An attempt to define suitability of horses for leisure on the basis of riders evaluation and observation of selected stable behaviour

KAROLINA SARZYŃSKA

Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

MONIKA PRZETACZNIK

Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

MONIKA ZASTRZEŻYŃSKA

Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

IZABELA WILK

Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

IWONA JANCZAREK

Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin



Abstract

The aim of the study was to design a method for assessing the suitability of horses for leisure. The study involved 12 leisure horses, for which their stable behaviour was explored three times on the basis of five features described by the authors’ selected ethograms. Using the method of a questionnaire, the riders’ opinions were also consulted to learn about the safety during standard activities connected with horses and horse riding. The task of the riders was also to determine the importance of the earlier mentioned security during the activities which were analyzed. Then a draft method was presented of assessing the suitability of horses for leisure based on selected stable behaviours. After analyzing the results, it was stated that the most favorable behaviour of horses occurs when they are taken from the stables and during the stable silence. The problems, however, usually appeared during the basic care and feeding. The analysis of the results of the survey conducted among the riders indicates the need for the establishment of compulsory assessment of a variety of behavioural responses of horses. In this evaluation the priority feature should be the characteristics of their behaviour during grooming and hooves cleaning, which, under the previously adopted guidelines, has been selected as a key in the way suitability of horses for leisure is assessed.

Keywords:

horses, leisure, behaviour, way of evaluation

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Published
2016-11-22



KAROLINA SARZYŃSKA 
Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
MONIKA PRZETACZNIK 
Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
MONIKA ZASTRZEŻYŃSKA 
Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
IZABELA WILK 
Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
IWONA JANCZAREK 
Katedra Hodowli i Użytkowania Koni, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin



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From 2022 articles are made available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). Articles published before 2022 are available under Creative Commons Attribution – Non-commercial use – No derivative works  4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

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