The Effect Of Social Environment And Handling On The Behavioural And Physical Development Of Young Horses

The Effect of Social Environment and Handling on the Behavioural and Physical Development of Young Horses

This thesis focuses on the young horse from weaning and onwards, and on the ways in which it is best prepared for adult life as a companion animal for sport or leisure. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of social environment and handling of young Danish Warmblood horses with respect to their behavioural and physical development with special emphasis on the human-animal relationship. From the results of the present study and the literature it is concluded that group housing and handling exert a positive effect on the behaviour and emotionality of young horses. However, the composition of the group and the time spent in a group versus alone may influence the behavioural development of young horses

Horse behaviour and welfare

"Horse behaviour and welfare is a major issue as horses are mainly sport and recreational animals where the human-animal relation is essential. Scientific studies on this topic have increased greatly over the last decade and this publication enlightens some of the major issues raised such as horse temperament, early experience, horsing and social management and equine behaviour welfare. Precise studies are described here, that are placed in the more general context of the international scientific advances. Important behavioural aspects concern: how to measure temperament traits and the genetic/experimental influences on temperament, when, how and whether to handle foals in order to improve human/foal relation, the importance of the social environment on the behaviour of young and adult horses. On the other hand, the improvement of equine welfare through better practices is described such as housing design, feeding practices or social grouping. The use of behavioural cues in order to assess welfare is discussed and tested through experimental approaches. This book constitutes a very rich overview of the recent and new research lines in the field of horse behaviour and welfare."

The Effect of Social Environment and Handling on the Behavioural and Physical Development of Young Horses