Training young horses to social separation: effect of a companion horse on training efficiency.
Authors: Hartmann E, Christensen J W, Keeling L J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Hartmann, Christensen & Keeling (2011) investigated whether training young horses with a companion during initial separation habituation could reduce stress responses and expedite the learning process compared to individual training from the outset. Using 32 young mares divided into two groups, researchers exposed horses to three progressive separation steps culminating in calm feeding alone in a test arena; one group trained individually from start (S1), whilst the other trained initially as pairs (P2) before progressing to individual training (P1). Although paired training produced significantly lower heart rates during the collaborative phase, this physiological advantage did not translate into faster habituation once horses transitioned to solo work—P1 horses ultimately showed no improvement over S1 controls, suggesting they had to relearn the test situation independently despite prior exposure. Heart rate elevation during the P1 phase indicated that horses trained in pairs had not consolidated the behavioural response to the training location itself, but rather to the reassuring presence of their companion. For practitioners, this finding challenges the intuitive approach of using companion horses as a training aid for separation habituation in naive young stock, as the apparent stress reduction may mask incomplete learning and merely postpone the necessary individual habituation process.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Training young horses to accept separation using a companion initially is not more efficient than training alone from the start, as horses must relearn the task when transitioned to individual training
- •While paired training reduces immediate stress responses (lower heart rate), this benefit is lost when horses must work alone, making single-horse training from the outset a more practical approach
- •Handler safety and efficiency are best served by habituating young horses to separation individually rather than attempting a graduated companion-assisted approach that requires retraining
Key Findings
- •Horses trained initially with a companion showed no significant difference in final separation responses compared to horses trained alone from the start (S1 vs P1)
- •Heart rate was significantly lower during pair training (P2) compared to subsequent individual training (P1) in the same horses, indicating relearning required when switching from paired to solo training
- •Initial pair-training did not reduce stress responses when horses were subsequently trained alone, suggesting habituation does not transfer from paired to individual contexts