title: Effects of pre-conditioning on behavior and physiology of horses during a standardised learning task.
abstract: Rein tension is used to apply pressure to control both ridden and unridden horses. The pressure is delivered by equipment such as the bit, which may restrict voluntary movement and cause changes in behavior and physiology. Managing the effects of such pressure on arousal level and behavioral indicators will optimise horse learning outcomes. This study examined the effect of training horses to turn away from bit pressure on cardiac outcomes and behavior (including responsiveness) over the course of eight trials in a standardised learning task. The experimental procedure consisted of a resting phase, treatment/control phase, standardised learning trials requiring the horses (n = 68) to step backwards in response to bit pressure and a recovery phase. As expected, heart rate increased (P = 0.028) when the handler applied rein tension during the treatment phase. The amount of rein tension required to elicit a response during treatment was higher on the left than the right rein (P = 0.009). Total rein tension required for trials reduced (P < 0.001) as they progressed, as did time taken (P < 0.001) and steps taken (P < 0.001). The incidence of head tossing decreased (P = 0.015) with the progression of the trials and was higher (P = 0.018) for the control horses than the treated horses. These results suggest that preparing the horses for the lesson and slightly raising their arousal levels, improved learning outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0649-3278
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fenner
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGreevy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006736:Horses; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal