Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be

Frank Ödberg presents Workshop paper 2
In workshop 1: Welfare of riding horses
Friday, 12 September 2008 from 14h00-15h45 in the Aula chaired by Frank Ödberg
SCHOOLING PROBLEMS
F.O. Ödberg 1 , M. Pierard 2
177
Workshop paper 2
1 Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ghent University,
Merelbeke, Belgium
2 Geelstraat 30, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
It is difficult to obtain precise information about the relation between wastage and behavioural
problems, as people whose horse is slaughtered at a young age are more inclined to justify it by a
physical problem than a behavioural one. Various studies on riding horses yielded rather alarming
data in Germany and France: average age of death being 8, 5 years (von Butler and Armbruster,
1984) and 10, 31 years (Ödberg and Bouissou, 1999). Sweden scored better with medians between
14 and 16 years for males (Wallin et al., 2000). However, behavioural problems were never
mentioned explicitly as reason for culling. Twenty-five percent of the horses in the German study
were slaughtered without reason given. One can wonder about the share behavioural problems have
in that group.
The main purpose of schooling is to re-establish equilibrium after the rider’s weight has been added
in such a way that more weight is transferred on the hind legs. The degree of collection needed
depends on the use made of the horse, i.e. from simple hacking to high school. According to
academic principles as settled in the 18th century, this should only be obtained through gradual
gymnastics. However, modern riders all too often recur to coercive methods (Henriquet and
Durand, 1996), a.o. the consistent use of different sorts of drawing reins. According to Karl (2006)
even FEI dressage rules were changed in order to suit growing incompetence. True collection and
lightness is rarely seen. One reason is probably that basic principles of learning theory, which had
been intuitively understood by the old masters, are now seldom applied during schooling.
Presenting animals with unclear or contradictory stimuli leads to chronic stress and eventually
reactions that can be dangerous for the rider and the horse (McGreevy and McLean, 2005). A series
of frequent errors will be reviewed.
Contact information: Frank Ödberg or email frank.odberg@ugent.be or pierardmarc@hotmail.com
Complete address: Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary
Sciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
Species: Horse