Increased Rider Weight Did Not Induce Changes in Behavior and Physiological Parameters in Horses
Abstract
:Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Behavior and Heart Rate
2.2. Salivary Cortisol
2.3. Gait Symmetry
2.4. Data Analysis
2.5. Animal Welfare and Ethics
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Parameter | Horses | Ponies |
---|---|---|
Number | 17 | 3 |
Height (cm), mean ± se (range) | 168 ± 1.1 (160–177) | 144 ± 4.2 (136–148) |
Weight (kg) | 577 ± 11.5 (500–650) | 349 ± 29.4 (290–380) |
Body Condition Score 1 | 5.8 ± 0.8 (5–7.5) | 5.7 ± 0.3 (5–6) |
Chest circumference (cm) | 198 ± 1.7 (182–210) | 166 ±5.4 (155–172) |
Age (yrs) | 8.4 ± 0.5 (5–14) | 14.7 ± 3.2 (11–21) |
Cannon bone circumference (cm) | 21.6 ± 0.2 (21–23) | 18 ± 0.8 (17–19) |
Loin width (cm) | 55.6 ± 0.9 (50–63) | 45.3 ± 1.9 (43–49) |
Rider weight (kg) | 70.4 ± 2.1 (55–83) | 49.7 ± 5.3 (39–56) |
Rider weight incl. tack (kg) | 85.5 ± 2.3 (68–100) | 63.4 ± 5.8 (52–71) |
Rider age (years) | 35.9 ± 2.5 (20–54) | 12.0 ± 0.6 (11–13) |
Rider:Horse bodyweight ratio (%) 2 | 14.8 ± 0.37 (12.4–18.1) | 18.2 ± 0.40 (17.6–18.9) |
Day | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Activities | Clinical examination Baseline lunging test Baseline gait symmetry test Weighing of horse and rider Horse conformation Rider mobility and balance tests (on-ground) | Dressage and gait symmetry; Test 1: control (0%), +15% or +25% | Dressage and gait symmetry; Test 2: control (0%), +15% or +25% | Dressage and gait symmetry; Test 3: control (0%), +15% or +25% |
Behavioral Category (Freq) | Description |
---|---|
Gait change | The horse makes an undesired gait change, e.g., from canter to trot during the 1 min canter sequence, or from walk to trot during the 1 min walk sequence |
Other undesired body movements | Bucking, kicking |
Head movements | Head tossing, shaking or raising (i.e., movements of the head away from the usual head-and-neck position) |
Tail movements | Lateral, dorsoventral or circular motion of the tail that interrupts the rhythmical waving motion of the tail corresponding to the gait |
Open mouth | Mouth clearly opened; lower or upper teeth are visible |
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Christensen, J.W.; Bathellier, S.; Rhodin, M.; Palme, R.; Uldahl, M. Increased Rider Weight Did Not Induce Changes in Behavior and Physiological Parameters in Horses. Animals 2020, 10, 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010095
Christensen JW, Bathellier S, Rhodin M, Palme R, Uldahl M. Increased Rider Weight Did Not Induce Changes in Behavior and Physiological Parameters in Horses. Animals. 2020; 10(1):95. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010095
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristensen, Janne Winther, Suzie Bathellier, Marie Rhodin, Rupert Palme, and Mette Uldahl. 2020. "Increased Rider Weight Did Not Induce Changes in Behavior and Physiological Parameters in Horses" Animals 10, no. 1: 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010095