp M, Grandgeorge M, Henry S, Lesimple C. On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Horses: The Risks of Putting the Cart before the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 25;10(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10030371pubmed: 32106531google scholar: lookup
  14. Lesimple C. Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10020294pubmed: 32069888google scholar: lookup
  15. d'Ingeo S, Quaranta A, Siniscalchi M, Stomp M, Coste C, Bagnard C, Hausberger M, Cousillas H. Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study. Sci Rep 2019 Aug 9;9(1):11568.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47960-5pubmed: 31399629google scholar: lookup
  16. Sénèque E, Lesimple C, Morisset S, Hausberger M. Could posture reflect welfare state? A study using geometric morphometrics in riding school horses. PLoS One 2019;14(2):e0211852.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211852pubmed: 30721258google scholar: lookup
  17. Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Hausberger M, Lemasson A. Snort acoustic structure codes for positive emotions in horses. Naturwissenschaften 2018 Sep 12;105(9-10):57.
    doi: 10.1007/s00114-018-1582-9pubmed: 30291452google scholar: lookup
  18. Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. An unexpected acoustic indicator of positive emotions in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197898.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197898pubmed: 29995876google scholar: lookup
  19. Rochais C, Sébilleau M, Menoret M, Oger M, Henry S, Hausberger M, Cousillas H. Attentional state and brain processes: state-dependent lateralization of EEG profiles in horses. Sci Rep 2018 Jul 5;8(1):10153.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28334-9pubmed: 29976936google scholar: lookup
  20. Hintze S, Melotti L, Colosio S, Bailoo JD, Boada-Saña M, Würbel H, Murphy E. A cross-species judgement bias task: integrating active trial initiation into a spatial Go/No-go task. Sci Rep 2018 Mar 23;8(1):5104.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23459-3pubmed: 29572529google scholar: lookup
  21. Pawluski J, Jego P, Henry S, Bruchet A, Palme R, Coste C, Hausberger M. Low plasma cortisol and fecal cortisol metabolite measures as indicators of compromised welfare in domestic horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2017;12(9):e0182257.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182257pubmed: 28886020google scholar: lookup
  22. Rochais C, Sébilleau M, Houdebine M, Bec P, Hausberger M, Henry S. A novel test for evaluating horses' spontaneous visual attention is predictive of attention in operant learning tasks. Naturwissenschaften 2017 Aug;104(7-8):61.
    doi: 10.1007/s00114-017-1480-6pubmed: 28681089google scholar: lookup
  23. d'Ingeo S, Siniscalchi M, Quaranta A, Cousillas H, Hausberger M. Chronic State and Relationship to Humans Influence How Horses Decode Emotions in Human Voices: A Brain and Behavior Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 5;15(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15213217pubmed: 41227547google scholar: lookup
  24. Klinck M, Lovett A, Sykes B. Incorporating a Behavioral Medicine Approach in the Multi-Modal Management of Chronic Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS): A Clinical Commentary. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 17;15(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15203019pubmed: 41153946google scholar: lookup
  25. Roth LSV, McGreevy P. Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen's Four Questions and the Five Domains. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1647911.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1647911pubmed: 40895790google scholar: lookup
  26. Rochais C, Akoka E, Amiot Girard S, Grandgeorge M, Henry S. Through a Horse's Eyes: Investigating Cognitive Bias and Responses to Humans in Equine-Assisted Interventions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 19;15(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15040607pubmed: 40003087google scholar: lookup
  27. Robertson T, Thomas E, Starbuck G, Yarnell K. Global distribution and gap analysis of equine housing research: The findings so far and where to go next. Anim Welf 2024;33:e58.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.64pubmed: 39703212google scholar: lookup
  28. Phelipon R, Hennes N, Ruet A, Bret-Morel A, Górecka-Bruzda A, Lansade L. Forage, freedom of movement, and social interactions remain essential fundamentals for the welfare of high-level sport horses. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1504116.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1504116pubmed: 39634765google scholar: lookup
  29. 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 I: Fulfilment of species-specific needs. Anim Welf 2024;33:e40.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.38pubmed: 39464387google scholar: lookup
  30. Grandgeorge M, Lerch N, Delarue A, Hausberger M. From Human Perception of Good Practices to Horse (Equus Caballus) Welfare: Example of Equine-Assisted Activities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 2;14(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14172548pubmed: 39272332google scholar: lookup
  31. Potier JF, Louzier V. Evaluation of stress markers in horses during hippotherapy sessions in comparison to being ridden by beginners. Anim Welf 2023;32:e10.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.6pubmed: 38487430google scholar: lookup
  32. Barbosa ÂP, Oliveira TM, Trindade PHE, Seidel SRT, Tokawa PKA, Jaramilo FM, Roncati NV, Baccarin RYA. Sleep Pattern Interference in the Cognitive Performance of Lusitano Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 21;14(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14020334pubmed: 38275793google scholar: lookup
  33. Kremer L, van Reenen CG, Engel B, Bokkers EAM, Schnabel SK, van der Werf JTN, Webb LE. Developing a feasible and sensitive judgement bias task in dairy cows. Anim Cogn 2022 Apr;25(2):425-445.
    doi: 10.1007/s10071-021-01563-8pubmed: 34633570google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,579 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.