Equestrian Hearing Welfare Questionnaire - Student Survey

[Beetle-Persona]

Hi

I'm a final year Equestrian Science student writing my dissertation on equine behaviour in response to auditory stimuli in their surroundings.

For example many of us use music in stabling in proximity of our horses for both our entertainment and that of the horse, but what are the effects of such music? can it cause reactions that can be seen as undesirable or actually desirable?

Despite playing music around horses being an common act, limited research surrounding such topics exist. Houpt et, al 2000. preliminary findings suggested the usage of classical and country music encouraged more natural behaviours while separated from a partner.
Research from Hartman & Greening, 2019 investigated the usage of classical music in assisting passive behaviour and REM sleep in horses stabled overnight and their findings strongly suggested such usage of classical auditory stimuli had an significant role in reducing stress in horses nocturnal behaviours.

As such I'm conducting my dissertation into investigating how the lifestyle choices of owners in exposing horses to auditory stimuli in stables could positively or negatively affect their behaviour.

The survey is simple and asks of what you do with your horses, if you play music or not around them, what kind of music do you use and your opinion and reasoning on using music in training for example. There are no wrong answers so please answer truthfully.

In regards to "Musical Equipment" mentioned within the survey, it relates to any device you possess that can play music.

https://forms.gle/xbYUTuTwxGKiL8Wn7

Feel free to ask any questions about the survey or research involving music and horses.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

There is no way to complete it if you put no at the beginning, as later it asks what genre and no box to say 'none'
Sorry, can't complete unless I say I do play music, which I don't....

 

[Beetle-Persona]

There is no way to complete it if you put no at the beginning, as later it asks what genre and no box to say 'none'
Sorry, can't complete unless I say I do play music, which I don't....

No Worries, I've adjusted the survey to make that question optional now.

 

[ycbm]

I can't complete it, the answer to this question is mandatory but I don't play music to my horses so I can't answer it.

How do think your horse reacts to musical stimulation being introduced? *

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I can't complete it, the answer to this question is mandatory but I don't play music to my horses so I can't answer it.

How do think your horse reacts to musical stimulation being introduced? *

Yup, that one too.

OP, I tried again, still cannot complete as its geared to music ..... no option to put 'I dont play music" for this question....

 

[I'm Dun]

You need to pull this and rework it. you cant answer it if you dont play music and that means any results so far are heavily biased.

 

[HashRouge]

I also think the survey could do with some alterations - i.e. what about people who work with horses (the survey seems to specifically target leisure owners). My only experience of music being played for significant periods of time on yards has been professional set ups. When I worked as a groom we had the radio on from 7.30am to 5pm. But as a leisure owner, I don't really play music round my horses.

 

[Beetle-Persona]

I can't complete it, the answer to this question is mandatory but I don't play music to my horses so I can't answer it.

How do think your horse reacts to musical stimulation being introduced? *

This question doesn't relate to you individually playing music to the horse in the stable but auditory stimulation in general from any source (Passers-by, other members of stables, shows etc.)

For example if your horses responses in an undesirable manner to such auditory stimuli, in the follow up questions discussing your opinion of the usage of music in stables/training you would then give you reasoning perhaps stating that past issues involuting your horse are why you disagree with music being used.

 

[HashRouge]

This question doesn't relate to you individually playing music to the horse in the stable but auditory stimulation in general from any source (Passers-by, other members of stables, shows etc.)

For example if your horses responses in an undesirable manner to such auditory stimuli, in the follow up questions discussing your opinion of the usage of music in stables/training you would then give you reasoning perhaps stating that past issues involuting your horse are why you disagree with music being used.

That's not how the question reads. If that's what is intended, I think you need to make it clearer.

 

[ycbm]

This question doesn't relate to you individually playing music to the horse in the stable but auditory stimulation in general from any source (Passers-by, other members of stables, shows etc.)

For example if your horses responses in an undesirable manner to such auditory stimuli, in the follow up questions discussing your opinion of the usage of music in stables/training you would then give you reasoning perhaps stating that past issues involuting your horse are why you disagree with music being used.

It's not how it reads and it's an impossible question to answer if that's what you meant.

My horse would react badly to the sound of barking dogs because he's not used to dogs, but you could fire a gun close by and he'd barely react because he lives near a shooting moor.

If you mean noise in general, that is far too horse specific for you to obtain any meaningful answers.
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