e18 Abstracts / Journal of Veterinary Behavior 8 (2013) e1ee25
redesigning the current evaluation guidelines. However,
ethical implications of defining aversive behavior such as
head-tossing as an indicator of e.g. poor temperament,
when in fact it may also be an indication of pain or poor
training techniques, should not be neglected.
38
Influences on the pressure exerted on the back of the
driving horse
H. RANDLE*, L. WILLETTS, A. COUNSELL
Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, UK
PL17 8PB
*Corresponding author: hayley.randle@duchy.ac.uk
Equipment placed on the equine back in ridden equestrian
activities has been found to impact negatively on spinal
pathology, soundness, performance and consequently
welfare. The centre of pressure, distribution of forces,
velocity and forward acceleration are influenced by poorly
fitting tack. A correctly fitted carriage should be equally
balanced on both sides of the vehicle regardless of the
weight of the driver and groom(s) and result in an even
distribution of pressure under the saddle pad. Objective
data on the distribution of pressure under the saddle pad
are currently not available. The effect of horse/pony,
carriage type (two- or four-wheeled) and the presence of
a passenger on the distribution of pressure under the
saddle pad was investigated. Six horses and 6 ponies of
various breeds, heights, ages and sexes were examined
whilst engaging in their usual warm-up regime prior to
a British Driving Society class in the Wales and West region,
UK, 3 of each pulling 2 wheeled vehicles and 3 of each
pulling 4 wheeled vehicles. All subjects wore their usual
competition equipment and were driven by their usual
driver. Port Lewis Impression PadsÔ (PLIP) were rolled to
a uniform depth and positioned securely under the saddle
pad. Subjects were driven for 20 min then halted and the
PLIP removed and placed on a flat surface. The depth (mm)
of the indentations at 8 pre-defined equi-distant points
were measured immediately using a digital depth meter on
the left and right sides. Greater pressure was observed on
the pad with horses (14.05  1.63) than with ponies (11.7 
3.15; F1,125 ¼ 10.5; P < 0.01). The presence of a passenger did
not have an impact on the pressure on the saddle pad.
Significantly greater pressure on the driving pad was
evident with 4 wheeled (14.35  1.64) than 2 wheeled
vehicles (11.39  2.87; F1,125 ¼ 43.4; P < 0.01). The distri-
bution of the pressure varied significantly (F1,125 ¼ 13.8; P <
0.01) with greater pressure exerted near to the withers and
at the bottom of the saddle pad on both sides. Using
objectively measured data this study demonstrated that
although no bilateral imbalances were observed, signifi-
cantly greater pressure was exerted at all points on the
saddle pad by 4-wheeled vehicles than 2-wheeled vehicles.
The application of emerging equitation science could assist
the assurance of the welfare of driven horses/ponies. The
use of simple technology such as the inexpensive Port
Lewis Impression PadÔ which allows a visual examination
of the fit of the saddle pad is helpful for assessing the fit of
equipment worn by driving horses and ponies. The pres-
ence of pressure on the pad demonstrated that there may
be difficulties with the correct fitting of tack to horses
driven with 4-wheeled vehicles.
39
Rider perception of the severity of different types of bits
and the bitless bridle using rein tensionometry
H. RANDLE*, H. WRIGHT
Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, PL17
9PD
*Corresponding author: hayley.randle@duchy.ac.uk
While it has been well established that the bit can cause
pain, and therefore behavioral problems, in the ridden
horse, no studies have explored riders’ perceptions of the
severity of the bit in terms of the tension that they should be
applied with. This study investigated riders’ perceptions of
the tension required to execute a standard movement
namely a transition from walk to halt using bits belonging to
different families. A ReinCheckÔ was attached to a static box
fitted with standard leather reins. 10 subjects, all experi-
enced riders who were familiar with lorinary but naïve to
the bitless bridle, were shown four different types of bit
(jointed eggbutt snaffle, french link snaffle, pelham and
a three ring continental gag with the rein on the bottom
ring) and a Cross-Under Bitless Bridle based on the Dr. Cook
design. On taking up the reins (baseline) each subject was
asked to imagine that they were riding a horse in a particular
bit type and then to apply tension to the reins in order to
halt. There were 3 replications per bit type per subject. Rein
tensions (N) were extracted for (1) the baseline tension and
(2) the increase in tension to halt from walk. No significant
differences were observed in either the baseline and
maximum tension applied with the right and left reins (both
PP > 0.05). However, the type of bit ‘used’ significantly
effects both the baseline tension applied (F4,200 ¼ 61.30;
<0.001) and the tension applied to halt (F4,200 ¼ 158.51; P <
0.0001). Significantly less tension was applied with the gag,
pelham and bitless bridle (1.98  0.52; 2.04  0.64 and 1.92
 0.22 N respectively) than with either of the snaffles (2.29 
1.11 and 2.34  1.09 N). A similar pattern was observed when
exerting the perceived tension needed to achieve a halt from
walk with very similar tensions being applied to the bitless
bridle (2.94  1.00) as to the gag (2.76  1.18) and the Pelham
(2.9  1.23). Again significantly greater tension was applied
to the snaffles (3.32  1.52 & 3.45  1.44N). Through the
collection of objective data this study has demonstrated that
riders have clear perceptions of the severity of different bit
types. Clearly the action and severity of bitless bridles is
perceived as similar to that of the Pelham and the gag,
despite them being marketed as a kind alternative to bits in
general. Riders perceive that more tension is needed to
achieve the walk to halt transition with snaffle bits than with
more severe bits. Furthermore the tension required to ach-
ieve walk to halt with bitless bridles is similar to that of the
more severe bits.
40
The effect of noseband tightness on rein tension in the
ridden horse
H. RANDLE 1, *, P. McGREEVY 2
1
Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, UK
PL17 8PB
2
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Gunn Building, University of
Sydney, NSW 2006
*Corresponding author: hayley.randle@duchy.ac.uk