Responses of horses in behavioural tests correlate with temperament assessed by riders.

E.K. Visser, C.G. van Reenen, M. Rundgren, M. Zetterqvist, K. Morgan, H.J. Blokhuis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

85 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Behavioural tests as well as observers' ratings have been used to study horses' temperament. However, the relationship between the ratings and the responses in behavioural tests has not yet been studied in detail. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine this relationship between ratings and responses. METHODS: Eighteen mature Swedish Warmblood horses were subjected to 2 behavioural tests, one relating to novelty (novel object test) and one to handling (handling test). Subsequently, 16 of these horses were ridden by 16 equally experienced students, having no former experience with the horses. Immediately after each ride, the students scored the horse for 10 temperamental traits using a line rating method. RESULTS: It was shown that for each temperamental trait all 16 riders agreed on the ranking of the horses (0.212
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)176-183
JournalEquine Veterinary Journal
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Keywords

  • heart-rate-variability
  • individual-differences
  • situations

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