Researchers Study Horses’ Startle Response to Novel Objects

One of the most consistent indicators of equine temperament is a horse’s novelty response, researchers say.
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"He has a great temperament." You might have heard an owner or trainer say these words when describing a horse, but how do we really define temperament?

According to Jeannine Berger, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in California, one of the most useful and consistent indicators of equine temperament is a horse’s novelty response, or how he handles or copes with new objects or situations. She presented the results of a recent novelty response study she and colleagues conducted on adult horses at the 9th Annual International Society for Equitation Science, held July 18-20 at the University of Delaware, in Newark.

"Studying temperament—including one of its key components, response to novelty—has an important impact on equine welfare and the human-horse relationship," Berger said.

She explained that horses commonly display a startle response when faced with novel objects. "Horses that detect a novel object may startle and flee from it, then avoid it, ignore it, and approach it. The most reactive individuals—those most likely to startle—are those most likely to investigate (the object) if not forced." This contradictory behavior is what researchers call the "novelty paradox," which Berger took into account while performing her research

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Alexandra Beckstett, a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding. After graduating from Duke University, she joined Blood-Horse Publications as assistant editor of its book division, Eclipse Press, before joining The Horse. She was the managing editor of The Horse for nearly 14 years and is now editorial director of EquiManagement and My New Horse, sister publications of The Horse.

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