Assessment of ridden horse behavior

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Hall, C. ORCID: 0000-0001-5916-311X, Huws, C., Taylor, C., White, C., Owen, H. and McGreevy, P., 2013. Assessment of ridden horse behavior. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 8 (2), pp. 62-73. ISSN 1878-7517

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Abstract

Assessments of the behavior of ridden horses form the basis of performance evaluation. The purpose of any performance being evaluated will determine the factors considered important, those indicative of 'poor' performance and what makes a successful equine athlete. Currently there is no consistent objective means of assessing ridden horse behavior and inevitably, given the different equestrian disciplines, the likelihood of a universal standard of good and bad performance is remote. Nevertheless, in order to protect the welfare of the ridden horse regardless of its specific role, we should strive for consensus on an objective means of identifying behavioral signs indicative of mental state. Current technological developments enable objective evaluation of movement patterns, but many aspects of the assessment of ridden behavior still rely on subjective judgement. The development of a list of behaviors exhibited by ridden horses, a ridden horse ethogram, will facilitate recording of observable behavioral events. However, without objective evidence of the relevance of these behavioral events, such a resource has limited value.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research

Creators:

Hall, C., Huws, C., Taylor, C., White, C., Owen, H. and McGreevy, P.

Publisher:

Elsevier

Date:

2013

Volume:

Number: