Stereotypic horses (Equus caballus) are not cognitively impaired

Stereotypies in animals are thought to arise from an interaction between genetic predisposition and sub-optimal housing conditions. In domestic horses, a well-studied stereotypy is crib-biting, an abnormal behaviour that appears to help individuals to cope with stressful situations. One prominent hypothesis states that animals affected by stereotypies are cognitively less flexible compared to healthy controls, due to sensitization of a specific brain area, the basal ganglia. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis in crib-biting and healthy controls, using a cognitive task, reversal learning, which has been used as a diagnostic for basal ganglia dysfunction. The procedure consisted of exposing subjects to four learning tasks; first and second acquisition, and their reversals. For each task, we measured the number of trials to reach criterion and heart rate and heart-rate variability. Importantly, we did not try to prevent crib-biters from executing their stereotypic behaviour. We found that the first reversal learning task required the largest number of trials, confirming its challenging nature. Interestingly, the second reversal learning task required significantly fewer trials to reach criterion, suggesting generalisation learning. However, we did not find any performance differences across groups; both stereotypic and control animals required a similar numbers of trials and did not differ in their physiological responses. Our results thus challenge the widely held belief that crib-biting horses, and stereotypic animals more generally, are cognitively impaired. We conclude that cognitive underperformance may occur in stereotypic horses if they are prevented from crib-biting to cope with experienced stress.PostprintPeer reviewe

Dynamics of a moored structure model in ice

This paper presents a study of the response of a floating, moored structure with vertical sides to loads applied by drifting ice. Model tests show a sawtooth mode in which response is most severe. Test data are examined to determine the conditions under which this mode occurs. From an analysis of a second order system, a dynamic response is general, and applies also to the response of fixed structures.NRC publication: Ye

Classical music reduces acute stress of domestic horses

International audienceDomestic horses are regularly subjected to stressful situations due to management practices, such as social isolation, transport and farriery or, in general due to exposure to new/sudden stimuli. These situations may eventually be harmful to the horses’ welfare, possibly altering their relationships with humans and increasing the risk of safety hazards for horses as well as humans. Music has relaxing properties demonstrated in several animal species. We have tested the effect of in-ear classical music diffusion on the intensity of stress reaction when horses were exposed to two stressful situations: short-term transport (n = 24) and farriery (n = 24). Each horse was subjected either to transport or to farriery in three different conditions: ‘music’ (classical music played via an in-ear device), ‘sound attenuation’ (with ear plugs) and ‘control’. During transport, the diffusion of classical music induced a faster post-stress heart rate recovery (P 0.05). From a physiological point of view, classical music reduces the intensity of stress responses to these common management practices, which can have several applications. Less dangerous behaviors, such as fleeing or kicking, could reduce the risk of injuries for both horses and humans. Reducing the effect of acute stress will also prevent the onset of chronic stress

The selection, training and welfare of post-racing thoroughbreds and other breeds used in Equine Assisted Services

Post-racing thoroughbreds (TBs) are increasingly being considered for Equine Assisted Services (EAS), but their use has not yet been widely characterised. This study aimed to generate detailed data on TBs and other breeds (OBs) of horses in EAS via an online survey. The survey was completed by 129 EAS practitioners from 15 countries and reported detailed data on 427 EAS equids, including 57 TBs. Most of the EAS horses were housed collectively, had access to free exercise over 12 h per day and had unrestricted access to forage. The most commonly recorded selection criteria for EAS horses consisted of: demonstrating a good personality; enjoying the work; absence of propensity to kick/bite. Detailed data gathered on individual horses showed that in comparison to OBs, TBs were younger, more likely to be a gelding, less likely to be used in ridden programmes, and tended to present more behavioural issues than OBs. The majority of the participants agreed that TBs have specific assets of particular interest to EAS programmes, such as sensitivity, body/movement characteristics or responsiveness/flight response. Finally, a large majority of participants reported that they believe TBs to be suitable for EAS programmes and some would consider working with them. These results showed TBs to already be in use in various EAS programmes and more could be incorporated in the future. In terms of animal welfare and beneficiaries’ safety, a selection process could therefore be designed and implemented to choose the most adapted horses for each EAS centre, according to living conditions and EAS activities practised (ridden or not ridden)

Behavioral and transcriptomic fingerprints of an enriched environment in horses ([i]Equus caballus[/i])

The use of environmental enrichment (EE) has grown in popularity over decades, particularly because EE is known to promote cognitive functions and well-being. Nonetheless, little is known about how EE may affect personality and gene expression. To address this question in a domestic animal, 10-month-old horses were maintained in a controlled environment or EE for 12 weeks. The control horses (n = 9) lived in individual stalls on wood shaving bedding. They were turned out to individual paddocks three times a week and were fed three times a day with pellets or hay. EE-treated horses (n = 10) were housed in large individual stalls on straw bedding 7 hours per day and spent the remainder of the time together at pasture. They were fed three times a day with flavored pellets, hay, or fruits and were exposed daily to various objects, odors, and music. The EE modified three dimensions of personality: fearfulness, reactivity to humans, and sensory sensitivity. Some of these changes persisted >3 months after treatment. These changes are suggestive of a more positive perception of the environment and a higher level of curiosity in EE-treated horses, explaining partly why these horses showed better learning performance in a Go/No-Go task. Reduced expression of stress indicators indicated that the EE also improved well-being. Finally, whole-blood transcriptomic analysis showed that in addition to an effect on the cortisol level, the EE induced the expression of genes involved in cell growth and proliferation, while the control treatment activated genes related to apoptosis. Changes in both behavior and gene expression may constitute a psychobiological signature of the effects of enrichment and result in improved well-being. This study illustrates how the environment interacts with genetic information in shaping the individual at both the behavioral and molecular levels

Effects of breed, management and personality on cortisol reactivity in sport horses.

Sport horses need to fulfill high physical and psychological requirements during training and competition. These as well as certain conditions of modern husbandry may affect their wellbeing. Here we aimed to (1) evaluate effects of demographic and management factors as well as personality traits on stress reactivity of sport horses, (2) investigate if elite sport horses have elevated stress levels compared to amateur sport horses, and (3) assess whether different equestrian disciplines differentially influence equine adrenal cortex responsiveness. For this purpose, we visited 149 healthy elite (n = 94) and amateur (n = 54) sport horses in Switzerland and performed an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Additionally, a person who was familiar with the horse completed a questionnaire about demographic and management factors and their horses' personality traits. Linear models were calculated to assess associations between the questionnaire data and salivary cortisol 60 (T60) and 90 (T90) minutes after ACTH stimulation. While the model at T90 was not significant, post-stimulatory cortisol after 60 minutes appears most informative in line with a previous study and was significantly affected by the breed and by three management factors: "number of riders", "hours spent outside" and "group housing" (adjusted r2 = 15%, p<0.001). Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses displayed an increased adrenal response compared to Franches-Montagnes horses. Horses with several riders had a less pronounced reaction than horses with one rider, and horses that spent more time outside had a decreased response compared to horses that were stabled most of the time. Horses living in groups showed higher post-stimulatory cortisol values than horses that were housed singly. However, no significant associations of cortisol responsiveness with personality traits were found, and neither the use as elite or as amateur sport horses nor the discipline had an effect on the cortisol response. This suggests that optimizing husbandry conditions may be more important for improving equine welfare than changing their use

10-th Offshore Mediterranean Conference (OMC), Global Energy and Mediterranean Opportunities, Ravenna, March 23-25, 2011

The OMC 2011 Conference held alongside the exhibition during this three day event, provided a high quality seminar agenda and attracted 1.203 delegates and 12 official delegations (Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mali, Norway, Qatar, Turkey and Turkmenistan). It featured the presentation of 117 papers, selected from the 240 received, and these were presented during 26 Technical Sessions, with 39 Papers presented in 8 poster sessions and 6 workshops dedicated to specific themes. A particular mention goes to the special plenary session \u201cThe Macondo legacy: perception, reputation, reaction\u201d that took place on March 25th . It was a great success with an attendance of over 300 people and included the presence of all the stakeholders. The Ministry of Economic Development, the EU DG Coal & Oil, OGP, DNV, and Assomineraria were part of the panel and among the attendees also three representatives of European Commission for Emergency in the Mediterranean. A good occasion for the industry to face the public reaction with a global response. In some additional events, OMC also provided room for a fruitful dialog and an open exchange of ideas: (1) The Italian-Norwegian Energy forum presented an exchange of views and technologies among the two associations of offshore contractors INTSOK and ROCA. The forum was attended by the ambassadors of Norway and Italy. (2) The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Perth in the presence of Kerry Sanderson, Agent for Europe of the Government of West Australia, and presented to exhibitors and contractors the business opportunities in Australia. (3) Assomineraria also held its workshop to discuss the energy policy in Italy with the contribution of deputies from Nomisma Energia and from MSE (Ministry for Economic Development). http://www.omc.it/2011/home.php?Lang=e