An online survey was conducted to determine associations between transport management and transpo... more An online survey was conducted to determine associations between transport management and transport-related injuries and diseases in horses in Australia. The survey was composed of three sections: respondents' demographic information, transport management strategies or procedures (before, during and after transportation) and transport diseases experienced in the previous two year period. Univariate and multivariate modelling was performed exploring associations between variables (respondents' details and transport management strategies) and the following transport-related diseases as outcomes: traumatic injuries, diarrhoea, heat stroke, muscular problems, laminitis, transport pneumonia and colic. The survey generated 797 responses. Traumatic injuries were the most common transport-related problem, with a reported incidence of 45.0%. Younger respondents (<40 years old) caring for large numbers of horses (>30 in a week) were more likely to report transport-related injuries. Injury risk was also linked to the use of protections and tranquilizers prior to transport, and checking horses after the journey. Diarrhoea (20.0%) and heat stroke (10.5%) were reported more by amateur than professional horse carers. Increased risk of heat stroke was linked to the restriction of hay and water prior to transportation. Muscular problems (13.0%) appeared to be exacerbated when horse health was not assessed before journey; whilst the risk of laminitis (2.9%) was around three fold greater when post transport recovery strategies were not applied. Associations were made between transport pneumonia (9.2%) and duration of journey, and with activity (horses involved in racing at greater risk). No associations were seen between the incidence of colic (10.3%) and the variables examined. Study findings should be interpreted with caution as they represent participant perceptions and recall. Nevertheless, results support many current recommendations for safe transportation of horses. They also highlight the need to further investigate
Simple Summary: Records from road transport of horses from Perth to Sydney over a two year period... more Simple Summary: Records from road transport of horses from Perth to Sydney over a two year period were analysed to explore the incidence of transport related issues and identify risk factors. Transportation resulted in health problems in 2.8% of the transported horses, and in fatalities in 0.24%. Journey duration and season were risk factors for the development of transport related health problems, while breed, sex and age did not predict disease or injury risk. Overall, this study provides statistics to inform policy development for the equine transport industry and enhance management of the transported horse. Abstract: Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic losses. However, statistics on horse transport are limited and epidemiological data on transport related diseases are available only for horses transported to abattoirs for slaughter. The study analysed reports of transport related health problems identified by drivers and horse owners for 180 journeys of an Australian horse transport company transporting horses between Perth and Sydney (~4000 Km) in 2013-2015. Records showed that 97.2% (1604/1650) of the horses arrived at their destination with no clinical signs of disease or injury. Based on the veterinary reports of the affected horses, the most common issues were respiratory problems (27%), gastrointestinal problems (27%), pyrexia (19%), traumatic injuries (15%), and death (12%). Journey duration and season had a significant effect on distribution of transport related issues (P<0.05), with a marked increase of the proportion of the most severe problems (i.e. gastrointestinal, respiratory problems and death) in spring and after 20 hours in transit. Although not statistically significant, elevated disease rate predictions were seen for stallion/colt, horses aged over 10 years, and Thoroughbreds. Overall, the data demonstrate that long haul transportation is a risk for horse health and welfare and requires appropriate management to minimize transport stress.
The aim of this review is to provide practical outcomes on how to manage equine transport stress.... more The aim of this review is to provide practical outcomes on how to manage equine transport stress. Many horses travel frequently during their life, and transportation is one of the major causes of injuries, health disorders, and economic loss for horse breeding and the wider equine industry. There are a number of recent publications in this area, but practical strategies aimed at reducing transport stress are still limited. The results published over the last 20 years are reviewed here to suggest improved procedures to follow before, during, and after a journey. Transport stress involves physical and mental stressors during handling, loading, transportation itself, unloading, and adaptation to a new environment. This article reviews how all these transport phases affect equine health status and behavior and best practice management strategies. The suggested outcomes could be useful for equine technicians, owners, breeders, grooms, and veterinarians to safeguard horse well-being
Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; lat... more Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; later-alisation of limb use (pawedness) occurs in several mammals including both feral and domestic horses.We investigated limb preferences in 14 Quarter Horse during different motor tasks (walking, steppingon and off a step, truck loading and unloading). Population lateralisation was observed in two tasks:horses preferentially used their left forelimb during truck loading and stepping off a step. The results alsorevealed that horses showed higher scores for anxious behaviours during truck loading suggesting thatthe use of the left forelimb in this task may reflect the main role of the right hemisphere in control ofbehaviour during stressful situation.
Lateralization in horses, Equus caballus, has been reported at both motor and sensory
levels. He... more Lateralization in horses, Equus caballus, has been reported at both motor and sensory
levels. Here we investigated left- and right-nostril use in 12 jumper horses freely sniffing
different emotive stimuli. Results revealed that during sniffing at adrenaline and oestrus
mare urine stimuli, horses showed a clear right-nostril bias while just a tendency in the
use of the right nostril was observed during sniffing of other odours (food, cotton swab
and repellent). Sniffing at adrenaline and urine odours was also accompanied by
increasing cardiac activity and behavioural reactivity strengthening the role of the right
hemisphere in the analysis of intense emotion and sexual behaviour.
Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different transport positions on some physiol... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different transport positions on some physiological parameters in racehorses and their behavior patterns during and after the journey. Twelve horses made 3-hour journeys of 200 km on the same route, with the same driver, and in 3 different positions: facing forward, backward, and sideways in relation to the direction of travel. Physiological and behavioral parameters were registered before, during, and after the journey. Horses were checked at 5 different times: at rest (T0), at loading (T1), at unloading (T2), and at 2 (T3) and 4 (T4) hours after return from the journey. At each check, heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were measured and blood samples were collected by jugular vein puncture to assess cortisol, packed cell volume, total protein, albumin, glucose, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, and chlorine. Loading and unloading were filmed. Behavioral patterns were recorded by direct observation, during the travel, 2 and 4 hours after arrival in a new stall. The same parameters were recorded at the same times (excluding loading and unloading) in a control group that did not travel. All data were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis (analysis of variance). Loading produced an increase of heart rate and packed cell volume in comparison with rest values. Horses facing in the direction of travel during journey made fewer forward, backward, and sideways movements than others, whereas horses traveling sideways lost their balance and touched the stall rails less frequently. Highest serum cortisol concentration value was recorded soon after unloading horses that had faced in the direction of travel (P < 0.01). Two hours after return, horses that had traveled sideways revealed an increase of creatine kinase (P < 0.01). The traveling position in the vehicle did not appear to affect postjourney behavior. In comparison with the control group, the horses that had traveled consumed concentrate faster, spent more time eating hay, and drank more frequently in the first 2 hours after return from the journey. Front-facing position led to an increase in serum cortisol concentration, whereas the sideways position caused some muscular tension, which disappeared 4 hours after the journey. Although facing backward was the travel position that provoked the greatest number of horses’ movements, it did not have a negative effect on physiological and behavioral parameters during and after the journey. We concluded that for Standardbred trotters accustomed to travel, the latter may be the less stressful position during a 200-km transport.
An online survey was conducted to determine associations between transport management and transpo... more An online survey was conducted to determine associations between transport management and transport-related injuries and diseases in horses in Australia. The survey was composed of three sections: respondents' demographic information, transport management strategies or procedures (before, during and after transportation) and transport diseases experienced in the previous two year period. Univariate and multivariate modelling was performed exploring associations between variables (respondents' details and transport management strategies) and the following transport-related diseases as outcomes: traumatic injuries, diarrhoea, heat stroke, muscular problems, laminitis, transport pneumonia and colic. The survey generated 797 responses. Traumatic injuries were the most common transport-related problem, with a reported incidence of 45.0%. Younger respondents (<40 years old) caring for large numbers of horses (>30 in a week) were more likely to report transport-related injuries. Injury risk was also linked to the use of protections and tranquilizers prior to transport, and checking horses after the journey. Diarrhoea (20.0%) and heat stroke (10.5%) were reported more by amateur than professional horse carers. Increased risk of heat stroke was linked to the restriction of hay and water prior to transportation. Muscular problems (13.0%) appeared to be exacerbated when horse health was not assessed before journey; whilst the risk of laminitis (2.9%) was around three fold greater when post transport recovery strategies were not applied. Associations were made between transport pneumonia (9.2%) and duration of journey, and with activity (horses involved in racing at greater risk). No associations were seen between the incidence of colic (10.3%) and the variables examined. Study findings should be interpreted with caution as they represent participant perceptions and recall. Nevertheless, results support many current recommendations for safe transportation of horses. They also highlight the need to further investigate
Simple Summary: Records from road transport of horses from Perth to Sydney over a two year period... more Simple Summary: Records from road transport of horses from Perth to Sydney over a two year period were analysed to explore the incidence of transport related issues and identify risk factors. Transportation resulted in health problems in 2.8% of the transported horses, and in fatalities in 0.24%. Journey duration and season were risk factors for the development of transport related health problems, while breed, sex and age did not predict disease or injury risk. Overall, this study provides statistics to inform policy development for the equine transport industry and enhance management of the transported horse. Abstract: Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic losses. However, statistics on horse transport are limited and epidemiological data on transport related diseases are available only for horses transported to abattoirs for slaughter. The study analysed reports of transport related health problems identified by drivers and horse owners for 180 journeys of an Australian horse transport company transporting horses between Perth and Sydney (~4000 Km) in 2013-2015. Records showed that 97.2% (1604/1650) of the horses arrived at their destination with no clinical signs of disease or injury. Based on the veterinary reports of the affected horses, the most common issues were respiratory problems (27%), gastrointestinal problems (27%), pyrexia (19%), traumatic injuries (15%), and death (12%). Journey duration and season had a significant effect on distribution of transport related issues (P<0.05), with a marked increase of the proportion of the most severe problems (i.e. gastrointestinal, respiratory problems and death) in spring and after 20 hours in transit. Although not statistically significant, elevated disease rate predictions were seen for stallion/colt, horses aged over 10 years, and Thoroughbreds. Overall, the data demonstrate that long haul transportation is a risk for horse health and welfare and requires appropriate management to minimize transport stress.
The aim of this review is to provide practical outcomes on how to manage equine transport stress.... more The aim of this review is to provide practical outcomes on how to manage equine transport stress. Many horses travel frequently during their life, and transportation is one of the major causes of injuries, health disorders, and economic loss for horse breeding and the wider equine industry. There are a number of recent publications in this area, but practical strategies aimed at reducing transport stress are still limited. The results published over the last 20 years are reviewed here to suggest improved procedures to follow before, during, and after a journey. Transport stress involves physical and mental stressors during handling, loading, transportation itself, unloading, and adaptation to a new environment. This article reviews how all these transport phases affect equine health status and behavior and best practice management strategies. The suggested outcomes could be useful for equine technicians, owners, breeders, grooms, and veterinarians to safeguard horse well-being
Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; lat... more Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; later-alisation of limb use (pawedness) occurs in several mammals including both feral and domestic horses.We investigated limb preferences in 14 Quarter Horse during different motor tasks (walking, steppingon and off a step, truck loading and unloading). Population lateralisation was observed in two tasks:horses preferentially used their left forelimb during truck loading and stepping off a step. The results alsorevealed that horses showed higher scores for anxious behaviours during truck loading suggesting thatthe use of the left forelimb in this task may reflect the main role of the right hemisphere in control ofbehaviour during stressful situation.
Lateralization in horses, Equus caballus, has been reported at both motor and sensory
levels. He... more Lateralization in horses, Equus caballus, has been reported at both motor and sensory
levels. Here we investigated left- and right-nostril use in 12 jumper horses freely sniffing
different emotive stimuli. Results revealed that during sniffing at adrenaline and oestrus
mare urine stimuli, horses showed a clear right-nostril bias while just a tendency in the
use of the right nostril was observed during sniffing of other odours (food, cotton swab
and repellent). Sniffing at adrenaline and urine odours was also accompanied by
increasing cardiac activity and behavioural reactivity strengthening the role of the right
hemisphere in the analysis of intense emotion and sexual behaviour.
Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different transport positions on some physiol... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different transport positions on some physiological parameters in racehorses and their behavior patterns during and after the journey. Twelve horses made 3-hour journeys of 200 km on the same route, with the same driver, and in 3 different positions: facing forward, backward, and sideways in relation to the direction of travel. Physiological and behavioral parameters were registered before, during, and after the journey. Horses were checked at 5 different times: at rest (T0), at loading (T1), at unloading (T2), and at 2 (T3) and 4 (T4) hours after return from the journey. At each check, heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were measured and blood samples were collected by jugular vein puncture to assess cortisol, packed cell volume, total protein, albumin, glucose, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, and chlorine. Loading and unloading were filmed. Behavioral patterns were recorded by direct observation, during the travel, 2 and 4 hours after arrival in a new stall. The same parameters were recorded at the same times (excluding loading and unloading) in a control group that did not travel. All data were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis (analysis of variance). Loading produced an increase of heart rate and packed cell volume in comparison with rest values. Horses facing in the direction of travel during journey made fewer forward, backward, and sideways movements than others, whereas horses traveling sideways lost their balance and touched the stall rails less frequently. Highest serum cortisol concentration value was recorded soon after unloading horses that had faced in the direction of travel (P < 0.01). Two hours after return, horses that had traveled sideways revealed an increase of creatine kinase (P < 0.01). The traveling position in the vehicle did not appear to affect postjourney behavior. In comparison with the control group, the horses that had traveled consumed concentrate faster, spent more time eating hay, and drank more frequently in the first 2 hours after return from the journey. Front-facing position led to an increase in serum cortisol concentration, whereas the sideways position caused some muscular tension, which disappeared 4 hours after the journey. Although facing backward was the travel position that provoked the greatest number of horses’ movements, it did not have a negative effect on physiological and behavioral parameters during and after the journey. We concluded that for Standardbred trotters accustomed to travel, the latter may be the less stressful position during a 200-km transport.
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Abstract: Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic losses. However, statistics on horse transport are limited and epidemiological data on transport related diseases are available only for horses transported to abattoirs for slaughter. The study analysed reports of transport related health problems identified by drivers and horse owners for 180 journeys of an Australian horse transport company transporting horses between Perth and Sydney (~4000 Km) in 2013-2015. Records showed that 97.2% (1604/1650) of the horses arrived at their destination with no clinical signs of disease or injury. Based on the veterinary reports of the affected horses, the most common issues were respiratory problems (27%), gastrointestinal problems (27%), pyrexia (19%), traumatic injuries (15%), and death (12%). Journey duration and season had a significant effect on distribution of transport related issues (P<0.05), with a marked increase of the proportion of the most severe problems (i.e. gastrointestinal, respiratory problems and death) in spring and after 20 hours in transit. Although not statistically significant, elevated disease rate predictions were seen for stallion/colt, horses aged over 10 years, and Thoroughbreds. Overall, the data demonstrate that long haul transportation is a risk for horse health and welfare and requires appropriate management to minimize transport stress.
horses travel frequently during their life, and transportation is one of the major causes of injuries, health
disorders, and economic loss for horse breeding and the wider equine industry. There are a number of
recent publications in this area, but practical strategies aimed at reducing transport stress are still
limited. The results published over the last 20 years are reviewed here to suggest improved procedures to
follow before, during, and after a journey. Transport stress involves physical and mental stressors during
handling, loading, transportation itself, unloading, and adaptation to a new environment. This article
reviews how all these transport phases affect equine health status and behavior and best practice
management strategies. The suggested outcomes could be useful for equine technicians, owners,
breeders, grooms, and veterinarians to safeguard horse well-being
levels. Here we investigated left- and right-nostril use in 12 jumper horses freely sniffing
different emotive stimuli. Results revealed that during sniffing at adrenaline and oestrus
mare urine stimuli, horses showed a clear right-nostril bias while just a tendency in the
use of the right nostril was observed during sniffing of other odours (food, cotton swab
and repellent). Sniffing at adrenaline and urine odours was also accompanied by
increasing cardiac activity and behavioural reactivity strengthening the role of the right
hemisphere in the analysis of intense emotion and sexual behaviour.
Abstract: Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic losses. However, statistics on horse transport are limited and epidemiological data on transport related diseases are available only for horses transported to abattoirs for slaughter. The study analysed reports of transport related health problems identified by drivers and horse owners for 180 journeys of an Australian horse transport company transporting horses between Perth and Sydney (~4000 Km) in 2013-2015. Records showed that 97.2% (1604/1650) of the horses arrived at their destination with no clinical signs of disease or injury. Based on the veterinary reports of the affected horses, the most common issues were respiratory problems (27%), gastrointestinal problems (27%), pyrexia (19%), traumatic injuries (15%), and death (12%). Journey duration and season had a significant effect on distribution of transport related issues (P<0.05), with a marked increase of the proportion of the most severe problems (i.e. gastrointestinal, respiratory problems and death) in spring and after 20 hours in transit. Although not statistically significant, elevated disease rate predictions were seen for stallion/colt, horses aged over 10 years, and Thoroughbreds. Overall, the data demonstrate that long haul transportation is a risk for horse health and welfare and requires appropriate management to minimize transport stress.
horses travel frequently during their life, and transportation is one of the major causes of injuries, health
disorders, and economic loss for horse breeding and the wider equine industry. There are a number of
recent publications in this area, but practical strategies aimed at reducing transport stress are still
limited. The results published over the last 20 years are reviewed here to suggest improved procedures to
follow before, during, and after a journey. Transport stress involves physical and mental stressors during
handling, loading, transportation itself, unloading, and adaptation to a new environment. This article
reviews how all these transport phases affect equine health status and behavior and best practice
management strategies. The suggested outcomes could be useful for equine technicians, owners,
breeders, grooms, and veterinarians to safeguard horse well-being
levels. Here we investigated left- and right-nostril use in 12 jumper horses freely sniffing
different emotive stimuli. Results revealed that during sniffing at adrenaline and oestrus
mare urine stimuli, horses showed a clear right-nostril bias while just a tendency in the
use of the right nostril was observed during sniffing of other odours (food, cotton swab
and repellent). Sniffing at adrenaline and urine odours was also accompanied by
increasing cardiac activity and behavioural reactivity strengthening the role of the right
hemisphere in the analysis of intense emotion and sexual behaviour.