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Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho2022; 93(1); e13687; doi: 10.1111/asj.13687

Successive approximation of horses to their first work on a treadmill: The effect of previous loading into a trailer.

Abstract: A horse learning about the entrance to narrow, cage-shaped places may be challenging both for the horses as well as for the owners. For some behaviors, such as loading into a trailer or climbing onto a treadmill, the final behavioral goal can be achieved by working towards it in stages. This study compared the successive approximation of horses to their first work on a treadmill with horses hardly ever loaded (HE L) and regularly loaded (R L) into a trailer. Fourteen horses were divided into two groups (HE L n = 7 and R L n = 7) based on their experiences of entering into a trailer. All horses were taught using four stages of successive approximation. The average lead time was longer in the HE L than in the R L group, both in the first (HE L: 33.8 ± 12.4 s; R L: 17.6 ± 12.9 s; p = 0.035) and last stages (HE L: 12.0 ± 10.3 s; R L: 3.7 ± 1.0 s; p = 0.032) of trials. With the subsequent repetitions of each step, the heart rate decreased in both groups. Very few behaviors indicating fear or unwillingness ("rearing," "sideways," and "backwards") were observed. Horses that were regularly loaded exhibited signs of relaxation. The successive approximation of horses to the first work on a treadmill differed and may depend on the previous experiences with loading and travelling in the confined space of a trailer.
© 2022 The Authors. Animal Science Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-25 PubMed ID: 35073611PubMed Central: PMC9540859DOI: 10.1111/asj.13687Google 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 investigates the impact of previous trailer loading experiences on horses’ adaptation to working on a treadmill. It finds that horses frequently loaded into trailers more quickly adapted to the treadmill operation compared to those infrequently loaded onto trailers.

Overview of the Research Paper

  • This research was conducted to understand the potential influence of previous experiences of loading into confined spaces, such as a trailer, on a horse’s subsequent comfort and adaptability with operating on treadmills. The purpose of this study was to contribute to our understanding of equine behavior and conditioning.
  • A total of fourteen horses were used in the experiment. These animals were split into two groups based on their experiences with trailer loading. The first group, referred to as ‘HE L’, consisted of horses that had hardly ever been loaded into trailers. The second group, ‘R L’, comprised horses that were regularly loaded into trailers.

    • Research Methodology

  • The horses were trained using a method known as ‘successive approximation’, which means breaking down a behavior into stages and working towards the final behavior gradually. Four stages were implemented for this process.
  • Monitoring various parameters provided quantitative data regarding the horse’s fear or unwillingness to perform the action. These parameters included the lead time required for each phase of the training, heart rate, and observable behavior like rearing, moving sideways, or moving backwards.

    • Research Findings

  • The findings showed that the ‘R L’ horses, which are regularly loaded into a trailer, were quicker in completing both the initial and final stages of training sessions. Their lead time was less compared to the ‘HE L’ group.
  • Heart rate reduction throughout the successive approximation process in both groups indicated decreased anxiety levels as the horse became more familiar with the process.
  • Very few behaviors indicative of fear or resistance were observed, suggesting that most horses were able to acclimate to this new training condition. Interestingly, the horses regularly loaded into trailers even showed signs of relaxation, pointing potentially to the impact of prior acclimation to small, confined spaces.
  • The research implies that a horse’s past experiences with loading and travel in a trailer can affect its acclimation to the exercise conditions on a treadmill. Such findings can be instrumental in equine training and behavior management strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Maśko M, Lewczuk D, Szarska E, Domino M. (2022). Successive approximation of horses to their first work on a treadmill: The effect of previous loading into a trailer. Anim Sci J, 93(1), e13687. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13687

Publication

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho
ISSN: 1740-0929
NlmUniqueID: 100956805
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 93
Issue: 1
Pages: e13687

Researcher Affiliations

Maśko, Małgorzata
  • Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Warsaw, Poland.
Lewczuk, Dorota
  • Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences Jastrzębiec (PAS - PAN), Magdalenka, Poland.
Szarska, Ewa
  • Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
Domino, Małgorzata
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Warsaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Fear
  • Heart Rate
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal

Grant Funding

  • POIR.01.01.01.-00-0641/17 / National Centre for Research and Development

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.

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