Species : Horses

European Parliament: Answer to question E-003538/2019 Statistics on horses

Mr Gentiloni on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2020

1 Can the Commission provide figures on the number of horses per EU Member State per function (agriculture, professional use, recreation, therapy, private use, slaughter)?
2 Why are horses not included in Eurostat statistics?
3 What view does the Commission take of the proposal to commission a study to collect figures on the horse sector? Is the Commission planning such a study in the near future?

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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In-Person Caretaker Visits Disrupt Ongoing Discomfort Behavior in Hospitalized Equine Orthopedic Surgical Patients

Catherine Torcivia and Sue McDonnell

Published in 2020

Study of the change in discomfort behaviours of horses hospitalised for orthopaedic surgery on the arrival of a carer and their implications for the evaluation of pain (systematically underestimated).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Pain, Welfare indicators, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Study: Off-Schedule Feeding Compromises Horse Welfare

Christa Lesté-Lasserre

Published in 2020

Report of research by Zupan and colleagues (University of Ljubjana, Slovenia) on the monitoring of behavioural stress indicators in horses with regular and irregular feeding habits. Horses were severely stressed when their feed was late, causing most of them to "act out" through behaviours such as neighing, kicking their handlers or kicking at the stall door.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Could snorts inform us on how horses perceive riding?

M.Stomp, MassonS.Henry, M.Hausberger, C.Lesimple

Published in 2020

Preview: “Snorts production is related to riding technique. Snorts are associated to phases when the rider technique (long, loose reins) allow more comfort for the horse (low neck), especially while walking. Snorts could be useful tools for identifying better practices at work."

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Preliminary Proof of the Concept of Wild (Feral) Horses Following Light Aircraft into a Trap

Sue McDonnell, Catherine Torcivia

Published in 2020

Testing the use of light aircraft instead of helicopters for moving wild horses

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Stress, Transport

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Guide to good animal welfare practice for the keeping, care, training and use of horses

EU Platform on Animal Welfare

Published in 2019

Guide setting out all current scientific recommendations relating to the welfare of horses that can be followed by all keepers of horses.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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Practice of Noseband Use and Intentions Towards Behavioural Change in Dutch Equestrians

E. Kathalijne Visser, Monique M. F. Kuypers, Jennifer S. M. Stam, Bernd Riedstra

Published in 2019

Study of noseband tightening practices by Dutch riders and their impact on the welfare of horses

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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Improving the Recognition of Equine Affective States

Catherine Bell, Suzanne Rogers, Julie Taylor, Debbie Busby

Published in 2019

Study on the recognition by riders of signs of distress in horses experiencing negative emotions

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Anxiety, Fear, Stress

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Increased Rider Weight Did Not Induce Changes in Behavior and Physiological Parameters in Horses

Janne Winther Christensen, Suzie Bathellier, Marie Rhodin, Rupert Palme, Mette Uldahl

Published in 2020

Study of the influence of a rider's weight on a horse's behaviour, the symmetry of its gait and its physiological responses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Cognition and learning in horses (Equus caballus): What we know and why we should ask more

moreLauren Brubaker∗, Monique A.R. Udell

Published in 2016

Horses (Equus caballus) have a rich history of relationships with humans. Across different cultures and eras, they have been used for work, entertainment, cultural rituals, food, therapy and companionship and they continue to fulfil many of these roles today. As horses are one of the most commonly trained domestic animals, understanding how they learn and how their relationship with humans and other horses impacts their ability to learn can influence their welfare, training, breeding and management. Since, unlike dogs and cats, domesticated horses evolved from prey animals, the horse-human relationship raises interesting and unique scientific theoretical questions. There is still much to learn about the cognition and behaviour of horses from a scientific perspective. This review explores current research in three related areas of horse cognition: human-horse interactions, social learning, and independent learning in horses. Research on these topics is summarised and suggestions for future research are provided.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Learning, training, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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