title: Correlation between dichromatic colour vision and jumping performance in horses.
abstract: There is general agreement that horses have dichromatic colour vision with similar capabilities to human beings with red-green colour deficiencies. However, whether colour perception has an impact on equine jumping performance and how pronounced the colour stimulus might be for a horse is unknown. The present study investigated the relationship between the colour of the fences (blue or green) and the show jumping performance of 20 horses ridden by two riders using an indoor and outdoor set of green and blue fences. In the indoor arena, significantly more touches and faults were made on blue fences in comparison to green fences (median difference of 2.5 bars). When only touched bars were included, a significant median difference of one bar was found. Mares (n = 4) demonstrated more faults and had a significantly greater difference in touches and faults between the two colours than male horses (n = 16). Repeating the same experiment with eight horses in an outdoor grass arena revealed no significant differences between the two colours. In order to draw any definite conclusions, more research concerning the colour perception, influence of contrast with the arena surface and sex of horse is required.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, B-3100 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spaas
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, B-3100 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Werner F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Helsen
authors.affiliation: Elscolab, Hogenakkerhoekstraat 14, B-9150, Kruibeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maurits
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adriaenssens
authors.affiliation: Global Stem Cell Technology, Geeneindestraat 1, B-3560, Meldert-Lummen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broeckx
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Global Stem Cell Technology, Geeneindestraat 1, B-3560, Meldert-Lummen, Belgium. Electronic address: janspaas@gst.be.
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Spaas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D055253:Color Vision / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports
keywords: Colour vision; Equine; Performance; Show jumping