Stress Responses in Dressage Horses: Insights from FEI Noseband Measurements Across National Competition Levels.

Overview

• This study analyzed stress-related behaviors in 238 dressage horses across different national competition levels, using the FEI noseband measuring device and video behavior analysis.
• It found that competition level influenced stress behaviors more than noseband tightness, with higher levels showing fewer but more frequent stress behaviors, especially mouth opening.

Research Context and Objectives

• The research aimed to understand how stress manifests behaviorally in dressage horses competing at various levels, ranging from Elementary (A) to Grand Prix (GP).
• Previous concerns have been raised about the role of noseband tightness in restricting horse comfort and causing stress; this study sought to objectively measure noseband tightness using the FEI’s standardized measuring device.
• The study also explored the relationship between stress behaviors, competition level, equipment used (double bridle vs. snaffle), and performance scores.

Methodology

• Sample Size: 238 horse-rider pairs competing nationally.
• Noseband Tightness Measurement: Used the FEI Noseband Measuring Device (FNMD) on-site to ensure compliance with regulations and to quantify tightness.
• Behavioral Observation: Video recordings were analyzed to quantify conflict behaviors, specifically:
  • Mouth opening
  • Tail swishing
  • Changes in head-neck position
• Competition Levels Considered: National classes from the lowest level (Elementary/A) to the highest level (Grand Prix).
• Equipment Assessment: Horses ridden in double bridles were compared to those ridden in snaffle bridles regarding behavior frequency and type.

Key Findings

• Noseband Tightness:
  • Almost all horses (all but two) complied with FEI noseband tightness regulations.
  • Minimal variation in noseband tightness was observed.
  • Due to this minimal variation, no significant correlation between noseband tightness and conflict behaviors was found.
• Influence of Competition Level:
  • Lower-level competitions (Elementary to Lower levels) showed a broad range of stress behaviors, but these occurred less frequently.
  • Higher-level classes (Medium upwards) exhibited fewer types of stress behavior but the behaviors occurred more frequently.
  • Mouth opening emerged as the predominant stress behavior in higher-level tests.
• Effect of Equipment:
  • Horses ridden with double bridles showed a generally higher proportion of conflict behaviors compared to those ridden with snaffle bridles.
• Performance and Stress Relationship:
  • A negative correlation between conflict behaviors and performance scores was evident only at the lowest competition levels (Elementary and Lower).
  • At Medium level and above, judging scores did not accurately reflect the amount of stress-related behavior exhibited by the horses.

Implications and Conclusion

• The research suggests that as dressage test difficulty increases:
  • Stress-related behaviors become more frequent but more behavior types fade, indicating a narrowing of stress expression.
  • Horses tend to express stress primarily through mouth opening at higher levels.
• The minimal impact of noseband tightness within regulation limits implies that other factors largely contribute to stress behaviors seen in these competitions.
• The higher incidence of stress behaviors with double bridles points to the equipment choice as an important consideration in managing horse welfare.
• The dissociation between performance scores and stress at higher levels raises concerns about judging criteria potentially overlooking stress indicators.
• Overall, the study highlights the importance of:
  • Monitoring horse stress behaviors closely across different competition levels.
  • Considering both competition demands and equipment effects when evaluating horse welfare in dressage.
• As a pilot study, these findings underscore the need for further research exploring stress responses and ways to optimize conditions for horses’ physical and psychological well-being in competitive dressage.