FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(6); 1065; doi: 10.3390/ani13061065

The Effect of Stabling Routines on Potential Behavioural Indicators of Affective State in Horses and Their Use in Assessing Quality of Life.

Abstract: Increasing interest in equine welfare has emphasised the need for objective and reliable behavioural indicators of horses' affective state. However, research has yielded mixed results regarding behaviours suited for industry use largely because they are subject to anthropomorphic interpretation. Stabling is commonly used to manage domesticated horses despite research indicating that it can negatively impact horse welfare, but its effect on their affective state is yet to be quantified. Ten adult horses (11.8 ± 4.4 years) were observed either on a day- (DS) or night-stabling (NS) schedule over two consecutive 24 h periods. NS horses were kept confined for significantly longer (13.60 ± 0.04 h) than DS horses (7.73 ± 0.07; = 5.70; = 0.0004). Eight behaviours occurred significantly more often during NS than DS: forward ears ( = 3.32; = 0.001), neutral ears ( = 3.47; = 0.001), stepping forward ( = 2.62; = 0.001), stepping laterally ( = 2.39; = 0.001), sternal recumbency ( = 2.64; = 0.001), yawning ( = 2.69; = 0.001), non-nutritive chewing ( = 2.49; = 0.001), and closing eyes ( = 2.71; = 0.001). These behaviours may be candidates for indicators that can be used to determine the affective state in horses and subsequently be used to assess equine quality of life and to optimise individual horse welfare.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-03-15 PubMed ID: 36978606PubMed Central: PMC10044549DOI: 10.3390/ani13061065Google 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 study investigates how different stabling routines (day-stabling and night-stabling) affect the behaviour of horses and how these behaviours may indicate their emotional state, which is integral to assessing their welfare and quality of life.

Objective of the Study

  • The overall purpose of this research was to find reliable and objective behavioural indicators to determine a horse’s emotional (affective) state, which is crucial for assessing their welfare and quality of life.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted on ten adult horses exposed to two different stabling schedules over two consecutive 24-hour periods: day-stabling (DS) and night-stabling (NS).
  • The researchers thoroughly observed and recorded the behaviours of the horses during these two periods, focusing on certain behaviours that were believed to potentially indicate the horses’ affective state.

Key Research Findings

  • Horses under the night-stabling schedule were kept confined for a significantly longer period than those under day-stabling.
  • Eight behaviours were observed significantly more often during night-stabling than day-stabling. These were: forward ears, neutral ears, stepping forward, stepping laterally, sternal recumbency, yawning, non-nutritive chewing, and closing eyes.
  • The increased occurrence of these behaviours during extended confinement (night-stabling) suggests that they may be linked to the horse’s emotional state.

Study’s Impact

  • The behaviours identified in this study could act as potential indicators for assessing a horse’s emotional state.
  • This information is valuable because it allows for the potential development of better practices and guidelines to improve the welfare and quality of life of stabled horses.
  • Further research is necessary, however, to validate the study’s results and construct a more comprehensive understanding of how confinement affects a horse’s emotional state.

Cite This Article

APA
Bradshaw-Wiley E, Randle H. (2023). The Effect of Stabling Routines on Potential Behavioural Indicators of Affective State in Horses and Their Use in Assessing Quality of Life. Animals (Basel), 13(6), 1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061065

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
PII: 1065

Researcher Affiliations

Bradshaw-Wiley, Ella
  • School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
Randle, Hayley
  • School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 56 references
  1. Waran N, Randle H. What we can measure, we can manage: The importance of using robust welfare indicators in Equitation Science.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2017;190:74–81.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.016google scholar: lookup
  2. Boissy A, Arnould C, Chaillou E, Desire L, Duvaux-Ponter C, Greiveldinger L, Veissier I. Emotion and cognition: A new approach to animal welfare.. Anim. Welf. 2007;16:37–43.
    doi: 10.1017/S0962728600031717google scholar: lookup
  3. Dalla Costa E, Minero M, Lebelt D, Stucke D, Canali E, Leach MC. Development of the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) as a pain assessment tool in horses undergoing routine castration.. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e92281.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092281pmc: PMC3960217pubmed: 24647606google scholar: lookup
  4. Fraser D. Toward a global perspective on farm animal welfare.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008;113:330–339.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.01.011google scholar: lookup
  5. Mellor DJ. Updating Animal Welfare Thinking: Moving beyond the "Five Freedoms" towards "A Life Worth Living".. Animals (Basel) 2016 Mar 14;6(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6030021pmc: PMC4810049pubmed: 27102171google scholar: lookup
  6. Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ, Littlewood KE, McLean AN, McGreevy PD, Jones B, Wilkins C. The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human-Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 14;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10101870pmc: PMC7602120pubmed: 33066335google scholar: lookup
  7. Hall C, Randle H, Pearson G, Preshaw L, Waran N. Assessing equine emotional state.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2018;205:183–193.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.03.006google scholar: lookup
  8. Horseman SV, Buller H, Mullan S, Whay HR. Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders.. PLoS One 2016;11(8):e0160269.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160269pmc: PMC4976980pubmed: 27501387google scholar: lookup
  9. Hockenhull J, Furtado T. Escaping the gilded cage: Could COVID-19 lead to improved equine welfare? A review of the literature.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2021;237:105303.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105303google scholar: lookup
  10. Mills D, Clarke A. Housing, management and welfare.. In: Waran N., editor. The Welfare of Horses. Volume 1. Springer; Dordrecht, The Netherlands: 2007. pp. 77–97.
  11. Hemsworth L.M., Jongman E, Coleman G.J. Recreational horse welfare: The relationships between recreational horse owner attributes and recreational horse welfare.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2015;165:1–16.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.11.019google scholar: lookup
  12. Holcombe SJ, Jackson C, Gerber V, Jefcoat A, Berney C, Eberhardt S, Robinson NE. Stabling is associated with airway inflammation in young Arabian horses.. Equine Vet J 2001 May;33(3):244-9.
    doi: 10.2746/042516401776249606pubmed: 11352345google scholar: lookup
  13. Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.13824pmc: PMC4913592pubmed: 26806374google scholar: lookup
  14. Hansen S, Klintoe K, Austevoll M, Baptiste KE, Fjeldborg J. Equine airway inflammation in loose-housing management compared with pasture and conventional stabling.. Vet Rec 2019 May 11;184(19):590.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.104580pubmed: 30852556google scholar: lookup
  15. Hepburn R. Gastric ulceration in horses.. Practice 2011;33:116–124.
    doi: 10.1136/inp.d1195google scholar: lookup
  16. Majecka K, Klawe A. Influence of Paddock Size on Social Relationships in Domestic Horses.. J Appl Anim Welf Sci 2018 Jan-Mar;21(1):8-16.
    doi: 10.1080/10888705.2017.1360773pubmed: 28820613google scholar: lookup
  17. Yarnell K, Hall C, Royle C, Walker SL. Domesticated horses differ in their behavioural and physiological responses to isolated and group housing.. Physiol Behav 2015 May 1;143:51-7.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.02.040pubmed: 25725117google scholar: lookup
  18. Kiley-Worthington M. The Behaviour of Horses: In Relation to Management and Training.. J. A. Allen; London, UK: 1997.
  19. Christensen J.W., Ladewig J, Søndergaard E, Malmkvist J. Effects of individual versus group stabling on social behaviour in domestic stallions.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2002;75:233–248.
    doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00196-4google scholar: lookup
  20. Visser E.K., Ellis A.D., Van Reenen C.G. The effect of two different housing conditions on the welfare of young horses stabled for the first time.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008;114:521–533.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.03.003google scholar: lookup
  21. Heleski C.R., Shelle A.C., Nielsen B.D., Zanella A.J. Influence of housing on weanling horse behaviour and subsequent welfare.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2002;78:291–302.
    doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00108-9google scholar: lookup
  22. Cooper J, McGreevy P.D. Stereotypic behaviour in the stabled horses: Causes, effects and prevention without compromising horse welfare.. In: Waran N., editor. The Welfare of Horses. Volume 1. Springer; Dordrecht, The Netherlands: pp. 68–76.
  23. Cooper JJ, Mason GJ. The identification of abnormal behaviour and behavioural problems in stabled horses and their relationship to horse welfare: a comparative review.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1998 Nov;(27):5-9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb05136.xpubmed: 10484995google scholar: lookup
  24. Luescher UA, McKeown DB, Dean H. A cross-sectional study on compulsive behaviour (stable vices) in horses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1998 Nov;(27):14-8.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb05138.xpubmed: 10484997google scholar: lookup
  25. Hartman N, Greening LM. A Preliminary Study Investigating the Influence of Auditory Stimulation on the Occurrence of Nocturnal Equine Sleep-Related Behavior in Stabled Horses.. J Equine Vet Sci 2019 Nov;82:102782.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.07.003pubmed: 31732116google scholar: lookup
  26. Kelemen Z, Grimm H, Vogl C, Long M, Cavalleri JMV, Auer U, Jenner F. Equine Activity Time Budgets: The Effect of Housing and Management Conditions on Geriatric Horses and Horses with Chronic Orthopaedic Disease.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 23;11(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11071867pmc: PMC8300227pubmed: 34201584google scholar: lookup
  27. Randle H, Henshall C, Hall C, Pearson G, Preshaw L, Waran N. Indicators on the inside: Physiology and equine quality of life; Proceedings of the International Society for Equitation Science Conference; Guelph, ON, Canada.. 19–22 August 2019.
  28. Noble GK. Horse Husbandry-Nutrition, Management and Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 1;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13010169pmc: PMC9817810pubmed: 36611777google scholar: lookup
  29. National Research Council. Nutritional Requirements of Horses.. [(accessed on 3 September 2018)]. Available online: https://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/.
  30. Kiley-Worthington M. Ecological, ethological and ethically sound environments for animals: Toward symbiosis.. J. Agric. Ethics. 1989;2:323–347.
    doi: 10.1007/BF01826810google scholar: lookup
  31. R Core Team. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. R Core Team; Vienna, Austria: 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing.. .
  32. Mellor D.J., Beausoleil N.J. Extending the “Five Domains” model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states.. Anim. Welf. 2015;24:241.
    doi: 10.7120/09627286.24.3.241google scholar: lookup
  33. Boissy A, Manteuffel G, Jensen MB, Moe RO, Spruijt B, Keeling LJ, Winckler C, Forkman B, Dimitrov I, Langbein J, Bakken M, Veissier I, Aubert A. Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare.. Physiol Behav 2007 Oct 22;92(3):375-97.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.02.003pubmed: 17428510google scholar: lookup
  34. Greening L, McBride S. A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:916737.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.916737pmc: PMC9428463pubmed: 36061116google scholar: lookup
  35. Werhahn H., Hessel E.F., Bachhausen I., Van den Weghe H.F. Effects of different bedding materials on the behaviour of horses housed in single stalls.. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. 2010;30:425–431.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2010.07.005google scholar: lookup
  36. Raabmagle P., Ladewig J. Lying behaviour in horses in relation to box size.. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. 2006;26:11–17.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2005.11.015google scholar: lookup
  37. Mazzola SM, Colombani C, Pizzamiglio G, Cannas S, Palestrini C, Costa ED, Gazzonis AL, Bionda A, Crepaldi P. Do You Think I Am Living Well? A Four-Season Hair Cortisol Analysis on Leisure Horses in Different Housing and Management Conditions.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 20;11(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11072141pmc: PMC8300697pubmed: 34359269google scholar: lookup
  38. Clegg H.A., Buckley P., Friend M.A., McGreevy P.D. The ethological and physiological characteristics of cribbing and weaving horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2008;109:68–76.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.02.001google scholar: lookup
  39. Schuurman SO, Kersten W, Weijs WA. The equine hind limb is actively stabilized during standing.. J Anat 2003 Apr;202(4):355-62.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00166.xpmc: PMC1571089pubmed: 12739613google scholar: lookup
  40. Fureix C, Jego P, Henry S, Lansade L, Hausberger M. Towards an ethological animal model of depression? A study on horses.. PLoS One 2012;7(6):e39280.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039280pmc: PMC3386251pubmed: 22761752google scholar: lookup
  41. Hall C, Kay R, Yarnell K. Assessing ridden horse behaviour: Professional judgement and physiological measures.. J. Vet. Behav. 2014;9:22–29.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2013.09.005google scholar: lookup
  42. Reefmann N., Kaszàs F.B., Wechsler B., Gygax L. Ear and tail postures as indicators of emotional valence in sheep.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2009;118:199–207.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2009.02.013google scholar: lookup
  43. Dyson S., Berger J.M., Ellis A.D., Mullard J. Can the presence of musculoskeletal pain be determined from the facial expressions of ridden horses (FEReq)?. J. Vet. Behav. 2017;19:78–89.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.03.005google scholar: lookup
  44. Hall C, Huws N, White C, Taylor E, Owen H, McGreevy P.D. Assessment of ridden horse behaviour.. J. Vet. Behav. Clin. Appl. Res. 2013;9:62–73.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2012.05.005google scholar: lookup
  45. Chamove A.S., Crawley-Hatrick O.J., Stafford K.J. Horse reactions to human attitudes and behaviour.. Anthrozoös 2003;15:323–331.
    doi: 10.2752/089279302786992423google scholar: lookup
  46. Lie M, Newberry R.C. Horse communication: What does non-nutritive chewing mean?. In Proceedings of the International Society for Equitation Science Conference, Rome, Italy, 23 September 2018.
  47. Seeley R.R., Stephens T.D., Tate P. Anatomy and Physiology.. 5th ed. McGraw Hill; St. Louis. MO, USA: 2000.
  48. Fureix C., Forecka-Bruzda A., Gautier E., Hausberger M. Co-occurrence of yawning and stereotypic behaviour in horses (Equus caballus). Int. Sch. Res. Not. 2011;2011:271209.
    doi: 10.5402/2011/271209google scholar: lookup
  49. Giganti F, Zilli I, Aboudan S, Salzarulo P. Sleep, sleepiness and yawning.. Front Neurol Neurosci 2010;28:42-46.
    pubmed: 20357461doi: 10.1159/000307078google scholar: lookup
  50. Rossman ZT, Hart BL, Greco BJ, Young D, Padfield C, Weidner L, Gates J, Hart LA. When Yawning Occurs in Elephants.. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:22.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00022pmc: PMC5328991pubmed: 28293560google scholar: lookup
  51. Palagi E, Guillén-Salazar F, Llamazares-Martín C. Spontaneous Yawning and its Potential Functions in South American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens).. Sci Rep 2019 Nov 21;9(1):17226.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53613-4pmc: PMC6872524pubmed: 31754256google scholar: lookup
  52. Gallup A.C. The causes and consequences of yawning in animal groups.. Anim. Behav. 2022;187:209–219.
    doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.03.011google scholar: lookup
  53. Górecka-Bruzda A, Fureix C, Ouvrard A, Bourjade M, Hausberger M. Investigating determinants of yawning in the domestic (Equus caballus) and Przewalski (Equus ferus przewalskii) horses.. Naturwissenschaften 2016 Oct;103(9-10):72.
    doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1395-7pmc: PMC4992016pubmed: 27542092google scholar: lookup
  54. Hothersall B, Casey R. Undesired behaviour in horses: A review of their development, prevention, management and association with equine welfare.. Eq. Vet. Ed. 2012;24:479–485.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00296.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  55. Sarrafchi A, Blokhuis H.J. Equine stereotypic behaviours: Causation, occurrence, and prevention.. J. Vet. Behav. 2013;8:386–394.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2013.04.068google scholar: lookup
  56. Fureix C, Pagès M, Bon R, Lassalle JM, Kuntz P, Gonzalez G. A preliminary study of the effects of handling type on horses' emotional reactivity and the human-horse relationship.. Behav Processes 2009 Oct;82(2):202-10.
    doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.06.012pubmed: 19591910google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Curadi MC, Vallone F, Tenuzzo M, Gazzano A, Gazzano V, Macchioni F, Vannini C. Effect of Management System on Fecal Microbiota in Arabian Horses: Preliminary Results. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 28;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12040309pubmed: 40284811google scholar: lookup
  2. Haussler KK, le Jeune SS, MacKechnie-Guire R, Latif SN, Clayton HM. The Challenge of Defining Laterality in Horses: Is It Laterality or Just Asymmetry?. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 21;15(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15030288pubmed: 39943060google scholar: lookup
  3. Fiedler JM, Ayre ML, Rosanowski S, Slater JD. Horses are worthy of care: Horse sector participants' attitudes towards animal sentience, welfare, and well-being. Anim Welf 2025;34:e6.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.69pubmed: 39935777google scholar: lookup
  4. Fiedler JM, Ayre ML, Rosanowski S, Slater JD. Horse Sector Participants' Attitudes towards Anthropomorphism and Animal Welfare and Wellbeing. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 26;14(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14172482pubmed: 39272267google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,151 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.