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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(1); 223; doi: 10.3390/ani11010223

Equine Transport-Related Problem Behaviors and Injuries: A Survey of Italian Horse Industry Members.

Abstract: An online survey was conducted to determine associations between equine transport management and transport-related injuries and problem behaviors in Italy. The survey was composed of four sections: respondents' demographic information and background, transport management practices, journey details and vehicle design, and transport injuries experienced by the horse in the previous two-year period. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression with a binary outcome variable was performed to explore associations between variables (respondents' and journeys' details and transport practices) and equine transport-related problem behaviors (TRPBs) and injuries. TRPBs were also considered an explanatory variable for injuries. The survey generated 201 responses; only 148 were complete and analyzed. TRPBs were reported by 14.45% of the respondents and the odds of TRPBs was linked to the respondent gender ( = 0.034), the use of tranquilizers prior to transport ( = 0.002), the use of a whip for loading ( = 0.049), the lack of protection equipment ( = 0.050), and shavings ( = 0.025) on the vehicle floor. Horse injuries (11.49%) were reported by more respondents who did not check the brakes of their transport vehicle before traveling ( = 0.043), had vehicles with padding on the chest bar ( = 0.038), and for horses reported to display TRPBs ( = 0.001). Finally, 10 respondents reported they were injured during horse transport (10/140; 7.14%), 50% simultaneously with their horses. The study findings should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size bias and participants' recall bias. Nevertheless, the results are in concordance with the literature, confirming that horse transport is a risk for the horse's and handler's health and well-being. Further studies are needed to identify best management practices to educate equine industry members on how to minimize transport-related problems.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-18 PubMed ID: 33477521PubMed Central: PMC7831101DOI: 10.3390/ani11010223Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 is about a study conducted via an online survey to determine the relationship between equine transport management and the occurrence of transport-related injuries and behavioral issues in horses in Italy.

Research Methodology

The research study was initiated by conducting an online survey to collect data from Italian horse industry members. The survey covered four main areas:

  • Demographic information and background of the respondents.
  • Transport management practices.
  • Journey details and vehicle design.
  • Transport injuries experienced by the horse during the past two years.

Data Analysis

The researchers used univariable and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the relationships between the collected variables, namely details about respondents and journey, transport practices and their impact on equine transport-related problem behaviors (TRPBs) and injuries.

Survey Results

The survey returned 201 responses out of which 148 completed submissions were analyzed. Findings were as follows:

  • 14.45% of respondents reported TRPBs.
  • The occurrence of TRPBs was associated with factors like respondent gender, use of tranquilizers prior to transport, use of whip for loading, absence of protection equipment, and shavings on the vehicle floor.
  • 11.49% reported horse injuries, which were associated with the failure to check the brakes of transport vehicle before the journey, vehicles fitted with chest bar padding, and horses reported to display TRPBs.
  • 7.14% of the respondents mentioned that they got injured during horse transport, with half of these cases coinciding with horse injuries.

Despite some limitations in the study related to small sample size and recall bias, the findings support existing literature that horse transport poses risks for the health and well-being of both the horses and the handlers. The findings of this study underline the need for further research to help establish the best management practices and to educate equine industry members on how to minimize transport-related problems for the welfare of both the horses and their handlers.

Cite This Article

APA
Dai F, Zappaterra M, Minero M, Bocchini F, Riley CB, Padalino B. (2021). Equine Transport-Related Problem Behaviors and Injuries: A Survey of Italian Horse Industry Members. Animals (Basel), 11(1), 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010223

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
PII: 223

Researcher Affiliations

Dai, Francesca
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 20122 Milano, Italy.
Zappaterra, Martina
  • Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Minero, Michela
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 20122 Milano, Italy.
Bocchini, Francesca
  • Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Riley, Christopher B
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4470, New Zealand.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40126 Bologna, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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