assessing temperament in young horses - ku leuven · 2008-06-12 · curious eager bold calm...
TRANSCRIPT
Interstallion seminar 2008
Wat het paard tot een individu maakt …
Assessing temperament in Assessing temperament in young horsesyoung horses
Interstallion seminar 2008
Changing role of horses
Interstallion seminar 2008
Suitability for occupation
Recreational Riding
Competition
Interstallion seminar 2008
Suitability for occupation
Police work
Therapy
Interstallion seminar 2008
Changes in breeding
Interstallion seminar 2008
Dreaming of …
Interstallion seminar 2008
What is temperament?
The individual’s basic stance towards continuing changes and challenges in its environment.
� basic stance
� challenges
Interstallion seminar 2008
What is temperament?
� Temperament consists of different temperamental traits
� We think that we talk about the same thing …
Interstallion seminar 2008
Stubborn FlightyAttentiveShy
Curious
BoldEager
Calm
Temperamental traits
Interstallion seminar 2008
What affects temperament?
Genetics
Rider
TrainingEnvironment
Interstallion seminar 2008
Predictions
Information about the consistency of behaviouraltrait is important for predictions of future behaviourand performance
Interstallion seminar 2008
Research on horse temperament
� Ask owners about temperamental traits of their horses by using a survey
� Ask trainers or handlers about temperamental traits of a couple of horses at one location
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Research on horse temperament
� Train observers to qualitatively score or assess temperamental traits in specific situations
� Analyse behaviour and physiological responses of horses on temperamental tests
Interstallion seminar 2008
Defining matters
� Terms not defined in advance: different perception of terms (Mills, 1998) Terms like lazy, bold, intelligent sharp were not interpret the same. Only flighty and sharp
� Terms well defined in advance: high rater agreement (Visser et al., 2003; Lloyd et al., 2007)
Interstallion seminar 2008
Temperamental traits in horses
� Emotionality: the capacity to perceive and react to (potentially) dangerous situations
Interstallion seminar 2008
Interstallion seminar 2008
Interstallion seminar 2008
Flightiness and focussing
Fleeing Standstill
Foc
ussi
ngN
ot fo
cuss
ing
Interstallion seminar 2008
Heart rate during a ‘novel object test’
0 2 4 6 8 10
Tijd (minuten)
0
60
120
180
240
300Hartslag (bpm)
Box Arena Met paraplu
Interstallion seminar 2008
Heart rate during a ‘novel object test’
0 2 4 6 8 10
Tijd (minuten)
0
60
120
180
240
300Hartslag (bpm)
Box Arena Met paraplu
Interstallion seminar 2008
Temperamental traits in horses
� Handling response
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Handling test
28 of the 41 horses followed the handler crossing the ‘bridge’immediately.
7 horses needed 1 of 2 attempts.
6 horses refused multiple attempts to cross the ‘bridge’.
Interstallion seminar 2008
Learning tests for horses
Reward learning test
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Learning tests for horses
Avoidance learning test
Interstallion seminar 2008
Gender and dominance
� There is no gender effect on temperamental traits in horses (Seaman et al., 2002, Hausbergeret al., 1998, 2004)
� There is no dominance or ‘status of the horse’ effect on temperamental traits in horses (Seaman et al., 2002)
Interstallion seminar 2008
Discipline and temperamental traits
Score for emotionality
low high
Interstallion seminar 2008
Breed and temperamental traits
Score for emotionality
low high
Interstallion seminar 2008
HE HAD THE HIGHEST SCORE ON OUR
ASSERTIVENESSTEST …
INTELLIGENCE- AND TEMPERAMENT TESTS FOR HORSES