Effect of work on body language of ranch horses in Brazil.
Authors: Trindade Pedro Henrique Esteves, Hartmann Elke, Keeling Linda J, Andersen Pia Haubro, Ferraz Guilherme de Camargo, Paranhos da Costa Mateus José Rodrigues
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Body Language as an Indicator of Physical Fatigue in Working Ranch Horses Monitoring fatigue in working horses typically relies on heart rate, respiratory variables and blood parameters, yet behavioural indicators offer a practical, on-farm alternative that reflects both physical and mental state. Trindade and colleagues assessed fourteen crossbred ranch horses before and after routine work days using detailed behavioural coding alongside physiological measures, employing principal components analysis to identify which body language variables most robustly correlated with workload and fitness indicators. Post-work observations revealed a significant increase in resting behaviours (ear position, eye appearance, posture) and decreased attention-related behaviours and fly-avoidance movements—changes consistent with fatigue, though the authors noted that some indicators (weight shifting, stance alterations) overlapped with pain-related behaviours, suggesting some horses experienced combined fatigue and mild soreness. Weight shifting frequency between the forelegs emerged as the most promising practical indicator due to its ease of assessment in working conditions and potential applicability across diverse equine activities. For practitioners managing ranch horses and other working equines, incorporating simple behavioural observations into routine welfare checks could provide valuable real-time feedback on whether workload is appropriate, though the authors acknowledge that further validation studies are needed before these markers become standardised assessment tools.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Monitor weight-shifting between front legs as a simple on-farm indicator of whether your ranch horses are fatigued after work—increased shifting suggests physical tiredness
- •Be aware that tired horses show more resting behaviors and less alertness; distinguish this from pain-related postures to avoid misinterpreting mild soreness as normal fatigue
- •Use body language assessment alongside workload tracking to optimize work schedules and improve welfare of working ranch horses
Key Findings
- •Post-workday, horses increased resting-type body language and decreased attention-related behaviors and fly-avoidance movements
- •Frequency of weight-shifting between forelegs emerged as a practical, farm-assessable indicator of physical tiredness
- •Some horses showed behavioral signs consistent with combined tiredness and mild soreness after work
- •Body language changes correlate with physiological variables and workload measures on ranch horses