Dually investigated: the effect of a pressure headcollar on the behaviour, discomfort and stress of trained horses

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Ijichi, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1271-8813, Wild, H, Dai, F, Bordin, A, Cameron-Whytock, H ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0760-2584, White, SJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3675-7545, Yarnell, K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7464-8764, Starbuck, G ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6281-9885, Jolivald, A, Birkbeck, L, Hallam, S and Dalla Costa, E, 2020. Dually investigated: the effect of a pressure headcollar on the behaviour, discomfort and stress of trained horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 232: 105101. ISSN 0168-1591

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105101

Abstract

The Dually™ is a control headcollar designed to improve equine behaviour during handling challenges by applying greater pressure than a standard headcollar. Previous research indicated it did not improve compliance in naïve horses but did result in higher Horse Grimace Scale scores (HGS) indicative of discomfort. However, subjects had not been trained to step forward to release the pressure applied by the headcollar. The current study aimed to determine the effect of training on behaviour and physiology of horses wearing the Dually™ headcollar during handling challenges. To this end, subjects received three training sessions prior to completing two handling tests in which they crossed distinct novel obstacles, one wearing a Dually™ with a line attached to the pressure mechanism and one attached to the standard ring as a control. Behaviour was coded by hypothesis blind researchers: time to cross the obstacle and proactive refusal (moving away from the obstacle) were recorded as indicators of compliance and the Horse Grimace Scale was used to measure discomfort caused by each configuration of the device. Infrared thermography of ocular temperature, heart rate variability (RMSSD and low/high frequency ratios (LF/HF)) and salivary cortisol were measured as indicators of arousal. Data from the previous study on Naïve horses was also included to compare responses to the Dually in Naïve and Trained horses. Training resulted in a decrease in RMSSD (p = 0.002) and an increase in LF/HF (p=0.012), compared to rest, indicating arousal. As per the original study, horses did not complete the tests more quickly in the Dually, compared to control (p=0.698). Trained horses from this study tended to be more proactive in the Dually compared to Controls (p=0.066) and significantly more so than Naïve horses from the previous study (p=0.002) suggesting that behaviour becomes less desirable during early Dually training. Yet, stress and HGS indicators were not higher in the Dually compared to Control during testing. Results suggest the Dually has a negative effect on behaviour but not on stress or discomfort during short handling challenges. Further research is warranted to determine the long-term effect of Dually experience on behaviour and welfare.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Creators:	Ijichi, C., Wild, H., Dai, F., Bordin, A., Cameron-Whytock, H., White, S.J., Yarnell, K., Starbuck, G., Jolivald, A., Birkbeck, L., Hallam, S. and Dalla Costa, E.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	November 2020
Volume:	232
ISSN:	0168-1591
Identifiers:	Number Type 1357921 Other 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105101 DOI S0168159120301891 Publisher Item Identifier
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	16 Nov 2020 10:14
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2021 09:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/41647