Romness Nicole, Fenner Kate, McKenzie Jessica, Anzulewicz Ashley, Burattini Bibiana, Wilson Bethany, McGreevy Paul
Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2020 Dec 18;10(12):2431. doi: 10.3390/ani10122431.
An evidence-based understanding of dangerous or unwelcome behaviour in horses would greatly benefit both horses and humans who interact with them. Using owner-reported data from the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), the current study investigated in-hand behaviours associated with dangerous or unwelcome ridden behaviours, notably bolting, rearing and bucking. Respondents ( = 1584) to the ridden horse section of the E-BARQ answered 42 demographic questions, followed by 268 behavioural items. Parallel analysis was conducted to group individual behaviours into rotated components to create independent and dependent indices. Multivariable general linear modelling and ordinal logistic regression were used to identify behaviours associated with bolting, rearing and bucking. Results revealed that safety-from-bolt increased as social confidence with horses (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.06; 95% confidence interval (cf = 1.02-1.09) and other animals (OR = 1.08; cf = 1.03-1.12), compliance in-hand (OR = 1.10; cf = 1.06-1.16) and tolerance of restraint (OR = 1.05; cf = 1.0-1.11) increased; and decreased as loading problems (OR = 0.95; cf = 0.92-0.99) increased. Safety-from-rear increased as tolerance of restraint (OR = 1.07; cf = 1.02-1.12) and social confidence with other animals (OR = 1.05; cf = 1.01-1.09) increased; and decreased as loading problems (OR = 0.94; cf = 0.91-0.98) increased. Safety-from-buck increased as social confidence with horses (b-value = 0.011, < 0.001) and other animals (b-value = 0.010, = 0.002), compliance in-hand (b-value = 0.015, < 0.001), tolerance of restraint (b-value = 0.009, = 0.027) and tolerance of haltering/bridling (b-value = 0.016, = 0.010) increased, and it decreased as loading problems increased (b-value = -0.011, < 0.001). By revealing, for the first time, that specific behaviours on the ground are associated with particular responses in the same horses when ridden, this study advances equitation science considerably. Identification of risk factors for dangerous behaviour while under saddle can improve safety for horses and riders and highlights the importance of effective and humane in-hand training.
基于证据来理解马匹的危险或不受欢迎行为，将使马匹以及与它们互动的人类都受益匪浅。本研究利用来自马匹行为评估与研究问卷（E-BARQ）中马主报告的数据，调查了与危险或不受欢迎的骑乘行为（尤其是突然奔跑、后肢直立和跳跃）相关的牵马行为。E-BARQ骑乘马部分的受访者（n = 1584）回答了42个人口统计学问题，随后是268个行为项目。进行了平行分析，将个体行为分组为旋转成分，以创建独立和相关指数。使用多变量一般线性模型和有序逻辑回归来识别与突然奔跑、后肢直立和跳跃相关的行为。结果显示，随着与马匹（优势比（OR）= 1.06；95%置信区间（CI）= 1.02 - 1.09）和其他动物（OR = 1.08；CI = 1.03 - 1.12）的社交信心增加、牵马时的顺从性（OR = 1.10；CI = 1.06 - 1.16）以及对约束的耐受性（OR = 1.05；CI = 1.0 - 1.11）增加，突然奔跑的安全性提高；而随着装载问题（OR = 0.95；CI = 0.92 - 0.99）增加，突然奔跑的安全性降低。随着对约束的耐受性（OR = 1.07；CI = 1.02 - 1.12）和与其他动物的社交信心（OR = 1.05；CI = 1.01 - 1.09）增加，后肢直立的安全性提高；而随着装载问题（OR = 0.94；CI = 0.91 - 0.98）增加而降低。随着与马匹（b值 = 0.011，P < 0.001）和其他动物（b值 = 0.010，P = 0.002）的社交信心增加、牵马时的顺从性（b值 = 0.015，P < 0.001）、对约束的耐受性（b值 = 0.009，P = 0.027）以及对戴笼头/缰绳的耐受性（b值 = 0.016，P = 0.010）增加，跳跃的安全性提高，并且随着装载问题增加而降低（b值 = -0.011，P < 0.001）。本研究首次揭示了地面上的特定行为与同一匹马在骑乘时的特定反应相关，这极大地推动了马术科学的发展。识别骑乘时危险行为的风险因素可以提高马匹和骑手的安全性，并突出了有效且人道的牵马训练的重要性。
