Incidence of compulsive behavior (stereotypies/abnormal repetitive behaviors) in populations of sport and race horses in Hungary

Abstract

The main objectives of this survey were to identify correlations between housing arrangements and prevalence of abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) in equine society. Data were collected by an email questionnaire from 60 participants (stables, owners, equine experts) between 2018 and 2020 in Hungary to determine the prevalence of ARBs associated with housing conditions in the equine population. The questionnaire documented information about location, number of horses present, type of horse, and management systems (pasture, corral, stable). The resultant inventory of compulsive behaviors covered 486 Thoroughbreds managed by 20 gallop trainers, 265 Trotting horses managed by 13 trotting trainers, and 1895 horses of other breeds, totaling of 2646 equine individuals (5.29% of the total equine population in Hungary today). The survey delivered identified 29 different types of compulsive behaviors within a total of 217 cases of stereotypic behavior. Of the 29 different of compulsive behavior, 8 types of stereotypic/ARBs were associated with feeding management. Based on survey data, 90% of Thoroughbreds spent their time in a combination of a stable and corral, and 10% of them had an access to pasture. For the Trotting population, 93% trotting horses lived in the combination of a stable and corral, and 7% of them had an access to a pasture. For other horse breeds, 19% lived exclusively in a pasture without a stable or corral, 48% spent their life in a combination of a stable, pasture and corral, 11% shuttled between a stable and pasture, 15 % were housed in a stable and corral, and 7% commuted between a pasture and corral. The Pearson-correlation method revealed a positive correlation between prevalence of ARBs and use of a stable (0.261), as well as a corral (0.286). The prevalence of ARBs correlated negatively with the use of pasture (-0.099). Thoroughbreds exhibited the highest level of prevalence of compulsive behaviors with 75 cases recorded and 34.56% of Thoroughbreds affected. Trotting horses followed with 60 cases, affecting 27.65% of the population. There were 35 cases among the miscellaneous breeds (16.13% of their population). Arabian breeds had 15 cases reported with a prevalence of 6.91%. There were 11 cases in Huculs, for a prevalence of 5.07%, and Gidrán and Hungarian warmblood breeds both had 6 cases with a prevalence of 2.76%. The Furioso-north star breed had 5 cases with a prevalence of 2.30% and the Lipizzaner had 4 cases with a prevalence of 1.84%. Compulsive behaviors and problematic activities associated with feeding occurred in 117 cases are responsible of 53.90% of total of stereotypic behaviors reported. Other compulsive behaviors were spread across 100 cases, comprising 46.10% of the ARBs reported. ARBs of intonation and pawing when feeding are the most common in prevalence (24.88%), followed by weaving (7.38%), wall-kicking (5.99%), prancing and crib-biting (5.07%) and stall-walking (4.61%). The ratios of stress-sensitivity of the population (SSP) and stress-sensitivity of the breed (SSB) can be calculated given these data. The most common equine ARBs are associated with management systems. By introducing pasture, the occurrence of ARBs can be significantly decreased. In the light of the results, the components of professional care for equids can be redefined.