Centre for Performance in Equestrian Sport, UWE Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UK

Investigating the perception of horse owners & enthusiasts in relation to the use of the word ‘vice’ to describe stereotypic behaviours displayed by horses.

Greening, L. & Childs, A.

Centre for Performance in Equestrian Sport, UWE Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UK

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Abstract

An online questionnaire was administered via Surveymonkey to determine perceptions and use of terminology associated with equine stereotypic behaviour, comparing horse owners and those that loaned or did not own horses (enthusiasts). In total 215 respondents partook, the majority of which were female horse owners. Respondents who reported loaning horses showed no preference between the terms ‘vice’ and ‘stereotypy’. Horse owners most commonly used the word ‘vice’ but did not make a connection between management and display of such behaviours. The highest proportion of respondents to use the word ‘stereotypy’ were non-owners (57%) and the majority explained that this was either because they had been taught to use this terminology, or they linked the behaviours to management which could be perceived as factors influencing the decision not to use the word ‘vice’. Respondents who had a higher education qualification reported using the word ‘stereotypic’ most regularly (44%) whilst those without this type of qualification reported using a term other than ‘stereotypy’ or ‘vice’ most commonly (36%). Clear themes became apparent behind the explanation of these behaviours, including perceptions and the horse as the cause. Day to day horse owners may benefit from education to help address beliefs that the horse is the cause rather than the environment to help improve the latter and thus welfare of stereotypic horses in the future.

Key words: equine, stereotypic, vice, owner perceptions

Introduction

Traditionally owners have referred to crib-biting, wind sucking, box walking and weaving as ‘vice’ behaviours and perceive these as visually displeasing or problematic, whilst research generally refers to any of these behaviours as stereotypic behaviour (STB). The word ‘vice’ is used to refer to a bad habit or character weakness. The Oxford dictionary specifically defines ‘stable vice’ as a neurotic habit of stabled horses, typically arising from boredom. However there is a general lack of evidence to confirm that the horse is capable of experiencing boredom (Nicol, 1999). Rather than boredom, oral forms of these behaviours are currently thought to manifest due to dysfunction within the central nervous system (CNS), initiated during repeated exposure to environments where the horse is unable to satiate certain biological needs, specifically ingestion (McBride & Hemmings, 2009). Locomotory STB is thought to originate from frustrated attempts to interact with or escape from an environment, but where barriers exist to prevent this (Houpt & McDonnell, 1993; Cooper and Mason, 1998; Nicol, 1999). Originally, stereotypic behaviours were defined in the research literature as; repetitive, invariant in form and appearing to have no obvious function (Mason 1991). Recent research has necessitated a change in this definition to; behaviours induced by frustration, repeated attempts to cope, or CNS dysfunction (Mason, 2006). The most recent definition helps to emphasize the influence that the environment has, specifically domestic management practices, upon the development of stereotypic behaviour. Stereotypic behaviours therefore appear to carry an adaptive function for the domestic horse, although little is known about the extent to which this is currently realised in industry. This study aimed to investigate the general horse owners’ and horse enthusiasts current perception of stereotypic/vice behaviours, and establish frequency and reason for using both terms.

Methods

A questionnaire designed to specifically look at the attitudes shown towards behaviours of the horse and what terminology is commonly used, consisting of fifteen questions, was administered on-line using Surveymonkey. A link to the questionnaire was posted In January 2012 on the following forum sites; Horse & Hound, Horse & Rider, Equine Independent, Horse Network, Why Does My Horse, Horse Chit Chat, and Facebook. The invitation was made out to non-horse and horse owners. Non-horse owners were described as having an interest in horses and preferably riding if not competitively then as a hobby; this group was asked to further describe themselves as either those who loaned horses (horse loaners) and those who did not (non-horse owners). Prior to completing the questionnaire, participants were required to read an information sheet which confirmed anonymity and asked for participants aged 18 or over only. Due to unequal numbers of respondents in the groups horse owner, loaner, and non-owner, responses were determined as proportions within each group. The project received ethical approval from UWE Hartpury College Ethics Committee. Data were analysed descriptively and further analysis followed framework analysis theory.

Results

In total 215 participants responded online between January and February 2012. The highest number of responses came from horse owners (84.25%), compared to horse loaners (9.25%), or those who did not own a horse (non-owners 6.5%). The majority (71%) of respondents were female, 55.5% of which reported using the terms ‘stereotypy’ or ‘other’, similar to the results from male respondents (56.7%). Overall the number of respondents reporting the use of the term ‘vice’ (N=81) was the similar as the number reporting the use of the word ‘stereotypy’ (N=80).

Overall, the majority of respondents (65.6%) were not studying towards a higher education qualification – foundation or honours degree, in an equine related subject (equine-related degree). A higher proportion of respondents with an equine-related degree reported using the term ‘Stereotypic’, compared with the majority of respondents without an equine-related degree who reported using another term (figure *).

Figure * The difference between the proportion of respondents reporting using the terms ‘Vice’, ‘Stereotypic Behaviour’, or ‘Other’ depending upon whether they had achieved or were studying towards a higher education qualification.

Those who reported loaning horses appeared to show no preference between the use of the terms ‘vice’ and ‘stereotypy’ (figure **). The highest proportion of respondents to use the word ‘stereotypy’ were non-horse owners (57.1%) and the highest proportion of respondents to use the word ‘vice’ were horse owners (40.7%). The majority of horse owners did not hold an equine-related degree (69%), compared with just over half of loaners (55%) and just over a third of non-horse owners (38%).

Figure ** The proportion of respondents reporting using the different terms, based upon whether they classed themselves as horse owners, horse loaners, or non-horse owners.

When asked specifically what they thought caused the behaviour or why they used this particular term, the majority of respondents cited management/environmental factors, especially those who reported using the term ‘stereotypy’. However none of the respondents using the word ‘vice’ cited management/environmental factors (table *).

Table * The number of respondents who explained the use of term or the cause of stereotypic behaviour, broken down by the term they cited using.

Using framework analysis to identify main themes and a succession of sub-divided related subtopics, clear categories were visible (table **). The majority of responses were factored towards the respondents perceptions compared with causes of the behaviour, and further subdivision in this category realised a clear emphasis towards the horse as the main causal factor rather than causal factors within the environment.

Table ** Themes and subtopics relating to the use of the terms ‘vice, ‘stereotypy’, and ‘other’.

Discussion

In this study, overall an equal number of respondents reported using the term ‘vice’ or ‘stereotypy’. Only when respondents were split into groups based on whether they had obtained or were studying towards an equine-related degree, or if they were horse owners or enthusiasts, were distinct differences in the use of terminology detected. The proportion of degree respondents using ‘stereotypy’ was similar to the proportion using ‘vice’, but higher than the number of respondents without a degree. During the course of a degree it is highly likely that stereotypic behaviour is covered, however specialist behaviour modules may be optional. Students enrolled on behaviour modules should learn in more detail about these behaviours and will certainly refer to research where the term ‘stereotypy’ is used most frequently. The introduction to a wider range of vocabulary to articulate this type of knowledge may account for the higher proportion of use of ‘stereotypy’ compared with non-degree respondents. Potentially Higher Education Institutes offering equine degrees may wish to consider the impact of using non-scientific terminology such as ‘vice’ especially when students repeat their knowledge in industry.

Interestingly horse owners and loaners reported using the term ‘vice’ most commonly. These are the groups that are in contact with horses on a nearly daily basis and will be responsible for the health and welfare of their horse. Whilst the study did not ascertain whether respondents had British Horse Society (BHS) qualifications it may be assumed that the BHS is considered an industry standard source of knowledge. Within the Horse Owners Certificate level four syllabus, candidates are expected to be able to list common stable vices and their causes, along with possible methods of prevention (BHS, 2010). Within the Stage Three syllabus of the BHS Knowledge and Care qualification, candidates are requested to explain stereotypical behaviour and its consequences, and ways to control this behaviour therefore it may be assumed that horse owners in the current study do not possess this professional industry qualification. A number of lay press magazines also concomitantly refer to stable vices and stereotypical behaviour, for example http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/Stable-vices (2013). Those who reported using the word vice reported this wa because it was a term that was commonly used. Evidence exists to suggest that the most important source of information for horse enthusiasts was other enthusiasts, followed by the vet (Visser & Van Wijk-Jansen, 2012). Recent unpublished undergraduate research also suggests that a number of horse enthusiasts utilise the internet to answer questions and gain knowledge on nutrition, health and welfare. It seems that ‘vice’ is most commonly used in sources accessed by the horse owner and without further guidance or education this becomes the terminology used thus emphasizing the potential lack of owner knowledge in this area. . The use of the term ‘vice’ should be addressed, to help provide an alternative vocabulary with which to help understand these behaviours, ultimately to benefit the horse. This is especially true where behavioural causes were analysed, with the majority of the respondents citing the horse as the problem not the environment or management of it.

The majority of respondents were female which does not follow the UK gender profile of those interested in horse-related activities according to the Henley Report (2004). However in a recent study using an on-line survey to establish the diversity between horse-enthusiasts, a higher proportion of respondents were female. The study went on to identify different groups of horse enthusiast based on the percentage of respondents reporting on time spent per week, emotional attachment and welfare knowledge (Visser & Van Wijk-Jansen, 2012). The cluster with the highest percent in all these aspects also contained the highest number of female respondents suggesting female horse enthusiasts have a greater interest in equine welfare. However in terms of gender there was little difference in the use of ‘vice’ or ‘stereotypy’ in the current study. There is relatively little research to substantiate the concept that human gender influences equine behaviour (Hausberger et al 2008), and now there is evidence that perceptions of equine behaviour do not appear to differ between genders too.

In conclusion, respondents using the term ‘stereotypy’ were typically non-horse owners with an equine-related degree, who explained the cause of these behaviours using management or environmental factors. Respondents using the term ‘vice’ were typically horse-owners without an equine related degree, who failed to acknowledge the environment or management practices as causal factors. More needs to be done to educate owners with the ultimate goal of improving perceptions of and ultimately the welfare of stereotypic horses.