Waran N K, Robertson V, Cuddeford D, Kokoszko A, Marlin D J
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, School of Agriculture.
Vet Rec. 1996 Jul 6;139(1):7-11. doi: 10.1136/vr.139.1.7.
The effects of transporting horses facing either forwards or backwards were compared by transporting six thoroughbred horses in pairs in a lorry on one journey facing in the direction of travel, and on another journey facing away from the direction of travel, over a standard one-hour route. Heart rate monitors were used to record their heart rate before, during and after the journey and the horses' behaviour was recorded by scan sampling each horse every other minute. The average heart rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when the horses were transported facing backwards, and they also tended to rest on their rumps more (P = 0.059). In the forward-facing position, the horses moved more frequently (P < 0.05) and tended to hold their necks in a higher than normal position and to vocalise more frequently (P = 0.059). During loading the average peak heart rate was 38 bpm lower (P < 0.05) when the horses were backed into the horse box for rear-facing transport than when they were loaded facing forwards. However, there was no difference between transport facing forwards or backwards in terms of the peak unloading heart rate, or the average heart rate during loading or unloading. The horses seemed to find being transported less physically stressful when they were facing backwards than when they were facing forwards.
通过在一辆卡车上成对运输六匹纯种马进行实验，比较马匹向前或向后运输的效果。在一次行程中，马匹面向行驶方向；在另一次行程中，马匹背向行驶方向，沿着标准的一小时路线运输。使用心率监测器记录马匹在行程前、行程中和行程后的心率，并每隔一分钟对每匹马进行扫描取样来记录其行为。当马匹向后运输时，平均心率显著较低（P < 0.05），而且它们也更倾向于靠臀部休息（P = 0.059）。在面向前方的位置，马匹移动更频繁（P < 0.05），并且倾向于将脖子保持在高于正常的位置，且发声更频繁（P = 0.059）。在装载过程中，当马匹被倒着牵入马厩进行向后运输时，平均峰值心率比向前装载时低38次/分钟（P < 0.05）。然而，在卸载时的峰值心率，或装载和卸载过程中的平均心率方面，向前运输和向后运输没有差异。与面向前方相比，马匹似乎觉得向后运输时身体压力更小。
