FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Applied animal behaviour science2000; 69(1); 67-83; doi: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00115-5

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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2000-06-17 PubMed ID: 10856785DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00115-5Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

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

Applied animal behaviour science
ISSN: 0168-1591
NlmUniqueID: 8504276
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 69
Issue: 1
Pages: 67-83

Researcher Affiliations

Cooper, JJ
  • School of Agriculture, De Montfort University, Caythorpe, NG32 3EP, Lincolnshire, UK
McDonald, L
    Mills, DS

      Citations

      This article has been cited 28 times.
      1. Annan R, Trigg LE, Hockenhull J, Allen K, Butler D, Valenchon M, Mullan S. Racehorse welfare across a training season. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1208744.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1208744pubmed: 37448582google scholar: lookup
      2. Mactaggart AG, Phillips CJC. Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Horse Behaviour and Trainers' Reports of Welfare Issues in Their Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 13;13(2).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13020282pubmed: 36670822google scholar: lookup
      3. Rowland M, Hudson N, Connor M, Dwyer C, Coombs T. The Welfare of Traveller and Gypsy Owned Horses in the UK and Ireland. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 13;12(18).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12182402pubmed: 36139262google scholar: lookup
      4. Holmes TQ, Brown AF. Champing at the Bit for Improvements: A Review of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports in the United Kingdom. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 5;12(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12091186pubmed: 35565612google scholar: lookup
      5. Glaeser SS, Shepherdson D, Lewis K, Prado N, Brown JL, Lee B, Wielebnowski N. Supporting Zoo Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare and Herd Dynamics with a More Complex and Expanded Habitat. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 31;11(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11092566pubmed: 34573532google scholar: lookup
      6. Hausberger M, Lesimple C, Henry S. Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11082249pubmed: 34438708google scholar: lookup
      7. Krueger K, Esch L, Farmer K, Marr I. Basic Needs in Horses?-A Literature Review. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 16;11(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11061798pubmed: 34208615google scholar: lookup
      8. Manteca Vilanova X, Beaver B, Uldahl M, Turner PV. Recommendations for Ensuring Good Welfare of Horses Used for Industrial Blood, Serum, or Urine Production. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 20;11(5).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11051466pubmed: 34065236google scholar: lookup
      9. Bergmann IM. Naturalness and the Legitimacy of Thoroughbred Racing: A Photo-Elicitation Study with Industry and Animal Advocacy Informants. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 26;10(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10091513pubmed: 32859112google scholar: lookup
      10. Lesimple C. Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10020294pubmed: 32069888google scholar: lookup
      11. Rowland M, Coombs T, Connor M. A Study of Traveller Horse Owners' Attitudes to Horse Care and Welfare Using an Equine Body Condition Scoring System. Animals (Basel) 2019 Apr 12;9(4).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9040162pubmed: 31013846google scholar: lookup
      12. Butler D, Valenchon M, Annan R, Whay HR, Mullan S. Living the 'Best Life' or 'One Size Fits All'-Stakeholder Perceptions of Racehorse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2019 Mar 31;9(4).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9040134pubmed: 30935137google scholar: lookup
      13. Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. An unexpected acoustic indicator of positive emotions in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197898.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197898pubmed: 29995876google scholar: lookup
      14. Henry S, Fureix C, Rowberry R, Bateson M, Hausberger M. Do horses with poor welfare show 'pessimistic' cognitive biases?. Naturwissenschaften 2017 Feb;104(1-2):8.
        doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1429-1pubmed: 28083632google scholar: lookup
      15. Fatnassi M, Padalino B, Monaco D, Khorchani T, Lacalandra GM, Hammadi M. Effect of continuous female exposure on behavioral repertoire and stereotypical behaviors in restrained male dromedary camels during the onset of the breeding season. Trop Anim Health Prod 2016 Jun;48(5):897-903.
        doi: 10.1007/s11250-016-1028-3pubmed: 26970973google scholar: lookup
      16. Starling M, McLean A, McGreevy P. The Contribution of Equitation Science to Minimising Horse-Related Risks to Humans. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 23;6(3).
        doi: 10.3390/ani6030015pubmed: 26907354google scholar: lookup
      17. Ninomiya S, Anjiki A, Nishide Y, Mori M, Deguchi Y, Satoh T. Polymorphisms of the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene in Stabled Horses are Related to Differences in Behavioral Response to Frustration. Animals (Basel) 2013 Jul 26;3(3):663-9.
        doi: 10.3390/ani3030663pubmed: 26479526google scholar: lookup
      18. Jonckheer-Sheehy VS, Houpt KA. Management methods to improve the welfare of horses used in research. Lab Anim (NY) 2015 Sep;44(9):350-8.
        doi: 10.1038/laban.741pubmed: 26300095google scholar: lookup
      19. Padalino B, Aubé L, Fatnassi M, Monaco D, Khorchani T, Hammadi M, Lacalandra GM. Could dromedary camels develop stereotypy? The first description of stereotypical behaviour in housed male dromedary camels and how it is affected by different management systems. PLoS One 2014;9(2):e89093.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089093pubmed: 24586522google scholar: lookup
      20. Fureix C, Benhajali H, Henry S, Bruchet A, Prunier A, Ezzaouia M, Coste C, Hausberger M, Palme R, Jego P. Plasma cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations in stereotypic and non-stereotypic horses: do stereotypic horses cope better with poor environmental conditions?. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jan 7;9:3.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-3pubmed: 23289406google scholar: lookup
      21. McBride SD, Mills DS. Psychological factors affecting equine performance. BMC Vet Res 2012 Sep 27;8:180.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-180pubmed: 23016987google scholar: lookup
      22. Hausberger M, Gautier E, Biquand V, Lunel C, Jégo P. Could work be a source of behavioural disorders? A study in horses. PLoS One 2009 Oct 28;4(10):e7625.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007625pubmed: 19862328google scholar: lookup
      23. Roth LSV, McGreevy P. Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen's Four Questions and the Five Domains. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1647911.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1647911pubmed: 40895790google scholar: lookup
      24. Annan R, Trigg L, Allen K, Hockenhull J, Valenchon M, Mullan S. Welfare assessment of racehorses provides a baseline for continued monitoring. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):165-181.
        doi: 10.1111/evj.14510pubmed: 40256938google scholar: lookup
      25. Mata F, Boyton G, Young T. Anticipatory Behaviour During the Approach to Feeding Times as a Measure of Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 20;14(24).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14243677pubmed: 39765580google scholar: lookup
      26. Robertson T, Thomas E, Starbuck G, Yarnell K. Global distribution and gap analysis of equine housing research: The findings so far and where to go next. Anim Welf 2024;33:e58.
        doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.64pubmed: 39703212google scholar: lookup
      27. Hall C, Kay R. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part I: Fulfilment of species-specific needs. Anim Welf 2024;33:e40.
        doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.38pubmed: 39464387google scholar: lookup
      28. Grandgeorge M, Lerch N, Delarue A, Hausberger M. From Human Perception of Good Practices to Horse (Equus Caballus) Welfare: Example of Equine-Assisted Activities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 2;14(17).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14172548pubmed: 39272332google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.