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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geom...
PloS one2018; 13(10); e0204208; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204208

Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geometric morphometrics.

Abstract: The study of animal behavior, especially regarding welfare, needs the development of tools to identify, quantify and compare animal postures with interobserver reliability. While most studies subjectively describe animal postures, or quantify only limited parts of the body, the usage of geometric morphometrics has allowed for the description of horses' and pigs' upper body outline and the comparison of postures from different populations thanks to robust statistical analysis. We have attempted here to optimize the geometric morphometrics (GM) method already used in horses by introducing the outline analysis with sliding semilandmarks (SSL), by eliminating the balance movement of the neck and by focusing only on parts of the upper line. For this purpose, photographs of 85 horses from 11 riding schools, known for differing in terms of housing and working conditions, were analyzed with previous and new GM methods and these results were compared with each other. Using SSL and eliminating the neck movement appeared to better discriminate the horse populations than the previous GM method. Study of parts of the dorsum proved efficient too. This new methodology should now be used to examine if posture could be an indicator of horse welfare state, and similar studies should be performed in other species in order to validate the same methodology.
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Publication Date: 2018-10-31 PubMed ID: 30379841PubMed Central: PMC6209139DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204208Google 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’s primary goal is to improve the current methodology for comparing horse postures using geometric morphometrics, a method that could potentially signal differences in horse welfare states.

Introduction to the Research

  • The research starts by highlighting the need for better tools in recording and comparing animal postures, a crucial aspect of animal behavior studies. The posture of an animal is often taken as a measure of the animal’s overall welfare.
  • Traditionally, animal postures have been either described subjectively or quantified focusing on only limited body parts.
  • However, the researchers have successfully utilized a technique known as geometric morphometrics to map the upper body outline of horses and pigs. This method allows a more detailed and objective comparison of animal postures, thereby further enhancing the understanding of the animals’ welfare.

Research Methodology

  • Furthering their research, the scientists aimed to refine the geometric morphometrics (GM) method for horses, focusing on sliding semilandmarks (SSL) and other aspects of the horse’s upper body.
  • The researchers used photographs of 85 horses from 11 different riding schools with differing housing and working conditions.
  • These photographs were analyzed using both the traditional GM methods as well as the new methods that focused more on the upper body of the horses and eliminated the neck’s balance movement.

Results and Conclusions

  • They found that the new methods, particularly those focusing on SSL and ignoring neck movement, provided better discrimination between different horse populations compared to the traditional GM methods.
  • The new methods focusing specifically on the horse’s dorsum (upper line), proved to be quite effective.
  • Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that these new methodologies could potentially serve as indicators of a horse’s welfare.
  • Finally, they suggest that similar studies should be conducted in other species to validate this improved methodology further.

Implications of the Research

  • This research holds great potential in animal welfare studies, particularly in horses, as it allows a more detailed and objective understanding of their postures.
  • This new method may pave the way for refinement in capturing and studying other animals’ postures, enhancing the overall field of animal behavior studies.
  • By potentially serving as indicators of an animal’s welfare, the methods proposed in this research may lead to improved housing and working conditions in riding schools and other equine facilities.

Cite This Article

APA
Sénèque E, Morisset S, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. (2018). Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geometric morphometrics. PLoS One, 13(10), e0204208. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204208

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 10
Pages: e0204208
PII: e0204208

Researcher Affiliations

Sénèque, Emilie
  • UMR 6552 Ethologie Animale et Humaine, CNRS, Université de Rennes, Université de Caen-Normandie, Rennes, France.
Morisset, Stéphane
  • Stéphane Morisset Independent biostatistician, Pérouges, France.
Lesimple, Clémence
  • UMR 6552 Ethologie Animale et Humaine, CNRS, Université de Rennes, Université de Caen-Normandie, Rennes, France.
Hausberger, Martine
  • CNRS, UMR 6552 Ethologie animale et humaine, Université de Rennes, Université de Caen-Normandie, Rennes, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Horses
  • Neck / physiology
  • Posture / physiology
  • Reproducibility of Results

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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