Grillaert Katherine
The Family Horse, Wales, WI 53183, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2022 Feb 10;12(4):421. doi: 10.3390/ani12040421.
Erection and masturbation in horses are considered unwanted behaviors in training contexts, despite recognition that these are naturally occurring behaviors that are integral to the welfare of male horses. Equestrians, especially those who use positive reinforcement in their training, expressed concern that the presence of such behaviors might be associated with aggressive or sexual behaviors aimed at humans participating in horse-human interactions. The implications of such attitudes could negatively affect male horses by excluding them from welfare-friendly training systems. In this study, feral stallions were observed to describe and quantify behaviors that occurred before, during, and after erection and masturbation, and to identify change in arousal. This study did not find evidence that erection and masturbation are associated with increases in arousal, or to sexual or aggressive behavior toward other horses. The possible presence or induction of erection or masturbation alone might not limit male horses from participating in certain handling, training, or riding contexts. These findings, along with further research, may be used to inform interpretations of horse-human interactions that involve erection or masturbation.
在训练环境中，马的勃起和自慰被视为不良行为，尽管人们认识到这些是自然发生的行为，对雄马的福利至关重要。马术从业者，尤其是那些在训练中使用正向强化的人，担心这些行为的出现可能与针对参与人马互动的人的攻击性行为或性行为有关。这种态度的影响可能会将雄马排除在有利于福利的训练系统之外，从而对它们产生负面影响。在这项研究中，观察了野生种马，以描述和量化勃起和自慰之前、期间和之后发生的行为，并确定兴奋度的变化。这项研究没有发现证据表明勃起和自慰与兴奋度增加、或对其他马的性行为或攻击性行为有关。仅勃起或自慰的可能存在或诱发可能不会限制雄马参与某些处理、训练或骑行环境。这些发现以及进一步的研究，可用于为涉及勃起或自慰的人马互动的解释提供信息。
