Horse Psychology Project - Your Help Needed

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magicofhorses

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Hi there - my name's Ross Copland and I was hoping this fantastic forum might be able to help me with my psychology project. I have worked with horses for about 6 years now, and in preparation for my uni degree, I'm conducting my own psychology project. I have already given this anonymous questionnaire out to my local livery yards and horse colleges and have had a fantastic response (238 samples so far), but was hoping that you could spare a few minutes to answer my questions. I'm investigating whether the level of turnout a horse receives affects their behavior in other everyday situations; I apologize for the layout of these questions - but other forums have found this the easiest format so far.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT - HOPEFULLY THESE RESULTS CAN BE PUBLISHED AND HELP HORSE OWNERS EVERYWHERE

SEE BELOW FOR QUESTIONS AND EXAMPLE ANSWERS, THANKS

Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

A) On Turnout 24/7
B) Stabled During the Day
C) Stabled during the night
D) Stabled 24/7
Ei) Seasonal Turnout (eg: In at night in the Winter)
Eii) Other (please describe)

Your response (example)

1. A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS RELY ON A SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED BELOW

1) Very Bad
2) Bad
3) Neither Good nor Bad
4) Good
5) Very Good
6) N/A

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet?
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier?
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist?
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip?
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch?
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead?
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on?
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)?
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up?
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack?
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading?
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling?
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm?
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up?
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up?
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting?
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone?
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company?
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out?
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school?
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads?
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)?
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects?

Thank-you very much.

Note:

I am aware of the subjective nature of this study, however I aim to collect at least 300 samples to try and find a pattern of behaviour. Some points have been mentioned to me such as I need another question adding hacking alone/in company. All opinions are appreciated and will be placed in my evaluation. Where 2 answers for one question are given, a score of 0 is recorded.

The questionnaire works on a scoring system (eg: 1 point for 1, 2 for 2 ... 0 for 6) and an average score is calculated based on the no. of questions answered to eradicate the need to compare horses age and experiences.

I aim to collect as many samples as possible to ease the problem of behaviour and experience linked to age/breed etc... in paticular I need those who keep their horses in 24/7 - if anyone knows of a good forum for that I would be extremely greatful.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOUR EFFORTS ARE FULLY APPRECIATED!!!

R Copland
 
[ QUOTE ]

Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

A) On Turnout 24/7
B) Stabled During the Day
C) Stabled during the night
D) Stabled 24/7
Ei) Seasonal Turnout (eg: In at night in the Winter)
Eii) Other (please describe)

Your response (example)

1. A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS RELY ON A SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED BELOW

1) Very Bad
2) Bad
3) Neither Good nor Bad
4) Good
5) Very Good
6) N/A

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet?
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier?
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist?
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip?
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch?
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead?
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on?
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)?
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up?
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack?
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading?
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling?
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm?
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up?
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up?
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting?
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone?
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company?
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out?
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school?
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads?
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)?
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects?



[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Dubai and my 3 horses are stabled 24/7, they rarely get turned out and if they do, it is into a sand paddock for as long as it takes them to roll. 2 of them have been doing this for 4 years and 1 for the past 3 years. I will give you my answers for all three horses together. If the answer is the same for all three, then I will only give 1 if any are different I will give 2 or 3 different answers. (hope that makes sense)

Q.2 - 5
Q.3 - 5
Q.4 - 5
Q.5 - 5 (x2) - 2
Q.6 - 5
Q.7 - 5
Q.8 - 5
Q.9 - 5
Q.10 - 5
Q.11 - 5
Q.12 - 5
Q.13 - 5
Q.14 - 5
Q.15 - 5
Q.16 - 5 (x2) - 2
Q.17 - 5
Q.18 - 5
Q.19 - 5
Q.20 - 5
Q.21 - 5
Q.22 - 6 (don't ever ride on the roads)
Q.23 - 5 (don't get much rain, but they are good in sand storms)
Q.24 - 5

Hope that helps

grin.gif
grin.gif


Edited to add - it is the same horse that answered 2 for Q 5 and 16
 
Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

A) On Turnout 24/7 - Mar/Apr to Nov/Dec

C) Stabled during the night Nov/Dec - Mar/Apr

Ei) Seasonal Turnout (eg: In at night in the Winter)


Your response (example)

1. A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS RELY ON A SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED BELOW

1) Very Bad
2) Bad
3) Neither Good nor Bad
4) Good
5) Very Good
6) N/A

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet? 3) for 2 4) for 1
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier? 4) all 3
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist? 4) all 3
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip? only 1 clipped 3)
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch? 5) all 3
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead? 4) all 3
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on? 5) all 3
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)? 5) all 3
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up? 5) only 1
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack? 5)
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading? 5) all 3
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling? 5) all 3
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm? 5) all 3
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up? 5) all 3
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up? 4) only 1
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting? 5)
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone? 3)
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company? 4)
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out? 4)
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school? 5)
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads? 4)
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)? 4)
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects? 2) for 1 the other 2 are babies but would give them a 3) as they will overcome their worries if you are confident with them

Out of interest what further research has been done if any on the lack of sunlight ie SAD on other mamals like horses. I know someone who is still turning out at night & bringing in during the day & I am sure I read some while back that horses like humans can suffer from the lack of daylight.
 
Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

C) Stabled during the night

Q.2 5
Q.3 5
Q.4 2
Q.5 3
Q.6 5
Q.7 5
Q.8 5
Q.9 5
Q.10 5
Q.11 5
Q.12 5
Q.13 3
Q.14 2
Q.15 5
Q.16 5
Q.17 5
Q.18 5
Q.19 5
Q.20 4
Q.21 4
Q.22 4
Q.23 4
Q.24 3
 
This sounds interesting - will fill in later - but it occurs to me: if you want to explore the links between behaviour issues and breed/age would it not be good to have a preliminary question asking for the horse's breed and age?
 
SEE BELOW FOR QUESTIONS AND EXAMPLE ANSWERS, THANKS

Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

A) On Turnout 24/7

1. A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS RELY ON A SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED BELOW

1) Very Bad
2) Bad
3) Neither Good nor Bad
4) Good
5) Very Good
6) N/A

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet? 4
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier? 5
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist? 2
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip? 4
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch? 5
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead? 4
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on? 5
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)? 5
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up? 4
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack? 5
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading 4
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling? 5
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm? 4
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up? 3
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up? 5
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting? 5
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone? 4
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company? 5
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out? 4
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school? 4
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads? 3
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather 4 (eg: wind/rain)?
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects? 3
 
Have I done my original one right??
Oh well here it is again just in case!

Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

Eii) Other (please describe) Mainly stabled with a few hours turnout a few times a week.


THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS RELY ON A SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED BELOW

1) Very Bad
2) Bad
3) Neither Good nor Bad
4) Good
5) Very Good
6) N/A

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet? - 5
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier? - 5
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist? - 5
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip -5
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch? - 5
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead? - 5
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on? - 5
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)? -5
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up? - 5
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack? - 5
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading? -5
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling? -5
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm? -4
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up? -5
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up? -5
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting? -5
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone? - 5
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company? -5
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out? - 3
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school? - 5
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads? - 3
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)? - 3
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects? - 3
 
Wow - thanks for everybody's help and taking the time to complete my questionnaire - about the age/breed thing. Unfortunately I was working to the keep things simple rule, if I started asking about age/breed, I could ask about a whole no. of q's like eventer/show jumper/driving, what are you feeding your horse etc... and never be able to focus on my original question.

To combat the age gap I use a scoring system based on averages (half explained in the competion forum) to eliminate any bias due to lack of experience/working role.

Hope that makes enough sense - feel free to ask me more questions if I haven't explained myself well enough - oh and as for the sunlight thing I'm not sure, but will have to look into it

THANKS for everybody's time and effort - results will be posted in Jan hopefully

R Copland
 

Q1. = Ei

Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet? =4
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier? =5
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist? =5
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip? =3
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch? =5
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead? =5
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on? =5
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)? = 5
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up? = 5
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack? =5
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading? =2
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling? =3
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm? = 5
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up? =5
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up? =5
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting? =5
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone? =4
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company? =5
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out? =3
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school? =5
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads? =3
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)? =4
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects? =4
 
1 c

and for all the behavioral questions 6...

This mare can be kept either in or out or part in or out, with NO CHANGE in whatever. Her character, rank (low) and the confidence in humans me makes her a willing horse even in brutal circumstances (which she has unfortunbately been through). Her daughter is kept out 24/7 and can't be tested on everything (still a yearling) but will probably get the full score also.

They are kept on a stud where most horses are kept out 24/7, among them will be very different scores. Some are simply confident horses and others aren't. This has a lot more to do with the handling when they were young, and their rank in the herd, than how they are kept. We are talking about situations of interaction with humans. If they haven't learned to trust humans, any horse will be difficult and spooky. Also, a horse that is high in rank might fight the rider/handler more than a horse low in rank.
I hope you consider this in your study.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have one on box rest - not the usual scheme so shall I do it for now or how she is usually kept?

[/ QUOTE ]

hi sorry about reply - just got back from a feeding course - learnt so much! Could I have it for how she is usually kept please, as I assume for the majority of her life she is not on box rest

Hope that helps, thanks for your helping

Ross
 
Q.1 Which Category does your horse fit into?

A) On Turnout 24/7
B) Stabled During the Day
C) Stabled during the night
D) Stabled 24/7
Ei) Seasonal Turnout (eg: In at night in the Winter) <font color="blue"> Ei In at night in winter, in during the day in summer </font>
Eii) Other (please describe)




Q.2 How Good is your horse for the vet? <font color="blue">3 </font>
Q.3 How Good is your horse for the farrier? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.4 How Good is your horse for the dentist? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.5 How Good is your horse to clip? <font color="blue"> 2 Sedation and twitch required </font>
Q.6 How Good is your horse to catch? <font color="blue">3 </font>
Q.7 How Good is your horse to lead? <font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.8 How Good is your horse to put rugs on? <font color="blue"> 4 Periodically shes scared of them</font>
Q.9 How Good is your horse to groom (incld. picking out feet)? <font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.10 How Good is your horse to tack-up? <font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.11 How Good is your horse to un-tack? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.12 How Good is your horse when loading? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.13 How Good is your horse when traveling? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.14 How Good is your horse to worm? <font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.15 How Good is your horse to leave tied-up? <font color="blue"> 5</font>
Q.16 How Good is your horse when mounting up? <font color="blue">5 </font>
Q.17 How Good is your horse when dismounting? <font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.18 How Good is your horse when riding alone?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.19 How Good is your horse when riding with company?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.20 How Good is your horse when hacking out?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.21 How Good is your horse when working in the school?<font color="blue"> 4 </font>
Q.22 How Good is your horse when riding on the roads?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.23 How Good is your horse when riding in poor weather (eg: wind/rain)?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>
Q.24 How Good is your horse when dealing with new/spooky objects?<font color="blue"> 5 </font>

Hope this helps!!
 
I have 9 aged 8 mths to 29 years. As you say it is a bit subjective, but all mine get seasonal turnout and all have company. I have nine in three fields.

I don't have major behavioural problems with any. All are at least good with all aspects of survey. I have bought three horses who would not go out alone when they arrived but do now.

I don't reckon to have problems with any of the unbacked horses I have here - we take it all very slowly and use older horses as schoolmasters.

Two broken horses are not 100% in traffic but that is down to lack of experience. Here we have narrow roads and very little traffic my last home was beside a busy main road with lots of HGV.s.
 
I have 9 aged 8 mths to 29 years. As you say it is a bit subjective, but all mine get seasonal turnout and all have company. I have nine in three fields.

I don't have major behavioural problems with any. All are at least good with all aspects of survey. I have bought three horses who would not go out alone when they arrived but do now.

I don't reckon to have problems with any of the unbacked horses I have here - we take it all very slowly and use older horses as schoolmasters.
 
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