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The effect of blindfolding horses on heart rate and behaviour during handling and loading onto transport vehicles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

R Parker ,
R Watson ,
E Wells ,
SN Brown ,
CJ Nicol  and
TG Knowles
R Parker
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
R Watson
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
E Wells
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
SN Brown
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
CJ Nicol
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
TG Knowles*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: toby.knowles@bris.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Blindfolding is routinely used to aid the handling and loading of horses that are difficult to control. Fifteen relatively well-behaved horses of varying ages and disciplines were used to investigate the effects of blinkering and blindfolding on behaviour and heart rate in three situations: whilst stabled, when being led in a ménage, and during loading onto a lorry. Heart rate increased in all three situations when a blindfold was used, and when animals were handled by the least experienced of three handlers. The effects of blinkering on heart rate and behaviour were small compared with blindfolding. Overall, blindfolding appeared to make the horses more nervous and difficult to handle. However, the study does not discount the practical application that blindfolding may have for improving welfare and safety when handling certain individual horses. This work forms the basis for further studies involving animals less accustomed or disposed to being handled.

Keywords

animal welfareblindfoldblinkerhandling horseloadingtransport
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 2004 , pp. 433 - 437
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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