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Animals
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Horse Transport
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Horse Transport

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 11136

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sharon Cregier

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Guest Editor
Editor Emerita, Equine Behaviour
Interests: horse, transport of, equine welfare transport, equine behaviour transport, transport stress
Dr. Barbara Padalino

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Food Science (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: equine internal and sports medicine; exercise physiology; horse behavior and welfare; equitation science; animal behavior and welfare; animal transport; human-animal interaction; animal welfare science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For equines, transport is the most stressful of management practices. Its interconnectedness with transport engineering, public safety, biosecurity, regulatory and social responsibility, animal and human behaviour and health reflects the emerging unifying concept of One Welfare. Transport practices are needed which acknowledge the horse’s needs to reduce a journey’s risk of adverse legal, financial, ethical, veterinary, and human health outcomes. This Special Issue of Animals offers a comprehensive study of the current science behind improved transport and the direct and indirect benefits for a spectrum of professional and layperson groups.

Dr. Sharon Cregier
Dr. Barbara Padalino
Guest Editors

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Keywords

    • horse
    • transport of
    • equine welfare transport
    • equine behaviour transport
    • transport stress
    • float
    • trailer
    • truck
    • driver
    • injury
    • problem behaviour

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 843 KiB  
Article
Application of QBA to Assess the Emotional State of Horses during the Loading Phase of Transport
by Francesca Dai, Maria Giorgia Riva, Emanuela Dalla Costa, Riccardo Pascuzzo, Alana Chapman and Michela Minero
Animals 2022, 12(24), 3588; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243588 - 19 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1921
Abstract
To identify feasible indicators to evaluate animals’ emotional states as a parameter to assess animal welfare, the present study aimed at investigating the accuracy of free choice profiling (FCP) and fixed list (FL) approach of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) in horses during the [...] Read more.
To identify feasible indicators to evaluate animals’ emotional states as a parameter to assess animal welfare, the present study aimed at investigating the accuracy of free choice profiling (FCP) and fixed list (FL) approach of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) in horses during the loading phase of transport. A total of 13 stakeholders were trained to score 2 different sets of videos of mixed breed horses loaded for road transport, using both FCP and FL, in 2 sessions. Generalized Procustes Analysis (GPA) consensus profile explained a higher percentage of variation (80.8%) than the mean of 1000 randomized profiles (41.2 ± 1.6%; p = 0.001) for the FCP method, showing an excellent inter-observer agreement. GPA identified two main factors, explaining 65.1% and 3.7% of the total variation. Factor 1 ranging from ‘anxious/ to ‘calm/relaxed’, described the valence of the horses’ emotional states. Factor 2, ranging from ‘bright’ to ‘assessing/withdrawn’, described the arousal. As for FL, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) first and second components (PC1 and PC2, respectively), explaining on average 59.8% and 12.6% of the data variability, had significant agreement between observers. PC1 ranges from relaxed/confident to anxious/frightened, while PC2 from alert/inquisitive to calm. Our study highlighted the need for the use of descriptors specifically selected, throughout a prior FCP process for the situation we want to evaluate to get a good QBA accuracy level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horse Transport)
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17 pages, 922 KiB  
Article
A Survey-Based Analysis of Injuries to Horses Associated with Transport by Road in New Zealand
by Christopher B. Riley, Chris W. Rogers, Kirrilly R. Thompson, Danielle Guiver and Barbara Padalino
Animals 2022, 12(3), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030259 - 21 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2917
Abstract
Negative outcomes associated with the road transport of horses are a significant welfare issue. This study aimed to describe the injuries sustained by horses during road transport in New Zealand and factors associated with trauma while in transit. New Zealand horse industry participants [...] Read more.
Negative outcomes associated with the road transport of horses are a significant welfare issue. This study aimed to describe the injuries sustained by horses during road transport in New Zealand and factors associated with trauma while in transit. New Zealand horse industry participants were surveyed on their horse transport experiences and equine industry involvement. Participants were solicited through horse organisations. The data were tabulated, and a logistic regression was performed to identify significant (p < 0.05) factors associated with transport-related injury. In total, 201/1133 (17.7%/2 years) eligible surveys reported at least one horse injured during road transport. Most incidents occurred in transit (137/169; 81%), or when transported with one (76/193; 39.4%) or more (41/193; 21.2%) other horses. Most commonly, the hindlimbs, the head, or the forelimbs were injured (59.1%; 110/186 horses), ranging in severity from bruises to catastrophic orthopaedic trauma necessitating euthanasia. Eventing, not always checking horses’ fitness for transport, using a tail guard or bandage, a stallion guard in the vehicle, bedding type on the floor, and behavioural problems were associated with injuries. This survey identified a significant incidence of injury and related death when horses are transported by road in New Zealand, and the key risk factors associated with the odds of injury. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horse Transport)
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20 pages, 3050 KiB  
Article
Development and Validation of a Test for the Classification of Horses as Broken or Unbroken
by Laura Menchetti, Emanuela Dalla Costa, Michela Minero and Barbara Padalino
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2303; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082303 - 4 Aug 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4700
Abstract
Regulation EC 1/2005 has stricter rules for transportation of unbroken (untamed) vs. broken (tamed) horses, but does not provide adequate tools for their identification. This study aimed to develop and validate such a tool. A behavioural test (Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT)) based on approaching, [...] Read more.
Regulation EC 1/2005 has stricter rules for transportation of unbroken (untamed) vs. broken (tamed) horses, but does not provide adequate tools for their identification. This study aimed to develop and validate such a tool. A behavioural test (Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT)) based on approaching, haltering, and leading was applied to 100 horses. Physiological and additional behavioural data were also collected, and the horses’ status (broken/unbroken) was assessed by the expert who administered the BUT. Each horse’s behaviour during the BUT was scored by four trained observers blinded to the horse’s history. The BUT score showed excellent inter-observer, intra-observer, and test–retest reliability (all intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > 0.75). It was also negatively associated with respiratory rate, avoidance distance, and time needed to approach, halter, and lead the horse (p < 0.05 for all). The optimal BUT score cut-off for discrimination between broken and unbroken horses (gold standard: expert judgment) showed 97.8% sensitivity and 97.3% specificity. There was almost perfect agreement between BUT-based and expert classification of horses (ICC = 0.940). These findings confirm the BUT’s construct and criterion validity. The BUT could provide officials with a feasible, reliable, and valid tool to identify a horse’s broken/unbroken status and, consequently, direct stakeholders towards correct transport procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horse Transport)
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