Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect
Despite welfare concerns, conflict behaviours (indicative of momentary states of acute stress) are common in horses during dressage competitions. Identifying factors that affect conflict behaviours during competition therefore has the potential to improve equine welfare. The aim of this exploratory...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1782 |
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| author | Rifka Faithfull Kate Lewis Emily Drury Sebastian McBride |
| author_facet | Rifka Faithfull Kate Lewis Emily Drury Sebastian McBride |
| author_sort | Rifka Faithfull |
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| description | Despite welfare concerns, conflict behaviours (indicative of momentary states of acute stress) are common in horses during dressage competitions. Identifying factors that affect conflict behaviours during competition therefore has the potential to improve equine welfare. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the effect of bridle type (double versus snaffle) in relation to other potential affecting factors (e.g., average head angle, competition level and type, tack variation) on conflict behaviours during dressage competition. An ethogram was created to analyse the conflict behaviour of horses (<i>n</i> = 135) at dressage competitions. Behaviours were reduced into nine components using principal component analysis. The effects of bridle type and its interaction with other additional factors (competition level, competition type, average head angle) on component scores were analysed using multilevel Bayesian regression models. The results demonstrated a multifaceted interaction between bridle type, inferred rider skill level, and ridden head angle. The results also demonstrated that during dressage tests, 100% of horses performed the conflict behaviours of mouth opening and 86.7% of horses performed tail swishing. The ethological and welfare implications of these findings are discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07e8816694f540f59feca2ae5c8d7725 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-07e8816694f540f59feca2ae5c8d77252025-08-20T03:32:26ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011512178210.3390/ani15121782Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their EffectRifka Faithfull0Kate Lewis1Emily Drury2Sebastian McBride3Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3FG, UKCentre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DY, UKSchool of Veterinary Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3AH, UKDepartment of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3FG, UKDespite welfare concerns, conflict behaviours (indicative of momentary states of acute stress) are common in horses during dressage competitions. Identifying factors that affect conflict behaviours during competition therefore has the potential to improve equine welfare. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the effect of bridle type (double versus snaffle) in relation to other potential affecting factors (e.g., average head angle, competition level and type, tack variation) on conflict behaviours during dressage competition. An ethogram was created to analyse the conflict behaviour of horses (<i>n</i> = 135) at dressage competitions. Behaviours were reduced into nine components using principal component analysis. The effects of bridle type and its interaction with other additional factors (competition level, competition type, average head angle) on component scores were analysed using multilevel Bayesian regression models. The results demonstrated a multifaceted interaction between bridle type, inferred rider skill level, and ridden head angle. The results also demonstrated that during dressage tests, 100% of horses performed the conflict behaviours of mouth opening and 86.7% of horses performed tail swishing. The ethological and welfare implications of these findings are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1782horseconflict behavioursbridlerider experiencecompetitiontack |
| spellingShingle | Rifka Faithfull Kate Lewis Emily Drury Sebastian McBride Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect Animals horse conflict behaviours bridle rider experience competition tack |
| title | Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect |
| title_full | Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect |
| title_fullStr | Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect |
| title_short | Influences of Double Versus Snaffle Bridles on Equine Behaviour at Dressage Competitions and Factors That Interact with Their Effect |
| title_sort | influences of double versus snaffle bridles on equine behaviour at dressage competitions and factors that interact with their effect |
| topic | horse conflict behaviours bridle rider experience competition tack |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1782 |
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