The Behavior of Horses Stabled in a Large Group at Essential Resources (Watering Point and Lying Halls).
Abstract: Since there is a practical need, this study focused on the behavior of 51 horses kept in one large group in order to make management suggestions regarding the animal:watering point ratio and the design of lying halls. Drinking events and interactions between pairs of horses were analyzed for 18 days as well as the occupancy time of the watering point. The time period had significant effects on drinking events with visible interactions (P < .05). The highest least square means (LSM) and standard errors (SE) of drinking events with and without visible interaction were observed between 12 noon-2 p.m. (13.6 ± 2.2 and 8.6 ± 1.6 drinking events, respectively) which was also the time period of main occupancy of the watering point (41.9 ± 2.7 min/2 h). About 57% of drinking events were classed as with visible interaction, of which over 90% were mild (i.e. laying back of ears, tightening of face). Horses' behavior (resting while standing/others) and lying positions (sternal/lateral) in different lying halls were analyzed over 36 days by generalized mixed models. The sternal position was preferred (12.4% ± 1.4%-39.2% ± 3.0%) compared to the lateral one (1.4% ± 0.4%-8.3% ± 1.6%). Older horses spent significantly less time in the sternal position (13.8% ± 1.6%) and rested more standing (45.4% ± 3.3%) compared to younger horses (26.4% ± 4.5% and 29.1% ± 4.9%, respectively) (P < .05). Overall, this study provides first insights into drinking and lying behavior of horses kept in a large group.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-08-13 PubMed ID: 35970450DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104106Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
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Summary
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This study examines the behavior of a large group of horses in stable conditions, focusing mainly on their drinking habits and rest positions, with the goal of making improved animal management suggestions related to optimal watering and resting spaces.
Study Methodology
- The research involved the observation of 51 horses that were stabled together.
- Over the course of 18 days, the researchers monitored and documented drinking events and the interactions between pairs of horses at the watering point.
- The study also evaluated the time horses spent at the watering point.
- Data on the horses’ resting behavior and their preference for sternal (chest-down) or lateral (side) resting positions were collected over 36 days.
- The researchers used generalized mixed models for the analysis of these behaviors.
Key Findings
- The study found that the time of the day significantly influenced drinking behavior, with a notable increase in drinking events around midday (12 noon-2 p.m.), which was also the main occupancy time for the watering point.
- Visible interaction, which includes mild disagreements such as laying back of ears or tightening of the face, was observed in around 57% of drinking events.
- Among resting positions, horses showed a preference for sternal positioning (chest-down) as compared to a lateral one (lying on the side).
- There were age-related differences in behavior: older horses spent less time in the sternal position and were more inclined to rest while standing when compared to younger horses.
Study Implications
- The research offers potentially useful insights for managing horses in large groups, especially in designing better watering points and rest areas.
- By understanding individual and group behaviors around essential resources, improvements in management and design can provide a more comfortable and stress-free environment for stabled horses.
- The findings, which indicate age-related variances in drinking and resting behaviors, may help caretakers adjust resource allocation and management strategies depending on the age of the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hildebrandt F, Büttner K, Krieter J, Czycholl I.
(2022).
The Behavior of Horses Stabled in a Large Group at Essential Resources (Watering Point and Lying Halls).
J Equine Vet Sci, 118, 104106.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104106 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: fhildebrandt@tierzucht.uni-kiel.de.
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany; Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Animal Husbandry
- Water
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Citations
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