Interest in Humans: Comparisons between Riding School Lesson Equids and Assisted-Intervention Equids.
Authors: Lerch Noémie, Cirulli Francesca, Rochais Céline, Lesimple Clémence, Guilbaud Estelle, Contalbrigo Laura, Borgi Marta, Grandgeorge Marine, Hausberger Martine
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Interest in Human Interaction—Comparing Riding School and Assisted-Intervention Populations Equine-assisted interventions (EAI) have expanded considerably, yet little empirical evidence exists regarding how this work affects horses' and ponies' social perception of humans. Researchers assessed 172 equids across 12 riding centres using a standardised motionless person test, stratifying the population into three groups: pure riding school (n=95), pure EAI (n=17), and combined EAI-riding school work (n=60), whilst recording age, sex, housing, and feeding conditions. Riding school equids demonstrated significantly more interactive behaviours towards the experimenter than EAI-only animals (p=0.039) and combined-work animals (p<0.001), with daily hay provision above 3 kg emerging as the second most influential factor; additionally, horses outperformed ponies, geldings showed greater engagement than mares, and animals aged 3–15 years proved more interactive than those over 15 years old. The reduced interactivity observed in EAI-only populations raises important questions about whether differences stem from selective breeding for calm temperament, specific training protocols, or potentially compromised welfare states manifesting as learned apathy—distinctions that have meaningful implications for how EAI programmes select, train, and monitor their equine populations. Given the welfare and ethical dimensions of EAI work, these findings warrant further investigation into the mechanisms driving altered human-directed behaviour and closer scrutiny of individual equid suitability for this specialist work.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •EAI programs should monitor whether reduced human-directed behaviours in program equids reflects intentional selection/training or declining welfare—apathy is a welfare concern requiring investigation
- •Ensure EAI equids receive adequate forage (>3kg daily hay) as nutrition correlates with interactive engagement; welfare protocols should prioritize this baseline
- •Consider equid age and type when selecting or assessing animals for EAI work; older animals (>15 years) and ponies show naturally lower interaction levels independent of work type
Key Findings
- •Riding school equids performed significantly more interactive behaviours toward humans than equine-assisted intervention equids (p=0.039) and combined EAI-RS equids (p<0.001)
- •Daily hay intake >3kg was associated with increased interactive behaviours compared to <3kg (p=0.013)
- •Horses showed more interactive behaviours than ponies (p=0.009), geldings more than mares (p=0.032), and equids aged 3-15 years more than those over 15 years (p=0.032)
- •Lower interactive behaviours in EAI equids raise questions about temperament selection, specific training effects, or compromised welfare status