Participants sought for equine behaviour study

Since ancient times, horse behaviour, and the bond between horses and humans, has been a source of intrigue and fascination.

The horse-lore that has accumulated over the centuries is a rich mix of both useful practice (approaching horses from their left side, making them slightly less reactive) and unsubstantiated myth, such as the one that chestnut horses are especially difficult to deal with.

To explore the influence of training and management on horse behaviour, Professor Paul McGreevy and his research team at the University of Sydney have launched the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), a global database of horse behaviour. 

The study aims to reveal information on how training and management affects behaviour and how, in turn, behaviour affects horse welfare.

It will show how breeds differ in responses and illuminate breed-typical personality types, how male and female horses differ, how horses used in different disciplines (such as show-jumping versus dressage) differ in their behaviour and how horse behaviour changes with maturation and training.

Beyond the immediate and direct research outcomes, the researchers suggest that E-BARQ also offers great benefits to horse owners, riders and trainers.

Owners will be able to compare their horse’s behaviour with that of other horses around the world. The “share-&-compare” graphs will reveal attributes such as trainability, rideability, handling, compliance, boldness, and human social confidence.

E-BARQ is open to all horse owners/handlers, regardless of their horses’ breed, height or age, and provides users with a free dashboard to store their horses’ results and track their progress.

Participants will gain an insight into where their horses are performing well and where they may need help. They will also be able to monitor their horse’s progress over time by returning to their E-BARQ dashboard every 6 months and re-taking the questionnaire, updating their scores.

You can access E-BARQ here:

https://e-barq.com/

You can watch an E-BARQ how-to video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBKry6Wz2gc

New online tool to track strangles outbreaks

Owners and veterinary surgeons can now get up to date information about strangles outbreaks in the United Kingdom thanks to a new online tool that has been developed by the Animal Health Trust (AHT). 

Strangles is a common infectious disease of horses that is found throughout the world. Not only is it an important welfare concern, but it also causes significant economic costs to owners and disruption of competition schedules.

The website, developed by the Animal Heath Trust, with support of the Horse Trust and SEIB, Is part of the Surveillance of Equine Strangles project, which was launched in 2019 by the AHT, in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College and the Universities of Liverpool and Melbourne, and with financial support from The Horse Trust.

The developers hope that the website will prove valuable to people owning and working with horses, especially those travelling around the country to areas which have seen higher rates of strangles diagnoses.

Being able to see where strangles is being diagnosed will allow owners to increase their vigilance and biosecurity /hygiene measures when they know that they are in, or are planning to travel to, areas where there is a higher risk of encountering the disease.

 “Not only do we want to help contribute to research into Strangles but one of our key aims is to share our findings with the equine industry to help keep the UK’s horses and ponies, happy and healthy and to reduce the spread of strangles.”

The information for the website is gleaned anonymously from veterinary laboratories around the UK when they confirm a diagnosis of strangles infection. It includes data on the location of the vet practice submitting the sample, the type of horse or pony from which the sample was collected, and details of the type of sample and methods used for diagnosis.

The new online tool includes a useful mapping function, which highlights regions where cases have been confirmed. It also allows users to change date ranges so they can view information particularly relevant to them and their location.

Dr Richard Newton, Director of Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology at the Animal Health Trust, said: “This new website provides comprehensive insights about the disease in a very up-to-date manner in a way that has never been available before.

“However, the resource is only as useful as the data supplied from vets on the ground. I would urge colleagues to help us to keep this resource as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible by completing full details on submission forms being sent to any laboratory, so this information can contribute – anonymously – to the national picture of strangles.”

The Animal Health Trust now hopes to extend the online tool to include international data. This will enable meaningful comparisons to be made of strangles in different countries, which in turn could lead to new strategies on how to improve control of the disease in different parts of the world.

Abbi McGlennon, PhD student at the Animal Health Trust, who led the development of the resource, said: “Our aim with the Surveillance of Equine Strangles scheme is to reduce the spread of the disease. This website is one of the first key tools to emerge from the larger surveillance project. It joins the dots across the equine industry by collating information from laboratory confirmed strangles diagnoses and communicating this back in almost real time. I’m excited about the prospect of extending this internationally, and the difference that could make for horses globally.

For more details, see:

https://app.jshiny.com/jdata/ses/sesview/

National Equine Forum streaming

Although tickets for the National Equine Forum, on 5th March, have sold out, you will still be able to watch the live stream from the event free of charge.  What’s more, this year you ‘ll be able to participate in the question and answer sessions, even if you are not there, via an online app.

The programme covers a wide range of important, educational and practical presentations from governmental, veterinary and charity and equestrian leaders.

 

Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Sheila Voas, Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland and Dr Richard Newton, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance at the Animal Health Trust will, together, present a comprehensive session on Brexit, animal health, emerging disease. After the session questions can be put to the panel, which will include David Mountford, Chair of the B

ritish Horse Council.

James Hick, Chief Executive of The British Horse Society (BHS) will present a topical spot on the BHS’s Project Jigsaw which aims work with the equestrian sector to record and protect historical routes for equestrian use.

 In a session on the national impact of global issues Linda Edwards, Executive Director of Operations at The Donkey Sanctuary will discuss the crisis of disappearing donkeys and the donkey skin trade. Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare and Barry Johnson, Independent Chair of the Horse Welfare Board will look at societal acceptance of the use of horses from racing through to recreation.

 A human behavioural science session introduced by Dr Zac Baynham-Herd, Associate Advisor, The Behavioural Insights Team will look at how human behaviour change can make a difference to equine welfare. Sarah Freeman, Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Nottingham will talk about colic. David Rendle, council member of the British Equine Veterinary Association, will discuss behaviour change and its potential impact on worming compliance. Abigail and Andrew Turnbull of Richmond Equestrian Centre, introduced by Jude Matthews, Chief Executive of British Eventing, will speak about strangles and turning the negative problem of a disease outbreak into a positive.

 Equestrianism at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games 2020 will be discussed by Tim Hadaway, Director for Games Operations, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), followed by a talk from Henry Bullen of Peden Bloodstock, about travelling horses internationally and post Brexit implications.

 Kirsty Withnall, RSPCA Inspector for the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, will present the Memorial Lecture on the complexities of a multi-agency equine welfare case, alongside the ways in which welfare charities collaborate.

Kirsty Withnall, RSPCA Inspector for the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, will present the Sir Colin Spedding Memorial Lecture on the complexities of a multi-agency equine welfare case, alongside the ways in which welfare charities collaborate.

For further information on the NEF and to view past presentations visit: https://www.nationalequineforum.com.

Information on how to submit your question can be found here: https://www.nationalequineforum.com/slido-nef20/