Sciences Shorts
Stable Vices : A Measure of Poor Welfare ?
The daily activity pattern of our tame or domestic horse is considerably different than its wild counterpart. Our current practices, including the social groupings, feeding schedules and housing, have dramatically altered the frequency and diversity of behaviours we observe in stable horses compared to feral horses.
Many horses, in both pleasure and performance industries, spend the majority of their time in individual stalls. They have limited opportunity to interact with another horse and little chance to graze. In the absence of these naturally occurring behaviours, many horses will perform “stable vices”, also known as stereotypies.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
A great deal of work has been carried out on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, both in animals and people, such that it is arguably beyond question that individuals of any animal species can be affected by PTSD.
Unlike ordinary stress, the effects of which tend to disappear reasonably quickly once the stressor(s) are removed PTSD has a long term impact. We might suppose that, while it would be common for horses to come under stress as a result of management and training, the level of such stress would not generally be considered traumatic.
But this supposition is perhaps not as safe as might be thought. For it is not necessarily the level of stress that is critical, but the conditions under which the stress occurs and the precise nature of the stressor(s).
Can animals really smell fear ?
Many people have backed away from an overeager German Shepherd at one time or another, convinced it was their own scent that riled him up. "He smells your fear," the proud owner will say, standing calmly next to those sharp, glistening teeth.
But how accurate is this statement?
Can animals really smell fear?
