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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 1022255; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1022255

Unhandled horses classified with broken/unbroken test (BUT) exhibit longer avoidance, flight reactions, and displacement behaviors when approached by humans.

Abstract: Horses with a low level of tameness are at higher risk for transport-related disease and injury; hence, European regulations for the protection of animals during transport (EC 1/2005) are stricter for unhandled (unbroken) horses. However, the regulation does not provide adequate tools for unhandled horse identification. The Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT) was developed and validated to easily identify whether a horse is broken (handled) or not. As a further validation step, the aim of this study was to assess whether there is any correspondence between the BUT classification and the behavioral response of the horse. A total of 100 healthy Italian Heavy Draft horses were video recorded when assessed with the BUT. In total, 90 videos (48 handled and 42 unhandled horses) matched the inclusion criteria and were assessed. The behavior of each horse was evaluated by three observers blinded as to the horses' experience with a focal animal continuous recording method. Behaviors were classified in four categories: stress, avoidance, displacement, and aggression. A Mann-Whitney test was used to identify differences in behavioral patterns between horses classified as handled or unhandled with the BUT. Unhandled horses showed not only a significantly longer time to be approached by the handler but also more avoidance and flight reactions (p < 0.001). Unhandled horses showed significantly longer displacement behaviors, such as sniffing (p < 0.001). These findings further validate the BUT classification and confirm that horses classified as unhandled are more prone to show avoidance and flight reactions when approached by humans. For this reason, the adoption of the BUT could be helpful to minimize humans' horse-related injuries and, if applied regularly before loading, to contribute to safeguard the welfare of horses during transport.
Copyright © 2022 Riva, Sobrero, Menchetti, Minero, Padalino and Dalla Costa.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-26 PubMed ID: 36225797PubMed Central: PMC9548601DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1022255Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 looks at how unhandled (unbroken) horses, compared to handled (broken) horses, display longer times of avoidance, flight responses and displacement behaviors when being approached by humans. It validates a testing method called the Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT) for identifying such horses, arguing it could reduce human injuries and improve horse welfare during transport.

Research Purpose and Test Used

  • The research aims to further validate a method known as the Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT) which ascertains if a horse is handled or unhandled. The test is designed to improve horse identification processes, as European regulations for protecting animals during transport (EC 1/2005) are stricter for unhandled horses.
  • One of the challenges addressed by this research is that current regulations don’t provide adequate tools for identifying unhandled horses. Unhandled horses are less accustomed to human interaction, which heightens the risk of disease or injury during transport due to their heightened stress responses.

Research Methodology

  • A total of 100 healthy Italian Heavy Draft horses were observed and video recorded when evaluated with the BUT. Of these, 90 videos (comprising 48 handled and 42 unhandled horses) met the study’s criteria and were assessed.
  • Each horse’s behavior was evaluated using a continuous recording method by three observers. The evaluation was blind, with observers unaware of the horses’ prior experience with human handling.
  • Four categories were used for classifying behaviors: stress, avoidance, displacement, and aggression. A statistical test called a Mann-Whitney test was used to detect differences in behavioral patterns between handled and unhandled horses.

Research Findings

  • The results revealed that unhandled horses took a significantly longer time to approach the handler, exhibiting more avoidance and flight reactions. These horses also showed longer displacement behaviors such as sniffing.
  • These findings further validate the BUT classification, affirming that unhandled horses are more likely to display avoidance and flight responses when approached by humans due to their lower level of tameness.
  • The researchers suggested that regular application of the BUT before loading could help minimize horse-related injuries to humans and enhance horse welfare during transport.

Cite This Article

APA
Riva MG, Sobrero L, Menchetti L, Minero M, Padalino B, Dalla Costa E. (2022). Unhandled horses classified with broken/unbroken test (BUT) exhibit longer avoidance, flight reactions, and displacement behaviors when approached by humans. Front Vet Sci, 9, 1022255. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1022255

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 1022255

Researcher Affiliations

Riva, Maria Giorgia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Sobrero, Lucia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Menchetti, Laura
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Minero, Michela
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Dalla Costa, Emanuela
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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