Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
01 Jan 2006
  • 1

    North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Web site. Available at: www.narha.org. Accessed Jun 7, 2005.

  • 2

    Tapia F. Children who are cruel to animals. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 1971;2:70–77.

  • 3

    Kaiser L, Smith KA, Heleski CR, et al. Effects of a therapeutic riding program on at-risk and special education children. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;228:46–52.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4

    CHUM Therapeutic Riding Web site. Available at: www.chumtherapy.net. Accessed Jun 7, 2005.

  • 5

    Ingham Intermediate School District. A handbook for parents, 2002–2003. Ingham, Mich: Ingham Intermediate School District, 2002;31–36.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 6

    McDonnell S. A practical field guide to horse behavior: the equid ethogram. Lexington, Ky: The Blood-Horse Inc, 2003;33–46, 74, 92–95, 110–112, 1187.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7

    Waring GH. Horse behavior. 2nd ed. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2003;41–47, 118, 120, 133, 144–148, 157, 270–284, 331, 350–357, 369–384.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8

    Houpt KA, Eggleston A, Kunkle K, et al. Effect of water restriction on equine behaviour and physiology. Equine Vet J 2000;32:341–344.

  • 9

    Weeks J, Beck AM. Equine agitation behaviors. Equine Pract 1996;18:23–24.

  • 10

    Rivera E, Benjamin S, Nielsen B, et al. Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial trailing: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2002;78:1–19.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11

    Yerkes RM, Dodson JD. The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. J Comp Neurol Psychol 1908;18:459–482.

  • 12

    Visser EK, Van Reenen CG, Engel B, et al. The association between performance in show-jumping and personality traits earlier in life. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2003;82:279–295.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13

    Visser EK, Van Reenen CG, Hopster H, et al. Quantifying aspects of young horses' temperament: consistency of behavioural variables. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2001;74:241–258.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14

    Anderson MK, Friend TH, Evans JW, et al. Behavioral assessment of horses in therapeutic riding programs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1999;63:11–24.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 15

    Odberg FO. Chronic stress in riding horses. Equine Vet J 1987;19:268–269.

Advertisement

Editorial Type:
Exploring the Bond

Stress-related behaviors among horses used in a therapeutic riding program

Lana KaiserHuman-Animal Bond Initiative, College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Search for other papers by Lana Kaiser in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
 MD, DVM
,
Camie R. HeleskiAnimal Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Search for other papers by Camie R. Heleski in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
 PhD
,
Janice SiegfordAnimal Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Search for other papers by Janice Siegford in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
 PhD
, and
Katharine Ann SmithHuman-Animal Bond Initiative, College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Search for other papers by Katharine Ann Smith in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMedClose
 BSN
View More View Less
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.228.1.39
Volume/Issue:
Volume 228: Issue 1
Online Publication Date:
01 Jan 2006
Restricted access
Sign In Reprints and Permissions Purchase Article

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps.

Design—Observational study.

Animals—14 horses in a therapeutic riding program.

Procedure—An ethogram of equine behaviors was created, and horses were observed while ridden by 5 groups of riders (recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, atrisk children, and special education children). Number of stress-related behaviors (ears pinned back, head raised, head turned, head tossed, head shaken, head down, and defecation) was compared among groups.

Results—No significant differences in mean number of stress-related behaviors were found when horses were ridden by recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, or special education children. However, mean number of stress-related behaviors was significantly higher when horses were ridden by the at-risk children.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that for horses in a therapeutic riding program, being ridden by physically or psychologically handicapped individuals is no more stressful for the horses than is being ridden in the same setting by recreational riders. However, at-risk children caused more stress to the horses, suggesting that the time horses are ridden by at-risk children should be limited both daily and weekly.

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps.

Design—Observational study.

Animals—14 horses in a therapeutic riding program.

Procedure—An ethogram of equine behaviors was created, and horses were observed while ridden by 5 groups of riders (recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, atrisk children, and special education children). Number of stress-related behaviors (ears pinned back, head raised, head turned, head tossed, head shaken, head down, and defecation) was compared among groups.

Results—No significant differences in mean number of stress-related behaviors were found when horses were ridden by recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, or special education children. However, mean number of stress-related behaviors was significantly higher when horses were ridden by the at-risk children.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that for horses in a therapeutic riding program, being ridden by physically or psychologically handicapped individuals is no more stressful for the horses than is being ridden in the same setting by recreational riders. However, at-risk children caused more stress to the horses, suggesting that the time horses are ridden by at-risk children should be limited both daily and weekly.

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Kaiser.

Supported by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Families and Communities Together (FACT) at Michigan State University.

Presented at the Region 4 Conference of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Hickory Corners, Mich, April 2004, and the Human-Animal Bond Initiative Conference, East Lansing, Mich, September 2004.

The authors thank Bonnie DePue, Kari Rodgers, and Kellie Anderson for assistance with the therapeutic riding program; Christine Kaiser for assistance with illustrations; and Megan Townsend, Adroaldo Zanella, Kerrie VandenBosch, Amy Shelle, and Dawn Mace for technical assistance.