The Effect of Different Types of Physical Exercise on the Behavioural and Physiological Parameters of Standardbred Horses Housed in Single Stalls

Barbara Padalino,Paola Zaccagnino,Pietro Celi

doi:10.1155/2014/875051

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of three different physical exercises on the physiological and behavioural patterns of Standardbred trotters housed in single stalls. Twelve racing mares were observed twice during each different exercise: daily training (DT) consisted of forty minutes at slow trot (4-5 m/s) in a small track; maximal exercise (ME) consisted of 1600 m run at maximal velocity; race (R) was a real race of 1600 m. The mares were examined at rest in their stall (Time I), soon after the completion of the exercise (Time II), one hour (Time III), and two hours (Time IV) after the exercise. Their heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded and they were videotaped in order to complete a focal animal sampling ethogram. All physiological parameters increased after exercise, in accordance with its intensity. After R and ME horses spent more time drinking, eating, and standing. The incidence of abnormal behaviours was very low and it was not affected by the different types of exercise. Overall, the assessment of horse behaviour after physical exercise by means of a focal animal sampling ethogram represents a useful tool to monitor equine welfare.

Highlights

Animal welfare has become more important in the equine industry, housing systems limiting natural behaviour patterns are still widespread [1]
A significant effect of physical exercise (P < 0.001), time (P < 0.001), and their interaction (P < 0.001) was observed for both heart rate (HR) (Figure 1(a)) and respiratory rate (RR) (Figure 1(b)). Both HR and RR were similar before the commencement of physical exercise and as expected they increased significantly soon after the completion of physical exercise (Time II) and returned to preexercise levels by the end of the observation period (Time IV)
A significant effect of the interaction time of observation × physical exercise was noted on both HR and RR (P < 0.001), with horses that undertook the race (R) presenting higher HR and RR levels than the horse that performed the daily training (DT) or maximal velocity (ME) exercises at Time II

Summary

Introduction

Animal welfare has become more important in the equine industry, housing systems limiting natural behaviour patterns are still widespread [1]. Single stalls can confine social interaction and locomotion to a great extent, but, despite this, they are widely adopted in the equine industry, especially for Standardbred horses [2]. The possible consequences of prolonged confinement in stables on equine well-being have been studied [4] and group housing systems have been tested [5]. Functionless, repetitive, stereotypic activities can be seen in stable horses [7,8,9] and equine stereotypies are primarily based on feeding and locomotory behaviours, due to management practices that limit foraging behaviour and social contact [10]

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