Behaviour Flashcards
Validation of inertial measurement units to detect and predict horse behaviour while stabled
• The developed algorithm achieved high sensitivity (>85%) for detecting standing, stepping, and recumbency.
• Weight-shifting and pawing were less accurately classified (sensitivity: 50-69%, precision: 28-33%).
• Overall misclassification was 2.5%, excluding standing behaviors, which were correctly identified >98% of the time.
• Misclassifications often occurred during transitional periods (e.g., between standing and stepping or weight-shifting).
Difficult horses - prevalence, approaches to management of and understanding of how they develop by equine veterinarians
• 95% of veterinarians interacted with “difficult horses” at least monthly.
• 81% of respondents sustained injuries caused by horses within the last 5 years.
• A total of 579 injuries were reported, with 37% resulting in continued discomfort or loss of function.
• 15% of injuries required hospital visits, 16% caused time off work, and 11% required general practitioner consultations.
• 92% of respondents reported putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations monthly, and 29% daily.
Management Approaches
Reliance on Restraint:
• Chemical sedation was the most valued method (99% found it useful).
• Less emphasis was placed on behavior modification techniques rooted in learning theory.
Understanding of Learning Theory
• 46% of veterinarians reported receiving no formal tuition on equine learning theory.
• Despite 78% claiming moderate or higher understanding of learning theory, test results showed poor comprehension:
• Limited knowledge of operant conditioning terminology, affecting application of behavior modification techniques in practice.
An online survey investigating perceived prevalence and treatment options for stereotypic behaviours in horses and undesirable behaviours associated with handling and riding
• Undesirable behaviors in horses are common, as indicated by both caregivers (76% owned/trained a horse with such behaviors) and veterinarians (87.8% consulted for difficult handling issues).
• Stereotypic behaviors were reported less frequently but still notable, with 38.2% of caregivers encountering them.
• Most caregivers (83.2%) indicated they would seek advice from veterinarians, while fewer (58.0%) would consult equine behaviorists.
• Nearly all behaviorists (97.3%) would collaborate with veterinarians to investigate physical causes for undesirable behaviors.
• A majority of veterinarians (77.6%) preferred to devise their own behavior modification programs rather than referring to behaviorists.
Pain and Behavioral Issues:
• All veterinarians investigated pain as a possible cause of behavioral issues, with 81.6% using NSAID trials to confirm or exclude pain-related origins.
• Common sources of pain investigated included musculoskeletal issues (93.9%) and equine gastric ulcer syndrome (89.8%).
Pharmacological Management:
• Prescription sedatives (e.g., acepromazine, reserpine) and over-the-counter (OTC) calming agents were widely used for behavioral issues.
• Sedatives dominated treatments for dangerous behaviors during confinement, raising concerns about their safety and potential welfare implications.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), though effective in other species, were rarely used for horses (8.2% for ridden behavioral issues).
Behavioral Issues in Ridden Horses
Management Strategies:
• All veterinarians recommended behavior modification combined with management changes for behavioral issues in ridden horses.
• Prescription medications were considered by 61.2% of veterinarians, while 71.4% suggested OTC supplements (e.g., magnesium, tryptophan).
• Acepromazine and reserpine were the most prescribed drugs, but some caregivers reported using a2-agonists, posing safety risks.
Stereotypic Behaviors
Treatment Approaches:
• Stereotypic behaviors were managed primarily using sedative/calming agents, with little emphasis on addressing underlying causes.
• Veterinarians believed there were no effective medications for stereotypic behaviors without sedation.
