Equine behavior: behavior test, novel object test with ball (part 2), Sundance, mustang yearling gelding

Abstract

Test conducted by Alli Sommerkorn at the George H. Cook Campus, Rutgers University as part of the Young Horse Teaching & Research Program of the Equine Science Center, Rutgers University. One of a series of tests comparing behavior responses of mustangs fed a high starch diet versus behavior responses of mustangs fed a low starch diet. In this novel object test, the horses are allowed to investigate a medicine ball for 3 minutes. In this second test, four mustangs have been on a high starch diet (total mixed ration cubes and 10% corn) and four have been on a low starch diet (only total mixed ration cubes) for about a week. The subject was RU Sundance Kid. Duration of test: 3 min. Overall Average score on a scale of 1-5 (5 is highest compliance): 4.25. Sundance sees the ball and is nervous to enter the round pen. He avoids the ball and is nervous when it is kicked toward him,Test components, with score ranked 1-5 (5 is highest compliance): General (2) -- Tail (5) -- Vocal (5) -- Defecation (5).One of a series of videos recording behaviors of draft horse crosses and U.S. Bureau of Land Management mustangs

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