Behaviour Of Horses Research Articles

A binary chaotic horse herd optimization algorithm for feature selection

One of the most challenging and common problems in machine learning is the Feature Selection (FS) process, which reduces the dataset size by finding optimal subsets of features. The Horse Herd Optimization Algorithm (HOA) is a new metaheuristic algorithm created by modeling the herd behavior of horses and developed for large scale optimization problems. This paper proposes the binary version of the HOA as a wrapper FS method to solve the FS problem. The proposed algorithm is a binary chaotic horse herd optimization algorithm for feature selection (BCHOAFS). The proposed BCHOAFS is applied to select the optimal feature combination that maximizes classification accuracy while minimizing the number of selected features. Classifier algorithms from machine learning algorithms were used to test the accuracy of the reduced subsets. The proposed method was named binary horse herd optimization for feature selection (BHOAFS) before adding chaotic maps; the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were tested as separate classifiers. It has been seen that k-NN classification accuracy gives better results than SVM. The BHOAFS-kNN method using the k-NN classification was combined with five chaotic maps and named as BCHOAFS-Logistics, BCHOAFS-Piecewise, BCHOAFS-Singer, BCHOAFS-Sinusoidal, BCHOAFS-Tent. The BCHOAFS versions were run on datasets consisting of 18 different sizes and quality datasets (i.e., low scale, medium scale, and large scale) taken from the UCI repository and compared with state-of-the-art algorithms in previous studies. The results prove that the proposed version, especially with the BCHOAFS-Piecewise and the BCHOAFS-Singer chaotic map outperforms or competes with well-known methods. The proof of the proposed approach’s statistical significance has been validated using the Friedman Signed Rank test and post hoc Wilcoxon test. The novelty of BCHOAFS is that HOA, which is an optimization algorithm specially designed for large scale data, is the first binary chaotic-based algorithm developed for feature selection problems. It also proposes a new local search strategy called Similarity Measurement Function (SMF). As a result, versions of the proposed algorithm BCHOAFS can be used for the FS problem.

Effects of a 15° Variation in Poll Flexion during Riding on the Respiratory Systems and Behaviour of High-Level Dressage and Show-Jumping Horses.

From previous studies, the International Society for Equitation Science has advised that further research be conducted on the physiological/psychological effects of less-exacerbated poll flexion angles. We aimed to evaluate the effects of two riding poll flexion positions with a difference of only 15° on the respiratory systems and behaviour of horses through an evaluation of dynamic airway collapse via over-ground endoscopy, the pharyngeal diameter, pleural pressure, arterial oxygenation and lactate, HR/RR, and the occurrence of conflict behaviours. Twenty high-level dressage and twenty show-jumping horses underwent a 40 min ridden test at a ground angle of 85°; 3 weeks later, they underwent a ridden test at a 100° ground angle (the angle between the ground and the line from the forehead to the muzzle) and in a cross-over design. Using a mixed model for repeated measures, Wilcoxon/Friedman tests were carried out according to the experimental design and/or error normality. For both groups, at 100°, conflict behaviours and upper airway tract abnormalities were significantly more frequent, and the pleural pressure was higher, and the pharyngeal diameter was lower. At 85°, relaxation behaviours were significantly more frequent. Lactate was significantly higher at 100° only in the dressage horses. Compared to the first test at 85°, the HR/RR were significantly lower at the beginning of the second test (at 100°) but higher at the end. The significant differences identified in these dressage and show-jumping horses support the idea that an increase of just 15° in riding poll flexion can have negative effects on the respiratory system and behaviour of a horse and therefore on its welfare.

Horse Grimace Scale Does Not Detect Pain in Horses with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a highly prevalent and presumptively painful condition, although the amount of pain horses might experience is currently unknown. The aims of this study were to determine if the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) could identify pain behaviours in horses with and without EGUS and if severity would be positively associated with the HGS score. Horse grimace scale scores were assessed blindly using facial photographs by seven observers and involved evaluation of 6 facial action units as 0 (not present), 1 (moderately present) and 2 (obviously present). Lameness examination, serum amyloid A (SAA) measurement and gastroscopy evaluation were performed on all horses. Horses (n = 61) were divided into two and three groups based on the presence (yes, no) and severity (none, mild, moderate-severe) of EGUS, respectively. Presence of lameness and elevated SAA (≥50 µg/mL) were used as exclusion criteria. Inter-observer reliability was analyzed by intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). HGS scores between groups were compared using Welch's and Brown Forsythe tests (p < 0.05). Overall, HGS ICC was "excellent" (0.75). No significant differences (p = 0.566) were observed in HGS scores between horses with and without gastric lesions (mean, 95% CI; 3.36, 2.76-3.95 and 3, 1.79-4.20, respectively). HGS was not influenced by the presence or severity of EGUS in this current study. Further studies investigating the use of different pain scales in horses with EGUS are needed.

24 Effects of Oral Supplementation of Cannabidiol on Young Stallion Behavior

Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a popular product in the recent months due to change in legislation with the passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act in 2018. Cannabidiol comes from the plant Cannabis sativa L. and binds to cannabinoid receptors throughout the endocannabinoid system. These receptors are located throughout the body and are prominent in the brain and reproduction tract. Although the effects of CBD on physiology have been researched, little data on the behavioral effects exist, even less so in horses. Calming supplements that may negate aggressive stallion behavior are not suitable due to potential soporific effects that can affect libido. In addition to the effectiveness of CBD to modify behavior in horses, it is also unclear if CBD influences stallion libido. The objective of this study was to evaluate sexual behavior in stallions given a daily CBD supplement for 70 days. Two-year old stallions (n = 8) were assigned to either a Control (CON; n = 3) or Cannabidiol (CBD; n = 4) treatment groups. Cannabidiol was administered at a rate of 0.6 mg/kg BW daily, and equal volume of olive oil was given as a placebo to CON. Horses were weighed every Monday at which time dosages were recalculated to adjust for body weight changes. Behavior data collection occurred twice per week during semen collections. Video data were recorded by placing two cameras, one placed in view of the tease area, and one placed in view of the mount, for behavior data backup. Behavioral data was tallied by handlers calmly calling each behavior as it occurred during collection. The behaviors collected included Flehman’s response, bites, strikes, mounts, high pitch vocalizations, and low pitch vocalizations. Data were analyzed using a Chi Square Test within R Statistical Program (R Core Team). Results were considered significant at P &amp;lt; 0.05. Throughout the duration of the study, all stallions exhibited normal sexual behavior, regardless of treatment. Results showed that total low and high pitch vocalizations, bites, and Flehman’s were affected by treatment (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Cannabidiol-treated stallions had more low pitches (60), compared to CON (58). Cannabidiol-treated stallions had fewer bites (145) compared to the CON (146). Cannibidiol stallions displayed Flehman’s more frequently (270) than CON (236). Flehman’s response and bites were lower for stallions on cannabidiol in Week 1 but increased by Week 10 (P &amp;lt; 0.01), while only Flehman’s response increased in the CON group over time (P &amp;lt; 0.01). These findings indicate that CBD may influence breeding behavior in young stallions specifically when supplemented over time. Further research should focus on the impact of CBD on breeding behaviors in mature stallions and the longevity of the behavioral response to CBD.

183 Effects of prolonged hay net feeding on equine behavior

Feeding strategies are known to affect equine behavior. Hay nets made of rope or canvas are used in the equine industry to slow consumption rates and prevent forage waste. Hay net design varies by material and opening size to restrict or extend forage intake. However, the effect of hay net usage on equine behavior has not been entirely elucidated. A randomized block design 84-d pilot study used 8 mature, stock-type horses (5 mares and 3 geldings with BW and body condition used as blocking factors) to evaluate the impact of hay net use on equine behavior. Horses were randomly assigned to treatment [control (CON) and net (NET)] and individually housed for 16 h/d (1500 to 0700) in 8.22m by 2.74m dry runs. At 0700 and 1500 0.75% BW as-fed coastal bermudagrass hay and a pelleted commercial feed (Equilene® Pellets) at ≤ 0.35% BW was offered. Horses were group housed (n = 4 hd/treatment) with ad libitum access to water and salt between feedings (8 h/d) to allow enrichment and natural behavior. Control horses’ hay was provided in a tub on the ground. Hay for NET was provided in UV-resistant nylon mesh hay nets (Texas Hay NetTM, 14.5 cm2 openings), nets were hung ∼1m from the ground. Each horse was filmed for 1h, bi-weekly during hay consumption and individual behavioral data were collected by 2 researchers to confirm and quantify behaviors defined by an ethogram. Behaviors studiedwere drinking water, startles, maintenance (scratch, stretch, and shake), vocalizations, stall vices (pawing and pacing), aggression, duration of head position while chewing, and frustration with the feeding system (biting at, pinning ears, or kicking out). Data were analyzed using a Chi-squared analysis within R Statistical Program? with expected thresholds for each behavior being based on the projected change for the mean of the treatments. Results were considered significant at P < 0.05. Treatment did not have an effect on forage intake (P = 0.874). Control horses spent more time eating with their heads below their withers when compared with NET (P < 0.001). Observations of startle response were similar to expected values (expected = 4.5, CON = 5, NET = 4). Frustration with the feeding system, pawing, and pacing were increased (P < 0.001) for NET compared with CON. The CON horses exhibited more trips to a water trough (P = 0.035), while NET horses displayed more shaking, scratching, and stretching (P = 0.035). The use of slow-feeder hay nets increased frustration, stall vices, and maintenance behaviors in horses over 84 d, indicating that feeding from hay nets may result in negative feeding habits. These negative habits include kicking and biting at the feeding system, and increased pawing and pacing.

49 Effects of different hay feeders, availability of roughage on abnormal behaviors and time budget of horses kept in dry lots

Limited availability of forage may be the main factor related to the development and prevalence of abnormal and stereotypic behaviors in horses. Offering forage ad libitum could be the best option regarding horses’ welfare, but is associated with increases in body weight (BW), BCS, waste of hay and obesity. Devices such as hay-nets/bags, box- and slow-feeders have been developed to decrease food waste, but there is little knowledge on how they can affect the horses' time-budget (TB). TB is the daily amount of time an animal engages in all behavioral activities. Differences in the TB of domesticated horses compared with feral conspecifics in their natural environment can be used to reveal welfare impairment. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding free choice hay (FC), to a slow feeder (SF) and an automated box feeder (BF) on equine behavior by 24-h continuous sampling (CS). The study was designed as a 3 × 3 latin square design with 15 mixed Thoroughbred polo horses (14.9 ± 4.1 years) divided into 3 social groups of 5 horses (cohabited pens for previous 6 mo) randomly assigned to one of the treatments for 15 d. Horses were hept in dry lots, had access to water, salt and mineral blocks. BW and BCS were assessed biweekly. The animals’ behavior was recorded during the last 24 h of the last day of each treatment period and the video analyzed with CS. The time spent in stereotypic,abnormal behaviors and other activities was evaluated second-by-second, averaged in minutes, and used for the determination of the animals’ TB. The effects of the different feeders were analyzed in ANOVA in a mixed model with repeated measures. Horses in FC consumed and wasted more hay (16.6 ± 0.5kg/horse/day) (P < 0.001), compared with BF (10.4 ± 0.5 kg/horse/day), and SF (9.30 ± 0.45 kg/horse day), where BF and SF had similar intake and less waste. Horses on FC had the highest weight gain (P < 0.001, 23.5 ± 4.6kg), whereas BF gained 1.2 ± 5.7 kg and SF 0.37 ± 4.6 kg (P = 0.092). Horses in FC spent 744 ± 26 min, and SF 791.16 ± 27 min (P = 0.21), meaning more than 50% of the TB foraging, generating a time distribution similar to grazing horses. Horses on BF treatment spent the lowest time eating (P < 0.001), 371.6 ± 32.3 min, or 25.81% of their TB, increasing (P < 0.050) the time spent in other activities (standing attentive, sniffing the ground, and practicing coprophagy). The level of aggression between conspecifics became higher as the feed became less accessible, with horses in BF showing highest levels of aggression(P < 0.043). Slow feeders are a good option to mimic natural TB.

115 Effect of an enriched social environment on social maturation of horses

Conventional husbandry practices rarely allow for sociality of horses. Under natural conditions, horses learn the social codes of their group mates during the first years of life. Horses raised in box stalls have more aggressive interactions with humans than horses housed in a group setting in a pasture. Such conditions can potentially compromise the well-being of the horses. The study aimed at providing Information on the temporal evolution of the young horse's behavior in a social group to estimate better the exact age of social maturity. The study was run in a breeding stud for sport horses born and raised in large social all-age groups (20–60 horses), always outdoors on large pastures and fed roughage only. Salt lick was available. From the age of 4 years, the behavior of 9 horses was observed daily during daytime (6 h between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.) between June and August each year for 3 consecutive years. Each horse was observed for a total of at least 90 h and its social interactions (defensive, offensive, or affiliative) were recorded. The data was analyzed with a GLMM. The type of interaction was considered a fixed factor in interaction with age and season. The identity of horses was considered a random factor. We found that 4yrs-old horses had fewer defensive interactions than 5- and 6yrs-old horses (4yrs-5yrs P < 0.0001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001). The affiliative and offensive interactions decreased continuously fromthe age of 4 to 6 yrs with 5yrs old showing in between levels (Affiliative: 4yrs-5yrs P < 0.0001, 5yrs-6yrs P < 0.001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001; Offensive: 5yrs-6yrs P = 0.009, 4yrs-5yrs P < 0.001, 4yrs-6yrs P < 0.001). While getting older, horses expressed less offensive agonistic behavior and more defensive behavior suggesting a phenomenon of social maturation from the age of 4 to 6 years. This might be the consequence of a better ability to establish and respect the group's dominance hierarchy. It is also possible that more mature horses stay closer to same-rank individuals, unlike younger ones, decreasing then the risk of offensive interactions. The fact that the decrease in affiliative interactions was associated with a decrease in offensive interactions go along with the hypothesis of a social maturation and the development of better socio-cognitive skills. This development of social behavior questions the fact that many horses are traditionally isolated from congeners when they start working, from the age of 2, latest 3 years old. Our results suggest that such horses are excluded from a social group during a sensitive period of social maturation. This could induce a lack of social skills that could be necessary later for interacting normal with congeners and humans.

106 Use of biobehavioral responses during a novel object test to assess suitability of horses for equine assisted services

Many recent studies have demonstrated positive outcomes for human participants in a variety of equine assisted services (EAS). Horses by nature are highly sensitive and their responses to unfamiliar stimuli can have important consequences for horse and human safety. Individual variation in the personality characteristics of horses, including their reactivity, may not only create safety concerns but also influence therapeutic outcomes. To date, there are no available standardized guidelines for the selection of equine in EAS. Observation of horse behavior by equine professionals has historically been used to assess the potential suitability of equine participants. However, overall behavior of individual horses can be challenging to objectively measure. Novel object (NO) tests are often used to measure reactivity in many animal species. To our knowledge, no study has yet evaluated the reactivity of horses in response to a NO test to assess their suitability for groundwork-based EAS. The purpose of this study was to compare biobehavioral responses of 11 Quarter Horse mares (11.6 ± 4.9 yr) before, during, and after exposure to a NO (stationary flamingo pool float) as a potential measure of their suitability for participation in EAS. The experiment consisted of 3 consecutive 5 min periods: Pre-NO test (P1), NO test (P2), and Post-NO test (P3) in the same 27 × 26 mpaddock. HR was recorded using a Polar H10 equine HR monitor. Behavior was video recorded and scan sampling of video every 10 s was used to determine counts. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v 9.4. Horse HR differed by horse and decreased with time within all 3 periods (P < 0.01). During the NO test, locomotion increased with increasing proximity to the NO (P < 0.05). Standing alert and exploratory behaviors decreased during the NO test but were not influenced by the horse's location (P < 0.03). Interestingly, eating behaviors increased during and after the NO test (P < 0.05). This study illustrates that behavioral and physiological responses of horses are influenced by their individuality which may ultimately influence their interactions during EAS. The reduction in HR over time within each period suggests that horses can quickly acclimate to changes in their environment and the overall lack of differences in their behavioral responses across periods suggests low reactivity among this study population. However, future studies with additional novel objects and horses are needed to determine if the use of this methodology can serve to evaluate suitability for horses for participation in EAS.

74 Effects of meal frequency on plasma amino acid concentrations in horses of various body condition scores

Meal frequency affects equine energy metabolism and behavior. However, the effect of meal frequency on amino acid (AA) metabolism has not been investigated in horses, despite plasma AA profiles being explored as indicators of altered metabolism associated with equid disease states. Being either over or underconditioned is often linked with those disease states. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding frequency on plasma AA responses in metabolically healthy horses of various stable body conditions. An oral sugar test was used to screen and exclude horses with insulin dysregulation from use in the study. Horses (n = 12) were selected to include a range of Henneke body condition scores (4–7). Horses were fed to maintain condition with both complimentary feed (0.45% BW DM; 16% CP) and hay (1.55% BW DM; 11% CP; in slow feeder nets) provided at once (1x; 0800 h), split across 2 feedings (2x; 0800 and 1800 h), or split across 3 feedings (3x; 0800, 1300, and 1800 h). After a 14 d adaptation, 2 groups of 6 horses each were randomly allocated to meal frequency regimens. Meal frequency regimens took place for 7 d each in a crossover design. Jugular vein catheters were placed on d 7 of each meal frequency regimen. Blood samples were taken relative to the morning feeding at −30, 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 min. A mixed model with repeated measures in SASwas used to determine the effects of meal frequency, time point, and body condition score on plasma AA concentrations. Complementary feed meals were eaten completely post provision with. minimal hay orts. With the exception of glutamate, all plasma AA concentrations increased after meal consumption (P < 0.01). While meal feeding frequency did affect plasma AA concentrations for most AAs (P < 0.01), there was no interaction between meal frequency and time point for any AA (P > 0.7). Indispensable postprandial plasma AA concentration increases over baseline at 60 min (average ± SE) were 56 ± 7%, 56 ± 8%, and 59 ± 7% for the 1x, 2x, and 3x meal feeding regimens, respectively. This finding demonstrates that even one third of the dietary allotment was able to create increases in plasma AA concentrations similar to the 1x feeding regimen. Feeding smaller more frequent meals could be a simple way to improve protein and AA bioavailability in equine diets. Body condition score affected plasma concentrations of alanine, arginine, aspartate, and tyrosine (P < 0.01). When investigating plasma AA profiles related to disease states, body condition, in addition to diet and fed/fasting state, should be reported as it may affect underlying protein metabolism.

154 Piloting a novel instrument for assessment of equine affective states

Interpreting equine behavior is a key component of assessing equine well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a circumplex heat map model of valence (V) (the relative “goodness” or “badness” of an emotion) and arousal (A) for interpretation of equine affective states as well as compare perceptions of students which differ in horse handling experience. An online questionnaire administered via Qualtrics was distributed to undergraduate students in an equine class at Oklahoma State University. Student demographics, horse handling experience, and frequency of horse interaction were collected. Students had not received equine specific behavior training before completion of the survey. Students (n = 49) were grouped based on self-reported frequency of horse contact (more than weekly or less than weekly), and self-reported horse experience on a 100 point scale, with 0 representing no experience and 100 extremely experienced. Images of 18 horses displaying various affective states were provided. After viewing each image, the participant placed a dot on a graphical representation of V and A according to their perceived impression of the affective state. A heat map generated by Qualtrics indicates the density of all responses and provides coordinates for each individual response. The incidence of quadrant selection (positive V/negative V; high A/low A) was identified and compared foreach image by experience groups, as well as the x (V) and y (A) coordinates. Data was analyzed using ANOVA in SPSS for V and A, and Chi-squared and Pearson correlation for quadrant data. Of the 49 students that reported, 53% reported as high frequency handlers (n = 26), and 47% (n = 23) reported handling horses less than weekly. When grouped by self-reported experience (>50 or ≤50), 40.8% students rated themselves as less than 50 in handling experience compared with 59.2% as greater than 50. High frequency handlers differed from low frequency handlers in their assessment of valence in 6 of 18 images (P < 0.05), compared with only one image of the 18 which differed in interpretation of state of arousal. When reported by level of horse handling experience, 5 images differed in assessment of V by means analysis (P < 0.05). Chi-squared analysis which represented differences in quadrant selection differed for only 3 images (P < 0.05). Students differed in their interpretation of V in 33% of the images, while differing once in interpretation of state of A (P < 0.05). Assessing affective state as positive or negative is critical to equine well-being. Utilizing the heat map function of Qualtrics represents a new methodology for assessment of affective state of horses.

179 Survey of equine veterinarians: Part 2—Hay feeding practices and horse health

Horse owners often consider veterinarians to be an important source of information about equine nutrition. The objective of this survey was to learn about the perspectives of veterinarians on the relationship between hay feeding practices, horse health and behavior. A survey link (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was sent to members of Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and distributed by equine practices located in Lexington, KY. Descriptive statistics were performed in SPSS V28. The majority of veterinarians thought time spent eating hay was extremely (56%) or moderately important (33%) to health when pasture is not available. Ninety 2 percent of veterinarians said time spent eating is important for increasing saliva production and decreasing the risk of gastric ulcers. When asked about factors that may affect rate of hay consumption, 44% of veterinarians strongly agreed that physical form was important, while only 14% of veterinarians strongly agreed that fiber content was an important factor. Nutrition scenarios for performance and sedentary horses were presented to gauge concern about amount of hay offered. The amount of hay fed to performance and sedentary horses was considered of extreme or moderate concern by 97% and 86% of veterinarians, respectively. Most veterinarians considered the minimum amount of hay forperformance and sedentary horses to be 1.5 lb per 100-lb bodyweight and 1 lb per 100-lb bodyweight, respectively. Supporting digestive function was the most frequently selected reason for recommending a minimum amount of hay for performance (83%) and sedentary (66%) horses. For horses with underweight, overweight, and digestive health issues, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay type with their clients was 97, 90, and 87%, respectively. For these same categories of horses, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay amount with their clients was 92, 80, and 69%, respectively. Only 46% of veterinarians agreed they would discuss hay type and 59% agreed they would discuss hay amount for horses with undesirable oral behaviors or other undesirable behaviors. This survey suggests veterinarians view the type and amount of hay as having important roles in weight management and digestive health compared with affecting equine behavior. In addition, although veterinarians are often considered to be an important nutrition resource, veterinarians in this survey reported clients rarely (51%) or occasionally (37%) asked for feeding advice.

The Fibre Requirements of Horses and the Consequences and Causes of Failure to Meet Them.

Failure to meet the minimum forage requirement of 1.5% of the horse's bodyweight and the opportunity for foraging for a minimum of 8 h a day (not going without this opportunity longer than four to five consecutive hours) can have both physiological and behavioural consequences. To provide an energy source for horses, rations often include starch rather than fibre. This can result in health issues related to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in the horse. In the stomach, the main concern is equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) and, more specifically, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Ulcerations are caused either by increasing acidity in the stomach (from starch ingestion and reduced saliva production) or splashing of acidic juices caused by a lack of a forage barrier prior to exercise or prolonged periods without fibrous feed intake, which allows the stomach to collapse and spread acidic gastric fluids into the upper squamous regions of the stomach. In the hindgut, starch that has escaped digestion in the small intestine causes microbial instability and increased production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid. This puts horses at great risk for acidosis and subsequent laminitis. Shifts in the hindgut microbiota will also affect a horse's behaviour via the gut-brain axis, as well as potentially compromise immune function. Reduced fluid intake caused by reduced saliva production can result in colic. Choosing a fibrous alternative for starch in a high-energy diet greatly reduces the risk of EGUS and acidosis and improves digestion, GIT pH, body condition, behaviour, immune functions, and performance. Providing hay can reduce crib-biting, wood-chewing, coprophagia, the consumption of bedding, aggression, and stress, and subsequently increase social bonding and affiliation with conspecifics. Adequate fibre intake is related to reduced clinical signs of EGUS, reduced reactivity, and better adaptation to weaning. Lignophagia (wood chewing) has also been observed in horses that are foraging, and this is thought to reflect low fibre content in the available forage (for example, early vegetative, lush pasture).

Subcutaneous Implantation of Unidirectional Self-Inflating Anisotropic Tissue Expander Has No Effect on the Physiological Parameters and Behaviours of Horses

The tissue expansion technique is one of the most important innovations in skin reconstructive surgery in human and veterinary medicine. This study investigated horses’ physiological and behavioural responses to subcutaneous implantation of a unidirectional self-inflating anisotropic tissue expander. The tissue expanders were subcutaneously implanted on six horses at three different locations: the frontal region of the head, the lateral side of the right shoulder, and the dorsomedial part of the cannon region of the right forelimb. Prior to the tissue expander implantation, each horse was clinically examined, and the observed vital parameters and behaviour were recorded as baseline data. For six days post implantations, the horses were clinically examined, implantation sites monitored, and the horse’s behaviour was recorded both during the day by visual observation and at night with a video camera. The results showed that all horses tolerated the subcutaneous gradual skin expansion by implantation of the tissue expanders, and all surgical sites healed without any complications. The implantation of the tissue expanders does not affect the vital parameters or overall horse behaviour either during the day or at night. In conclusion, the subcutaneous implantation of unidirectional anisotropic tissue expanders in horses resulted in successful skin growth with no physiological and psychological discomfort; hence skin expansion is a good option to be considered when pursuing equine skin reconstructive surgery.

Effect of different bedding material on redirected behaviour and vices of thoroughbred race horses housed in stalls

Frustration arising from lack of social contact and inconsistent training method, insufficient roughages, erratic management practices and different bedding material leads to redirected behaviour and vices in stabled horses. Further there was a need to assess the relation between behaviour and vices related to prevalence of many stereotypes and redirected behaviour i.e., weaving, tongue rolling, resting in the stable corner, soil consuming, wood chewing and cribbing. The aim of current research work was to establish the importance of bedding on behaviour of horses. Fifteen each of privately owned, mares and stallions were selected for the study. They were kept in the boxes in which they were observed for a minimum of four weeks. Recordings were made between 10:00 to 12 AM and 5:00 to 7:00 PM. There was an increase in the prevalence of abnormal behaviour (P&lt;0.0001) when the bedding type other than straw was used (P&lt;0.0001) and the amount of fibre in the diet was decreased (&lt;40%). Results showed that there were significant differences in other behaviours like resting in the stable corner (P&lt;0.0001), tongue rolling (P&lt;0.0001), weaving behaviour (P&lt;0.0001), yawning behaviour (P&lt;0.0001), wood chewing (P&lt;0.0005) and cribbing (P&lt;0.0008). No significant differences were found with soil (P&lt;0.558) and faeces consumption (P&lt;0.3251) behaviour. The amount of time spent on exercise and time spent outside the stable did not appear to be related to performance of abnormal behaviour and vices of horses. It was concluded that the providing adequate bedding material can influence the behaviour and vices in stabled horses.

A modified seahorse optimization algorithm based on chaotic maps for solving global optimization and engineering problems

Metaheuristic optimization algorithms are global optimization approaches that manage the search process to efficiently explore search spaces associated with different optimization problems. Seahorse optimization (SHO) is a novel swarm-based metaheuristic optimization method inspired by certain behaviors of sea horses. The SHO algorithm mimics the movement, hunting, and breeding behavior of sea horses in nature. Chaotic maps are effectively used to improve the performance of metaheuristic algorithms by avoiding the local optimum and increasing the speed of convergence. In this study, 10 different chaotic maps have been employed for the first time to produce chaotic values rather than random values in SHO, increasing the performance of the method. The purpose of using chaotic maps that generate chaotic values to their random values in SHO is to increase the convergence speed of the original SHO algorithm and avoid the local optimum. 33 different benchmark functions, consisting of unimodal, multimodal, fixed-dimension multimodal, and CEC2019, have been utilized to assess the performance of Chaotic SHO (CSHO), which is first introduced in this study. In addition, the proposed CSHO has been compared with four metaheuristic algorithms in the literature, namely Sine Cosine Algorithm, Salp Swarm Algorithm, Whale Optimization Algorithm, and Particle Swarm Optimization. Statistical analyses of the obtained results have been also performed. The proposed CSHO is then implemented to 4 different real-world engineering design problems, including the welded beam, pressure vessel, tension/compression spring, and speed reducer. The results obtained with CSHO are compared with popular metaheuristic methods in the literature. Experimental results show that it gives successful and promising results compared to the original SHO algorithm.

Influence of different bedding material on locomotor behaviour of thoroughbred horses housed in individual stalls

The effect of three different bedding material on the locomotor behaviour of horses housed in individual boxes were analysed. Three different groups of horses, with ten horses in each group, were kept on straw bedding, wood shavings and no bedding material for four weeks. A behaviour recording chart was used to not each individual’s behaviour for four hours a day (morning and evening). Recording time for the behaviour like standing on three legs, body stretching, kicking behaviour, walking in the stable, scratching of body with legs and lying behaviour with bedding were generated. Use of straw bedding caused a significantly higher frequency and total duration of standing on three legs (P&lt;0.0001) and lying behaviour (P&lt;0.0001), and shorter fraction of scratching of body with legs and walking in the stable (P&lt;0.7297). The total duration of lying on the straw bedding was significantly higher than on wood shavings and without any bedding material. Straw bedding had many positive influences as it made the animal docile, provided cushioning properties, reduced leg problems and acted as good source of fibre.

Integrative genomics analysis highlights functionally relevant genes for equine behaviour.

Behavioural plasticity enables horses entering an exercise training programme to adapt with reduced stress. We characterised SNPs associated with behaviour in yearling Thoroughbred horses using genomics analyses for two phenotypes: (1) handler-assessed coping with early training events [coping] (n=96); and (2) variation in salivary cortisol concentration at the first backing event [cortisol] (n=34). Using RNA-seq derived gene expression data for amygdala and hippocampus tissues from n=2 Thoroughbred stallions, we refined the SNPs to those with functional relevance to behaviour by cross-referencing to the 500 most highly expressed genes in each tissue. The SNPs of high significance (q < 0.01) were in proximity to genes (coping - GABARAP, NDM, OAZ1, RPS15A, SPARCL1, VAMP2; cortisol - CEBPA, COA3, DUSP1, HNRNPH1, RACK1) with biological functions in social behaviour, autism spectrum disorder, suicide, stress-induced anxiety and depression, Alzheimer's disease, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroinflammatory disease, fear-induced behaviours and alcohol and cocaine addiction. The strongest association (q=0.0002) was with NDN, a gene previously associated with temperament in cattle. This approach highlights functionally relevant genes in the behavioural adaptation of Thoroughbred horses that will contribute to the development of genetic markers to improve racehorse welfare.

Contribution of woody plants to horses’ diets in Mediterranean rangelands

In Mediterranean countries, shrubby and woody areas provide herds with cheap fodder. However, some horse farmers are reluctant to use woody rangelands, which they associate with low-quality feed. In this article, we explore some aspects of the feeding behavior of horses on Mediterranean shrubby and woody rangelands, in order to document their pastoral interest for horses. We observed the feeding choices of young horses grazing on typical peri-Mediterranean rangelands. Observations were repeated at two sites, with four horses per site, over four days with two observers. At each site, two horses were fitted with GPS (positioning system) collars to determine their presence in different areas of the paddocks. Ingested plants were classified in a coding grid. The chemical characteristics of each feed item were estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). A hierarchical classification of NIRS spectra defined four classes. Leaves, twigs, and flowers of several woody species were ingested (1‒18% of recorded bites), although herbaceous species were preferred (&gt; 80% of bites). Horses explored the entire paddocks but grazed preferentially in open areas. The differences observed between sites suggested a strong effect of local grazing conditions. The chemical composition of feed from shrubs and trees was close to that of herbaceous forbs but quite different from that of grasses. Three out of four classes associated woody plants and forbs. These classes had interesting nutritional characteristics (protein &gt; 12%). These results confirm the positive contribution of woody plants to horses' nutrition, in addition to the other roles of woody plants in the well-being of horses on pasture.

Untangling the Complex Relationships between Horse Welfare, Rider Safety, and Rider Satisfaction

ABSTRACT Securing the horse industry’s long-term future is becoming increasingly urgent due to community concerns for horse welfare; human behavior change may offer novel solutions to this challenging problem. Self-determination theory (SDT), a well-established theory in human behavior change, assumes humans are intrinsically motivated by three universal psychological needs: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. These align well with horse–human interaction. To explore the potential for human behavior change to improve horse welfare, this study investigated the relationship between horse welfare, rider safety, and rider satisfaction. An online survey asked equestrians about their horse-keeping and training practices, their riding accidents and injuries, and their level of satisfaction with their horse. Relative horse welfare and rider satisfaction were significantly related (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). Hyperreactive horse behavior (defined in this study as bucking, bolting, rearing, and spooking) and rider accidents and injuries were negatively related to rider satisfaction (r = −0.23, p < 0.001 and r = −0.16, p = 0.001, respectively). Further, goal achievement (r = 0.57, p < 0.001), rider control (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and horse–human partnership (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) were all significantly related to rider satisfaction. A regression analysis testing the proposed SDT-based rider satisfaction model was significant (p < 0.001), with goal achievement, rider control, and horse–human partnership accounting for 63% of the variance of rider satisfaction scores. We found that horse welfare, rider safety, and rider satisfaction were related, with equestrian goal achievement (competence), horse control (autonomy), and horse-rider partnership (relatedness) all significantly contributing to rider satisfaction, suggesting that SDT may offer a useful framework for developing behavior change strategies. While more work is needed to develop and evaluate such strategies, a better understanding of intrinsic rider motivation represents an important first step.

Improved wild horse optimization with levy flight algorithm for effective task scheduling in cloud computing

Cloud Computing, the efficiency of task scheduling is proportional to the effectiveness of users. The improved scheduling efficiency algorithm (also known as the improved Wild Horse Optimization, or IWHO) is proposed to address the problems of lengthy scheduling time, high-cost consumption, and high virtual machine load in cloud computing task scheduling. First, a cloud computing task scheduling and distribution model is built, with time, cost, and virtual machines as the primary factors. Second, a feasible plan for each whale individual corresponding to cloud computing task scheduling is to find the best whale individual, which is the best feasible plan; to better find the optimal individual, we use the inertial weight strategy for the Improved whale optimization algorithm to improve the local search ability and effectively prevent the algorithm from reaching premature convergence. To deliver services and access to shared resources, Cloud Computing (CC) employs a cloud service provider (CSP). In a CC context, task scheduling has a significant impact on resource utilization and overall system performance. It is a Nondeterministic Polynomial (NP)-hard problem that is solved using metaheuristic optimization techniques to improve the effectiveness of job scheduling in a CC environment. This incentive is used in this study to provide the Improved Wild Horse Optimization with Levy Flight Algorithm for Task Scheduling in cloud computing (IWHOLF-TSC) approach, which is an improved wild horse optimization with levy flight algorithm for cloud task scheduling. Task scheduling can be addressed in the cloud computing environment by utilizing some form of symmetry, which can achieve better resource optimization, such as load balancing and energy efficiency. The proposed IWHOLF-TSC technique constructs a multi-objective fitness function by reducing Makespan and maximizing resource utilization in the CC platform. The IWHOLF-TSC technique proposed combines the wild horse optimization (WHO) algorithm and the Levy flight theory (LF). The WHO algorithm is inspired by the social behaviours of wild horses. The IWHOLF-TSC approach's performance can be validated, and the results evaluated using a variety of methods. The simulation results revealed that the IWHOLF-TSC technique outperformed others in a variety of situations.