Social License to Operate-Why Public Perception Matters for Horse Sport-Some Personal Reflections.

What is a social license to operate (SLO)? Why would this concept matter for horse sport? In perhaps its simplest form, "social license to operate" is the public's perception of an industry or activity. It is a challenging concept to fully grasp because it does not arrive as a document given by a government agency. Yet it is every bit as important-perhaps more so.

Judgement Bias in Miniature Donkeys: Conditioning Factors and Personality Links.

Expectation-related bias may configure individuals' perception of their surrounding environment and of the elements present in it. This study aimed to determine the repercussions of environmental (weather elements) or subject-inherent factors (sex, age, or personality features) on judgment bias. A cognitive bias test was performed in eight Miniature jennies and four jacks.

Perceptions of Whether Stereotypic Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds are Harder to Rehome Than Nonstereotypic OTTBs-A Pilot Survey Study.

Several studies have indicated higher incidence of stereotypic behaviors (STBs) in Thoroughbreds. The aftercare of Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) has received increased attention in the last decade; however, research on the impact of STBs on placement of OTTBs after their racing career is limited. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) accredits centers throughout North America that work to rehome OTTBs in a safe, welfare-friendly manner.

Comparing and Contrasting Knowledge on Mules and Hinnies as a Tool to Comprehend Their Behavior and Improve Their Welfare.

Mules and hinnies are the hybrids between donkeys () and horses (). For centuries, mankind has used them for agrarian purposes, the military, or recreation. Contrasting literature with behavioral observations, we seek a better behavioral understanding andthus comprehensive solutions for their welfare enhancement.

Is there evidence of learned helplessness in horses?

Learned helplessness is a psychological condition whereby individuals learn that they have no control over unpleasant or harmful conditions, that their actions are futile, and that they are helpless. In a series of experiments in which dogs were exposed to inescapable shocks, this lack of control subsequently interfered with the ability to learn an avoidance task. There is evidence that both neural adaptations and behavioral despair occur in response to uncontrollable aversive experiences in rodents, although this has yet to be demonstrated in other species such as horses.

Evaluating the addition of positive reinforcement for learning a frightening task: a pilot study with horses.

Horse training often relies upon negative reinforcement (NR). This study tested the hypothesis that adding positive reinforcement (PR) to NR would enhance learning in horses (n = 34) being taught to walk over a tarp (novel/typically frightening task). Subjects were Arabians, and the same person handled all of them.

Effects of a therapeutic riding program on at-risk and special education children.

Objective: To determine the effects of a therapeutic riding program on psychosocial measurements among children considered at risk for poor performance or failure in school or life and among children in special education programs.

Design: Observational study.

Population: 17 at-risk children (6 boys and 11 girls) and 14 special education children (7 boys and 7 girls).

Stress-related behaviors among horses used in a therapeutic riding program.

Objective: To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps.

Design: Observational study.

Animals: 14 horses in a therapeutic riding program.

Results of a national survey of US veterinary college faculty regarding attitudes toward farm animal welfare.

Objective: To examine attitudes toward farm animal welfare among veterinary college faculty.

Design: E-mail survey.

Study Population: 157 US veterinary college faculty with large animal or food animal emphasis.