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Die Naturwissenschaften2012; 99(4); 291-302; doi: 10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8

On the significance of adult play: what does social play tell us about adult horse welfare?

Abstract: Play remains a mystery and adult play even more so. More typical of young stages in healthy individuals, it occurs rarely at adult stages but then more often in captive/domestic animals, which can imply spatial, social and/or feeding deprivations or restrictions that are challenging to welfare, than in animals living in natural conditions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that adult play may reflect altered welfare states and chronic stress in horses, in which, as in several species, play rarely occurs at adult stages in natural conditions. We observed the behaviour (in particular, social play) of riding school horses during occasional outings in a paddock and measured several stress indicators when these horses were in their individual home boxes. Our results revealed that (1) the number of horses and rates of adult play appeared very high compared to field report data and (2) most stress indicators measured differed between 'players' and 'non-players', revealing that most 'playful' animals were suffering from more chronic stress than 'non-playful' horses. Frequency of play behaviour correlated with a score of chronic stress. This first discovery of a relationship between adult play and altered welfare opens new lines of research that certainly deserves comparative studies in a variety of species.
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Publication Date: 2012-03-09 PubMed ID: 22402927DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8Google 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.

This study investigates how adult horse play could be an indicator of their welfare status and levels of chronic stress. The research showed that horses who participated in more play behaviour appeared to suffer more from chronic stress.

Understanding the Study

  • The study focused on the phenomenon of adult play, which is typically seen more in young animals and is less common in mature ones. The authors hypothesized that frequent play behavior in adult horses might be linked to altered welfare conditions and increased levels of chronic stress.
  • The researchers observed the behavior of riding school horses, especially their play behavior during occasional outings in a paddock (a fenced area for horses). In addition, they also measured several stress indicators of the horses when they were in their individual home boxes – an enclosed stall where a horse is kept when not out in a paddock or field.

Findings of the Study

  • Two main results were observed in the study – firstly, the number of ‘playing’ horses and the frequency of them engaging in play was high compared to field report data, implying more play behavior in a controlled environment compared to natural conditions.
  • Secondly, most stress indicators measured differed between ‘players’ and ‘non-players’, revealing that the ‘playful’ animals seemed to suffer more from chronic stress than the ‘non-playful’ horses. This indicates that the frequency of play behaviour was directly correlated to a score of chronic stress.

Implications of the Study

  • This research study presents the first evidence of a connection between adult play behavior and levels of chronic stress, potentially altering the way we understand animal play and welfare.
  • It opens up new lines of research into play behavior and its connection to stress and welfare in various species, particularly captive or domestic animals.
  • This could have potential implications for how we care for and understand domestic animals, providing insight into their mental and physical health through their play behaviors.
  • Further research is needed across various species to understand the generality and specific conditions of this relationship between play and stress.

Conclusion

  • In conclusion, the study identifies a previously unknown relationship between play behavior and chronic stress in adult horses, suggesting that such behaviors could be significant indicators of an animal’s welfare. This presents promising avenues for further research in animal behavior and welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Hausberger M, Fureix C, Bourjade M, Wessel-Robert S, Richard-Yris MA. (2012). On the significance of adult play: what does social play tell us about adult horse welfare? Naturwissenschaften, 99(4), 291-302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8

Publication

Die Naturwissenschaften
ISSN: 1432-1904
NlmUniqueID: 0400767
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 99
Issue: 4
Pages: 291-302

Researcher Affiliations

Hausberger, Martine
  • Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, Université Rennes, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France. martine.hausberger@univ-rennes1.fr
Fureix, Carole
    Bourjade, Marie
      Wessel-Robert, Sabine
        Richard-Yris, Marie-Annick

          MeSH Terms

          • Animal Welfare
          • Animals
          • Behavior, Animal / physiology
          • Female
          • Horses / physiology
          • Horses / psychology
          • Humans
          • Male
          • Social Behavior
          • Stress, Psychological

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 21 times.
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