Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T14:51:47.425Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of a neighbouring conspecific versus the use of a mirror for the control of stereotypic weaving behaviour in the stabled horse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

D.S. Mills  and
K. Davenport
D.S. Mills*
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, De Montfort University Lincoln, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Caythorpe Campus, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP, UK
K. Davenport
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, De Montfort University Lincoln, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Caythorpe Campus, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP, UK
*
†Present address: Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP. E-mail:dmills@dmu.ac.uk
Get access

Abstract

Weaving behaviour involves the repetitive lateral swaying of the head, neck, forequarters and sometimes hindquarters of the horse and is generally believed to be indicative of poor welfare. The behaviour of six known weavers was recorded three times a day for 5 days in each of three different stable designs. These were a conventional loose-box, a conventional loose-box with a 1 m2 acrylic mirror and a conventional loose-box in which there was a grilled 1 m2 side window separating the resident horse from a non-weaving conspecific in an adjacent stable. Weaving and other stereotypic behaviours were significantly higher in the unmodified stable and during the late afternoon observation period. There was no significant difference in the amount of stereotypic behaviour recorded in the two modified stables. Significant differences in the behaviour patterns and location of horses during the study suggest that activity engaging with either a visual image of a horse or a hay net is associated with a reduction in weaving and other repetitive activities in the stabled horse.

Keywords

behaviourhorseshousing
Type
Non-ruminant nutrition, behaviour and production
Information
Animal Science , Volume 74 , Issue 1 , February 2002 , pp. 95 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cooper, J. J., McDonald, L. and Mills, D. S. 2000. The effect of increasing visual horizons on stereotypic weaving: implications for the social housing of stabled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 69: 67–83.Google Scholar
Cooper, J. J. and Mason, G. J. 1998. The identification of abnormal behaviour and behavioural problems in stabled horses and their relationship to horse welfare; a comparative review. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 27: 5–9.Google Scholar
Kiley-Worthington, M. 1987. The behaviour of horses. J. A. Allen, London.Google Scholar
Luescher, U. A., McKeown, D. B. and Dean, H. 1998. A cross-sectional study on compulsive behaviour (stable vices) in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 27: 14–18.Google Scholar
McDonnell, S. M. and Haviland, J. C. S. 1995. Agonistic ethogram of the equid bachelor band. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 43: 147–188.Google Scholar
McGreevy, P. D., Cripps, P. J., French, N. P., Green, L. E. and Nicol, C. J. 1995a. Management factors associated with stereotypic and redirected behaviour in the Thoroughbred horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 27: 86–91.Google Scholar
McGreevy, P. D., French, N. P. and Nicol, C. J. 1995b. The prevalence of abnormal behaviours in dressage, eventing and endurance horses in relation to stabling, Veterinary Record 137: 36–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, P. and Bateson, P. 1993. Measuring behaviour, an introductory guide, second edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Mason, G. J. 1991. Stereotypies: a critical review. Animal Behaviour 41: 1015–1037.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mills, D. S., Eckley, S. and Cooper, J. J. 2000. Thoroughbred bedding preferences, associated behaviour differences and their implications for equine welfare. Animal Science 70: 95–106.Google Scholar
Mills, D. S. and Nankervis, K. J. 1999. Equine behaviour principles and practice. Blackwell Science, Oxford.Google Scholar
Nicol, C. J. 1999. Understanding equine stereotypies. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 28: 20–25.Google Scholar
Ralston, S. L. 1982. Common behaviour problems in horses. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 4: 152–159.Google Scholar
Redbo, I., Redbo-Torstensson, P., Odberg, P. O., Hedendahl, A. and Holm, J. 1998. Factors affecting behavioural disturbances in race-horses. Animal Science 66: 475–481.Google Scholar
Sappington, B. F. and Goldman, L. 1994. Discrimination learning and concept formation in the Arabian horse. Journal of Animal Science 72: 3080–3087.Google Scholar