Apr1l
New User
I am currently doing my final year dissertation looking into the affects of heart rate in crib biting horses and whether grooming aims to either reduce or possibly increase heart rate of horses from this caliber. I am aiming to explain the psychological and physiological reasons as to why crib biting occurs.
As such i was wondering if anyone knew or had horses in the Kent or Sussex area that would like to take part anonymously in my study.
Below are the details and hypothesis of my experiment:
Hypothesis: 'Human interaction, in the form of grooming, reduces heart rate with horses that attain stereotypes.
Methodology: Proposed duration for the experiment is estimated at a maximum of 3 hours per horse. One hour for the setup of the experiment, 1 hour for the experiment on the horse and 1 hour to accommodate for set up of the equipment and any issues encountered. All experiments will commence at the same time each day. Ideally, one hour post morning feed. Prior to experiment, horses will be fitted with the polar heart rate transmitter. This will remain attached to the subject through the entire experiment. Horses will remain cross tied for five minutes with a handler present. This time allows the experimenter to ensure the equipment is fully functional and allows the horse to adjust to the notion of being cross tied and wearing the heart rate monitor. A base level heart rate can be recorded.
Horses will experience situation one. This situation observes subjects normal behaviour. Horses will have head collars removed and left to perform normal behaviour. Experimenter will vacate the immediate area to prevent becoming an extraneous variable. Focal and digital observation will occur for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes. However, only measurements of when the horse was performing stereotype will be recorded. Therefore, duration of this situation may be extended in order to collect stereotypical heart rate.
Subjects will then commence situation two. This situation aims to examine the effects of preventing stereotype has on heart rate. Horses will be cross tied in the centre of the stable to ensure horses cannot make contact with stable fixtures to perform stereotype. Handlers will vacate the area and observe behaviour for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes to provide an average result.
Horses will then enter situation three. This situation aims to examine whether grooming can have the same calming effect on stereotypic horses when stereotype cannot be performed. Horses will be cross tied within the stable and prevented from making contact with stable environment. Subject will be groomed using a body brush and mane and tail comb, hoof pick and rubber curry comb. Grooming sequence will follow BHS description of quartering. Grooming will last for 15 minutes . Throughout this duration, heart rate will be noted every 3 minutes. Observation of grooming will also take place from a secondary experimenter.
Lastly, horses will enter situation four. This situation examines the effect grooming has on behaviour when horses can perform stereotype. Horses will be singularly tied in the normal area of the stable. Same experimenter will perform the same grooming sequence for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes to establish an average heart rate for each situation.
If anyone could help by volunteering or suggesting anyone with crib biting horses, that would be great.
Thank you for reading
As such i was wondering if anyone knew or had horses in the Kent or Sussex area that would like to take part anonymously in my study.
Below are the details and hypothesis of my experiment:
Hypothesis: 'Human interaction, in the form of grooming, reduces heart rate with horses that attain stereotypes.
Methodology: Proposed duration for the experiment is estimated at a maximum of 3 hours per horse. One hour for the setup of the experiment, 1 hour for the experiment on the horse and 1 hour to accommodate for set up of the equipment and any issues encountered. All experiments will commence at the same time each day. Ideally, one hour post morning feed. Prior to experiment, horses will be fitted with the polar heart rate transmitter. This will remain attached to the subject through the entire experiment. Horses will remain cross tied for five minutes with a handler present. This time allows the experimenter to ensure the equipment is fully functional and allows the horse to adjust to the notion of being cross tied and wearing the heart rate monitor. A base level heart rate can be recorded.
Horses will experience situation one. This situation observes subjects normal behaviour. Horses will have head collars removed and left to perform normal behaviour. Experimenter will vacate the immediate area to prevent becoming an extraneous variable. Focal and digital observation will occur for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes. However, only measurements of when the horse was performing stereotype will be recorded. Therefore, duration of this situation may be extended in order to collect stereotypical heart rate.
Subjects will then commence situation two. This situation aims to examine the effects of preventing stereotype has on heart rate. Horses will be cross tied in the centre of the stable to ensure horses cannot make contact with stable fixtures to perform stereotype. Handlers will vacate the area and observe behaviour for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes to provide an average result.
Horses will then enter situation three. This situation aims to examine whether grooming can have the same calming effect on stereotypic horses when stereotype cannot be performed. Horses will be cross tied within the stable and prevented from making contact with stable environment. Subject will be groomed using a body brush and mane and tail comb, hoof pick and rubber curry comb. Grooming sequence will follow BHS description of quartering. Grooming will last for 15 minutes . Throughout this duration, heart rate will be noted every 3 minutes. Observation of grooming will also take place from a secondary experimenter.
Lastly, horses will enter situation four. This situation examines the effect grooming has on behaviour when horses can perform stereotype. Horses will be singularly tied in the normal area of the stable. Same experimenter will perform the same grooming sequence for fifteen minutes. Heart rate will be recorded every three minutes to establish an average heart rate for each situation.
If anyone could help by volunteering or suggesting anyone with crib biting horses, that would be great.
Thank you for reading
