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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Development and Validation of a Test for the Classification of Horses as Broken or Unbroken
Animals, Vol.11(8), pp.1-20
04/08/2021
PMCID: PMC8388372
PMID: 34438758
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Abstract
Regulation EC 1/2005 has stricter rules for transportation of unbroken (untamed) vs. broken (tamed) horses, but does not provide adequate tools for their identification. This study aimed to develop and validate such a tool. A behavioural test (Broken/Unbroken Test (BUT)) based on approaching, haltering, and leading was applied to 100 horses. Physiological and additional behavioural data were also collected, and the horses' status (broken/unbroken) was assessed by the expert who administered the BUT. Each horse's behaviour during the BUT was scored by four trained observers blinded to the horse's history. The BUT score showed excellent inter-observer, intra-observer, and test-retest reliability (all intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > 0.75). It was also negatively associated with respiratory rate, avoidance distance, and time needed to approach, halter, and lead the horse (p < 0.05 for all). The optimal BUT score cut-off for discrimination between broken and unbroken horses (gold standard: expert judgment) showed 97.8% sensitivity and 97.3% specificity. There was almost perfect agreement between BUT-based and expert classification of horses (ICC = 0.940). These findings confirm the BUT's construct and criterion validity. The BUT could provide officials with a feasible, reliable, and valid tool to identify a horse's broken/unbroken status and, consequently, direct stakeholders towards correct transport procedures.
Details
- Title
- Development and Validation of a Test for the Classification of Horses as Broken or Unbroken
- Creators
- Laura Menchetti - University of BolognaEmanuela Dalla Costa - University of MilanMichela Minero - University of MilanBarbara Padalino - University of Bologna
- Publication Details
- Animals, Vol.11(8), pp.1-20
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Number of pages
- 20
- Grant note
- World Horse Welfare Morris Animal Foundation Animals' Angels
- Identifiers
- 991013293351102368
- Copyright
- © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article