The Impact of the Sex of Handlers and Riders on the Reported Social Confidence, Compliance and Touch Sensitivity of Horses in Their Care

Abstract

Current evidence of how human sex-related differences in riders and handlers may influence horse behaviour is limited. The Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was used to collect demographic data on riders and handlers (n = 1420) and behavioural data on their horses. It includes demographic items about the sex of the respondent and how frequently the horse has been ridden or handled by male and female humans. The questionnaire then gathers observations on the horse's behaviour on the ground and under saddle or when driven. Using E-BARQ's battery of 97 questions, the current study showed differences in ridden and non-ridden horse behaviour that were related to the sex of the rider or handler. Data were evaluated using multivariate analysis and revealed that horses handled by male humans were significantly more difficult to catch (t-value = -3.11; p = 0.002) and significantly more defensive when approached (t-value = -2.104; p = 0.035), but significantly less likely to pull on the reins/brace the neck or toss their head (t-value 1.980; p = 0.048) than horses handled more frequently by female humans. The differences found between male and female horse handlers suggest that sex is an important factor to consider when understanding equine behaviour. Our study explored reported differences in confidence, handling and working compliance and touch sensitivity among horses ridden and handled by male and female humans and suggested further research into how these differences are gendered.

Keywords: equine behaviour; horse welfare; rider sex; welfare.

Figure 1

The probability of handling compliance and human social confidence among horses handled by male humans. Each plot shows the frequency with which the reported horse was handled by male humans (A: never, B: 1–6 times in 6 months, C: monthly, D: fortnightly to weekly, E: several times a week, F: daily). The y-axis is the probability of handling by male humans, and the x-axis (i) the size of variance in handling compliance and (ii) human social confidence. As the frequency of handling by male humans increases, handling compliance increases and human social confidence levels in the horse decrease.