Eisersiö Marie, Byström Anna, Yngvesson Jenny, Baragli Paolo, Lanata Antonio, Egenvall Agneta
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Front Vet Sci. 2021 May 7;8:652015. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.652015. eCollection 2021.
When a rider maintains contact on the reins, rein tension will vary continuously in synchronicity with the horse's gait and stride. This continuous variation makes it difficult to isolate the rein tension variations that represent a rein tension signal, complicating interpretation of rein tension data from the perspective of horse-rider interaction. This study investigated (1) the characteristics of a rein tension signal and (2) horse response to a rein tension signal for backing, comparing pressure applied by a bit (bridle), or by a noseband (halter). Twenty Warmblood horses (10 young, 10 adult) wearing a rein tension meter were trained to step back in the aisle of a stable. The handler stood next to the horse's withers, applying tension on the reins until the horse stepped back. This was repeated eight times with the bridle and eight times with the halter. Data analysis was performed using mixed linear and logistic regression models. Horses displaying behaviors other than backing showed significantly increased response latency and rein tension. Inattentive behavior was significantly more common in the halter treatment and in young horses, compared with the bridle treatment and adult horses. Evasive behaviors with the head, neck, and mouth were significantly more common in the bridle treatment than in the halter treatment and the occurrence of head/neck/mouth behaviors increased with increasing rein tension and duration of the rein tension signal. When controlling for behavior, the horses responded significantly faster and to a lighter rein tension signal in the bridle treatment than in the halter treatment. By scrutinizing data on rein tension signals in relation to horse behavior and training exercise, more can be learnt about the horse's experience of the pressures applied and the timing of the release. This can assist in developing ways to evaluate rein tension in relation to correct use of negative reinforcement.
当骑手握住缰绳时，缰绳张力会随着马的步态和步幅持续同步变化。这种持续变化使得难以分离出代表缰绳张力信号的缰绳张力变化，从人马互动的角度来看，这使得缰绳张力数据的解读变得复杂。本研究调查了（1）缰绳张力信号的特征，以及（2）马对后退的缰绳张力信号的反应，比较了衔铁（马勒）或鼻革（笼头）施加的压力。二十匹温血马（10匹年轻马、10匹成年马）佩戴缰绳张力计，在马厩过道接受向后退的训练。训练员站在马的肩胛旁边，在缰绳上施加张力，直到马向后退。使用马勒重复此操作八次，使用笼头也重复八次。数据分析采用混合线性和逻辑回归模型。表现出非后退行为的马反应潜伏期和缰绳张力显著增加。与使用马勒的情况和成年马相比，使用笼头时注意力不集中的行为在年轻马中更为常见。在使用马勒的情况下，头部/颈部/嘴部的躲避行为比使用笼头时更为常见，并且随着缰绳张力和缰绳张力信号持续时间的增加，头部/颈部/嘴部行为的发生率也会增加。在控制行为的情况下，与使用笼头相比，马在使用马勒时对较轻的缰绳张力信号反应更快。通过仔细研究与马的行为和训练练习相关的缰绳张力信号数据，可以更多地了解马对施加压力的感受以及释放压力的时机。这有助于开发评估缰绳张力与正确使用负强化之间关系的方法。
