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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Social Box: A New Housing System Increases Social Interactio...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(8); 1408; doi: 10.3390/ani13081408

Social Box: A New Housing System Increases Social Interactions among Stallions.

Abstract: In domestic conditions, adult stallions are mostly housed individually in internal stables to reduce the risk of injuries during social interactions. Social deprivation in horses results in physiological stress and behavioural problems. The aim of this study was to test the "social box" (SB), which allows closer physical contact between neighbouring horses. Eight pairs of stallions (n = 16) were filmed over a 24 h period in the SB and in their usual box stables, "conventional boxes" (CB), which strongly restrict tactile contact. The effect of housing in the SB on behaviour and the occurrence and characteristics of injuries was investigated. The total duration of active social interactions was significantly higher in the SB than in the CB (51.1 vs. 4.9 min, < 0.0001). Positive interactions accounted for about 71% of the total duration of interactions in SB and CB stabling. The stallions interacted significantly more often in the SB than in the CB (113.5 vs. 23.8 social interaction sequences over 24 h, < 0.0001). No grievous injuries were recorded. The social box appears to be a suitable solution to give adult stallions the possibility of having physical interactions. Therefore, it can be considered a substantial environmental enrichment for singly housed horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-20 PubMed ID: 37106974PubMed Central: PMC10135302DOI: 10.3390/ani13081408Google 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 paper focuses on a new housing system proposed for domestic stallions, known as the “Social Box” (SB). It allows neighboring horses more physical contact with each other and showed a significant increase in positive social interactions among stallions.

Objective of the Research

  • The main goal of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the “social box” – a housing system that allows closer physical contact between neighboring horses. The researchers wanted to assess its impact on horse behavior and potential injuries.

Procedure and Results of the Research

  • Eight pairs of stallions were monitored over a 24 hour period in both their regular stables, referred to as “conventional boxes” (CB), which restricts physical contact, and in the SB.
  • Results showed a substantial increase in active social interactions when horses were housed in the SB as compared to the CB (51.1 minutes vs. 4.9 minutes, respectively).
  • Positive interactions made up about 71% of the total interactions in both SB and CB stabling. This indicates that the majority of interactions in both housing systems were constructive.
  • The stallions interacted significantly more often in the SB than in the CB (113.5 vs. 23.8 social interactions over a 24-hour period).
  • Importantly, there were no severe injuries recorded during this study, implying that increased physical contact did not result in detrimental harm.

Conclusion of the Research

  • The researchers concluded that the “social box” appears to be a viable solution for increasing physical interactions among adult stallions.
  • Given the substantial increase in positive interaction, the SB can be considered an effective environmental enrichment for horses housed singly.

Cite This Article

APA
Zollinger A, Wyss C, Bardou D, Bachmann I. (2023). Social Box: A New Housing System Increases Social Interactions among Stallions. Animals (Basel), 13(8), 1408. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081408

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 8
PII: 1408

Researcher Affiliations

Zollinger, Anja
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm SNSF, Les Longs-Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
Wyss, Christa
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm SNSF, Les Longs-Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
Bardou, Déborah
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm SNSF, Les Longs-Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
  • Chaire bien-être animal, VetAgro Sup, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, F-69280 Marcy-l'Étoile, France.
Bachmann, Iris
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm SNSF, Les Longs-Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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