The effect of increasing visual horizons on stereotypic weaving: implications for the social housing of stabled horses.
Abstract: Stabled horses commonly perform stereotypic patterns of weaving, where the horse shifts its weight from side to side often swinging its head. Ten warm-blood types, of which five were known to reliably weave, were housed in similar 12x12 ft wooden loose boxes in a single stable block surrounding a courtyard. Each horse was exposed to each of five stable designs. These were: the conventional front top-half of the door open only with a view of the stable courtyard (F); front half-door open and a similar half-door open at the back of the stable with a view to the surrounding fields (FB); back open only (B); front and one-side panel open with a view into the adjacent stable (FS); and front, back and both sides open (All4). During observation days, horses were brought in from the field at 0830 h, fed concentrate at 0930 h, fed haylage at 1005 h and turned out at 1600 h. Behaviour was recorded from 0900 to 1040 h, 1200 to 1300 h and 1500 to 1600 h. Weaving was most common prior to feeding in the morning and prior to putting out to pasture in the afternoon. There was a significant effect of stable design on weaving, with less weaving in the FS and All4 designs than the F treatment. There was also a significant effect of stable design on repetitive nodding, though in this case, FB, B, FS and All4 designs each reduced nodding compared with the F treatment. The effect of stable design can be explained in a number of ways. Firstly, it could be the novelty of the environmental change, though there was no evidence in this study of an increase in stereotypy with prolonged exposure to the new stable designs. Secondly, opening windows may increase opportunities for environmental interaction, and the expression of new activities may compete with stereotypic behaviour for the horse's time. Thirdly, the open windows may allow expression of specific activities such as environmental monitoring or social interaction that are denied by the conventional stable.
Publication Date: 2000-06-17 PubMed ID: 10856785DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00115-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research evaluates the effect of different stable designs on the stereotypic weaving behavior observed in stabled horses. The study suggests that stable designs that provide greater visibility and opportunities for interaction can effectively reduce the weaving and nodding behaviors.
Study Design and Execution
- In this study, a group of ten warm-blood type horses were housed in similar 12×12 ft wooden loose boxes within a single stable block. Half of these horses were known to habitually exhibit weaving behavior.
- The experiment involved subjecting each horse to five different stable design treatments. This meant varying the parts of the stable that were open or closed, allowing for different levels and directions of visibility.
- Behavioral observations were carried out at different times throughout the day, particularly focusing on periods prior to feeding and putting out to pasture when weaving was most commonly seen.
Results and Findings
- The research found that the design of the stable had a significant effect on the occurrence of weaving and nodding behaviors. These behaviors were notably less common in stable designs that provided more open visibility (FS and All4) compared to the conventional front half-door open design (F).
- The data also showed that the stable designs that allowed for more interaction and monitoring of the environment could potentially act as a distraction from stereotypic behavior.
Interpretation and Conclusion
- The findings suggest that the design change impacted the horses’ behavior, but the researchers rule out the novelty of the environmental change as a chief factor since no increase in stereotypic behavior was observed with prolonged exposure to the new stable designs.
- Opening up more sections of the stable likely encourages the horses to engage more with their environment, creating a competition for their time and reducing the time spent on stereotypic behaviors like weaving and nodding.
- The open stable designs may also enable specific activities such as environmental monitoring or social interaction that the conventional stable design prevents, thus providing a redirection of focus and a decrease in the behavior.
The researchers conclude that the design of a horse’s stable can play a significant role in the incidence of certain repetitive behaviors, and that designs encouraging interaction and environmental engagement can reduce these behaviors.
Cite This Article
APA
Cooper JJ, McDonald L, Mills DS.
(2000).
The effect of increasing visual horizons on stereotypic weaving: implications for the social housing of stabled horses.
Appl Anim Behav Sci, 69(1), 67-83.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00115-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Agriculture, De Montfort University, Caythorpe, NG32 3EP, Lincolnshire, UK
Citations
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