An inconsistent social buffering effect from a static visual substitute in horses (Equus caballus): A pilot study

Social buffering occurs when a companion helps to reduce a subject’s stress response during a stressful event and/or to recover more quickly from a stressful event. The aim of this study was to determine if any social buffering function of a horse companion can occur in relation to a visual substitute (poster of a relaxed horse face) during two different stressful situations: a novel object test (a ball presented gradually) and an umbrella test (sudden opening of an umbrella). In order to evaluate the effect of a horse face poster on the subject’s stress responses, behavioral (reactivity score) and physiological (heart rate) measurements were taken. Each of the 28 study subjects completed four trials: two novel object tests and two umbrella tests—each with a relaxed horse face poster and a pixelated poster (control). Our results showed that the presence of a horse face poster might significantly reduce the behavioral response (reactivity) of subject horses in the novel object test but did not improve heart rate recovery (HRR) time. The horse face poster did not have a significant effect on the behavioral reaction or HRR in the umbrella test. Any effect of a horse face poster as a potential social buffer might potentially depend on the nature of the stressful event.</p

Ethogram of comfort and aversion-related behaviour [20].

<p>Ethogram of comfort and aversion-related behaviour <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0107357#pone.0107357-Nicol2" target="_blank">[20]</a>.</p

Ethogram of alert behaviours including definitions of proximity to novel object [20].

<p>Ethogram of alert behaviours including definitions of proximity to novel object <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0107357#pone.0107357-Nicol2" target="_blank">[20]</a>.</p

Average egg weight and total egg production on a given day for aviary and cage reared birds at 20, 24, 28, 41 and 73 weeks of age.

<p>Average egg weight and total egg production on a given day for aviary and cage reared birds at 20, 24, 28, 41 and 73 weeks of age.</p

Using the five domains model to assess the adverse impacts of husbandry, veterinary, and equitation interventions on horse welfare

The aim of this study was to conduct a series of paper-based exercises in order to assess the negative (adverse) welfare impacts, if any, of common interventions on domestic horses across a broad range of different contexts of equine care and training. An international panel (with professional expertise in psychology, equitation science, veterinary science, education, welfare, equestrian coaching, advocacy, and community engagement; n = 16) met over a four-day period to define and assess these interventions, using an adaptation of the domain-based assessment model. The interventions were considered within 14 contexts: C1Weaning; C2 Diet; C3 Housing; C4 Foundation training; C5 Ill-health and veterinary interventions (chiefly medical); C6 Ill-health and veterinary interventions (chiefly surgical); C7 Elective procedures; C8 Care procedures; C9 Restraint for management procedures; C10 Road transport; C11 Activity—competition; C12 Activity—work; C13 Activity—breeding females; and C14 Activity—breeding males. Scores on a 1–10 scale for Domain 5 (the mental domain) gathered during the workshop were compared with overall impact scores on a 1–10 scale assigned by the same panellists individually before the workshop. The most severe (median and interquartile range, IQR) impacts within each context were identified during the workshop as: C1 abrupt, individual weaning (10 IQR 1); C2 feeding 100% low-energy concentrate (8 IQR 2.5); C3 indoor tie stalls with no social contact (9 IQR 1.5); C4 both (i) dropping horse with ropes (9 IQR 0.5) and forced flexion (9 IQR 0.5); C5 long-term curative medical treatments (8 IQR 3); C6 major deep intracavity surgery (8.5 IQR 1); C7 castration without veterinary supervision (10 IQR 1); C8 both (i) tongue ties (8 IQR 2.5) and (ii) restrictive nosebands (8 IQR 2.5); C9 ear twitch (8 IQR 1); C10 both (i) individual transport (7.00 IQR 1.5) and group transport with unfamiliar companions (7 IQR 1.5); C11 both (i) jumps racing (8 IQR 2.5) and Western performance (8 IQR 1.5); C12 carriage and haulage work (6 IQR 1.5); C13 wet nurse during transition between foals (7.5 IQR 3.75); and C14 teaser horse (7 IQR 8). Associations between pre-workshop and workshop scores were high, but some rankings changed after workshop participation, particularly relating to breeding practices. Domain 1 had the weakest association with Domain 5. The current article discusses the use of the domain-based model in equine welfare assessment, and offers a series of assumptions within each context that future users of the same approach may make when assessing animal welfare under the categories reported here. It also discusses some limitations in the framework that was used to apply the model