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Sandra Rose presents Poster 71 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 6: Free topics
143
Poster 71
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ANIMATION AND SPACE OFFERING ON
ACTIVITY BEHAVIOUR OF HORSES
S. Rose 1 , U. Brehme 1 , S. Klaer 2
1
Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Department of Engineering for Livestock Management,
Potsdam, Germany
2
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt University of Berlin,
Germany
Often housing conditions do not meet horses' natural needs. German and Swiss studies it is shown
that only 16 % of the total horse stock is kept in group systems while 84% remain in single boxes.
Objective of our investigations was to quantify whether horses show more activity in stables with
different options for movement and functional areas. So called activity stables allow horses to live
within a herd, to have individual feeding with regards to horses’ needs and to have lots of agitation
and fresh air.
Data from seven horses kept in single boxes (A) were compared to data from three different open
barns (B) and two activity stables (C) with five horses each. Activity-Lying-Temperature-
Pedometers mounted on the rear legs of all horses were used for measuring activity and resting
periods. Animal data were recorded throughout the complete test period of ten days per stable using
measuring intervals of ten minutes. The periods of the day when horses had exercises were
excluded from evaluation. Differences between the stables were tested with the Kruskal-Wallis-
Test.
The results show that the median of activity of horses in stables A is 26 activity impulses per ten
minutes. In stables B this increases to a median of 30, while stables C reach a median of 69. These
differences are significant at an error level of α=0.05. Thus the well-being of horses will be better
and arthropathies can be reduced in open barn systems.
These investigations support other studies' results that activity of horses is dependent on their
movement possibilities and incentives. A stable's construction and placement of functional areas
have considerable effects on a horse's activity level. It is useful to integrate different functional
areas to an open barn and not to keep horses in conventional individual stables.
Contact information: Sandra Rose or email srose@atb-potsdam.de
Complete address: Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Department of Engineering for
Livestock Management, Potsdam, Germany
Species: Horse