Social buffering in horses is influenced by context but not by the familiarity and habituation of a companion

C, Ricci-Bonot; CJ, Nicol; T, Romero; DS, Mills

Abstract

Social buffering applies when a companion can help to reduce the subject’s stress response during a stressful event and/or help to recover more quickly from a stressful event. The aim of this study was to determine if the social buffering function of a horse companion can be replaced by a visual substitute (poster of a relaxed horse face) during two different stressful situations: a novel object test (a ball presented gradually) and an umbrella test (sudden opening of an umbrella). In order to evaluate the impact of a horse face poster on the subject’s stress responses, behavioural (reactivity score) and physiological (heart rate) measurements were taken.
Each subject completed 4 tests: novel object test – with a pixelated poster (control) and with relaxed horse face poster; Umbrella test - with a pixelated poster (control) and with relaxed horse face poster. To avoid order effects, the 28 subjects were randomized into 4 groups; with each group performing the tests in a different order. Our results showed that the presence of a horse face poster reduced the behavioural response (reactivity) of subject horses in the novel object test but did not help the heart rate to recover more quickly. The horse face poster did not have an impact on the reaction and the heart rate recovery in the umbrella test. In conclusion, the efficiency of the horse face poster to act as social buffer depends on the nature of the stressful event.

Citation

C, R., CJ, N., T, R., & DS, M. (2021). Social buffering in horses is influenced by context but not by the familiarity and habituation of a companion. Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88319-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 12, 2021
• Publication Date: Apr 23, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 6, 2021
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88319-z
• Keywords: Equus caballus, novel stimulus, social buffering, stress, visual substitute
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1548203