How frequently do and what time Thoroughbred and Haflinger breeding horses perform particular behaviors in paddock areas?
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Atatürk, Erzurum, 25240 Turkey.
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022, 21(01), 229–237.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2022.21.1.0387
Publication history:
Received on 06 September 2022; revised on 12 October 2022; accepted on 15 October 2022
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and time of specific behaviors in Thoroughbred and Haflinger horses reared in outdoor paddock environments. Therefore, 2 Thoroughbred and 2 Haflinger horses were used in the study, and the data were collected by video recording (112 hours in total) between 09:00 and 16:00 (7 h/day) for 16 days. Some behaviors examined during this period; eating from the hay rack, drinking water, grazing on the pasture, walking, running, standing, being next to the other horse and other activities (Rolling, lie down, etc.).
Considering the total number of behaviors performed in both horse breeds, it was observed that Thoroughbred horses (154.82 times - 7 h/day) made more daily movements than Haflingers (134.63 times - 7 h/day). When the behavior of the horses in the paddock is assessed based on breed, Thoroughbreds were seen to repeat eating from the hay rack, drinking water activities significantly (P < 0.05) more frequently than the other breed, as were Haflingers when grazing on the pasture.
There was no statistically significant difference in breeds among hours (P > 0.05), but when the repetition or intensity results of the movements were examined according to the study hours, it was discovered that the hours with the largest total number of movements were between 11:00 and 15:00.
As a result, it has been determined that the behavior activities of Thoroughbred horses is more in an outdoor paddock area during the 09:00-16:00 hours of the day compared to Haflinger horses.
Keywords:
Behavior; Breed; Horse; Paddock; Times
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