Riley Christopher B, Noble Belinda R, Bridges Janis, Hazel Susan J, Thompson Kirrilly
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2016 Oct 25;6(11):65. doi: 10.3390/ani6110065.
Equine transportation research has largely focused on the commercial land movement of horses. Data on the incidence and factors associated with horse injuries during non-commercial transportation (privately owned horse trucks and trailers) is scant. This study surveyed 223 drivers transporting horses to 12 equestrian events in southeastern Australia. Data collected encompassed driver demographics, travel practice, vehicle characteristics, and incidents involving horse injury. Approximately 25% (55/223) of participants reported that their horses were injured during transportation. Of these 72% were owner classified as horse associated (scrambling, slipping and horse-horse interaction), 11% due to mechanical failure, and 6% due to driver error. Horse injury was not significantly associated with driver age, gender, or experience. Participants that answer the telephone whilst driving were more likely to have previously had a horse injured ( p = 0.04). There was a trend for participants with <8 hours sleep prior to the survey to have experienced a previous transportation-related injury ( p = 0.056). Increased trailer age was associated with a greater number of injury reports (r² = 0.20; p < 0.04). The diversity in trailer models prevented identification of the importance of individual design features. This study highlights the potential for horses to sustain transportation injuries in privately owned vehicles and warrants further study to address this risk to their welfare.
马匹运输研究主要集中在马匹的商业陆路运输方面。关于非商业运输（私人拥有的运马卡车和拖车）过程中马匹受伤的发生率及相关因素的数据很少。本研究调查了223名将马匹运往澳大利亚东南部12场马术赛事的司机。收集的数据包括司机人口统计学信息、出行习惯、车辆特征以及涉及马匹受伤的事件。约25%（55/223）的参与者报告称他们的马匹在运输过程中受伤。其中，72%被车主归类为与马相关（争抢、滑倒和马与马之间的互动），11%是由于机械故障，6%是由于司机失误。马匹受伤与司机年龄、性别或经验无显著关联。开车时接电话的参与者此前更有可能有马匹受伤（p = 0.04）。在调查前睡眠不足8小时的参与者有过与运输相关受伤经历的趋势（p = 0.056）。拖车使用年限增加与更多的受伤报告相关（r² = 0.20；p < 0.04）。拖车型号的多样性使得无法确定个别设计特征的重要性。本研究强调了马匹在私人车辆运输中受伤的可能性，并需要进一步研究以解决对其福利的这一风险。
