Trailer loading stress in horses: behavioral and physiological effects of nonaversive training (TTEAM).

The research discusses how nonaversive training, based on the Tellington-Touch Equine Awareness Method (TTEAM), can reduce stress and decrease loading time for horses that usually resist being loaded onto trailers. The study shows that this training approach has usefully affected both the horses’ behavior and their physiological responses, reducing heart rate and cortisol levels during loading.

Research Methodology

• The study involved ten horses referred to as “problem loaders” by their owners – horses known to resist trailer loading.
• Both pre- and post-training assessments were conducted based on two 7-minute loading attempts where the researchers measured the heart rates and salivary cortisol levels of the horses.
• The training was undertaken for six 30-minute sessions spread over two weeks, wherein both the horse and the owner participated. It consisted of leading exercises with obstacles that simulated the conditions during trailering.
• In addition to all these, seven “good loaders” were also assessed for physiological comparison.

Findings

• The assessments showed that heart rate and salivary cortisol increased significantly during loading compared to baseline readings. The increase was marked for both parameters (p <.001 and p <.05, respectively).
• However, repeated assessments after training revealed a decrease in loading time, reducing heart rates during the loading process, and lowered cortisol levels compared to pre-training assessments.
• It was also interesting to observe the physiological response of the “good loaders”. The heart rate increases during loading were significantly higher in the “good loaders” than the “problem loaders”.
• Therefore, the nonaversive training simulating aspects of loading effectively reduces loading time and stress during loading for horses with a history of resistance to trailer loading.

Conclusion

The study highlights that nonaversive training methods like the Tellington-Touch Equine Awareness Method can substantially decrease the stress and resistance that horses exhibit during the trailer loading process. By engaging both horse and owner in specific exercises that simulate the conditions of trailer loading, it can lead to reduced loading times and a significant reduction in stress responses. Through this research, a new, efficient way for handling “problem loaders” to avoid potential injuries and stress among horses and their handlers is brought forward.