The Tellington method (T-Touch®) is usually practiced in the equine domain, with the goal to improve equine welfare and the human-horse relationship, but few scientific works have been published on the physiological effect of the T-Touch training on equine physiology. The aim of this trial is to test the effect of one session of T-Touch bodywork on heart rate, salivary cortisol levels and behavioral parameters in horses, comparing it with an another petting/massage situation.The effects of T-Touch® on 20 saddle horses were investigated; no subjects had previous experience with this technique. Horses were studied in 3 situations lasting 20 minutes each: T-Touch (T-T), massage/petting (M/P) and Cross-tied (C-t). All phases were recorded by a video-camera while the animals wore a heart rate monitor. In addition saliva samples were collected to assess cortisol concentrations at rest, at the end and 120 minutes after each situation. The videos were analyzed by 10 persons, 5 Behavioral Scientists and 5 lay persons, using a Behavioral Score (BS) from 1 (highly negative response) to 5 (highly positive response) and a focal animal sampling ethogram was filled with the frequency of selected behaviors. No statistical difference in the heart rates were found, indicating that both T-T and M/P did not stress the animals, but cortisol concentration showed a downward trend only after T-T. The horses showed the highest frequency of lowering of the head, relaxation of lower lip, sighing and self-grooming during T-T, without eliciting any aggressive behavioral responses. In addition, BS results clearly showed that horses accepted more positively the T-Touch procedure respect to massage/petting, trying to groom the masseur more times. Overall, this study suggests that the horses positively accept T-Touch inducing relaxation, and it could improve equine welfare and masseur-horse relationship.
Effects of T-Touch® massage on heart rate, salivary cortisol levels and behavior of show jumping horses
PADALINO, Barbara;
In corso di stampa
Abstract
The Tellington method (T-Touch®) is usually practiced in the equine domain, with the goal to improve equine welfare and the human-horse relationship, but few scientific works have been published on the physiological effect of the T-Touch training on equine physiology. The aim of this trial is to test the effect of one session of T-Touch bodywork on heart rate, salivary cortisol levels and behavioral parameters in horses, comparing it with an another petting/massage situation.The effects of T-Touch® on 20 saddle horses were investigated; no subjects had previous experience with this technique. Horses were studied in 3 situations lasting 20 minutes each: T-Touch (T-T), massage/petting (M/P) and Cross-tied (C-t). All phases were recorded by a video-camera while the animals wore a heart rate monitor. In addition saliva samples were collected to assess cortisol concentrations at rest, at the end and 120 minutes after each situation. The videos were analyzed by 10 persons, 5 Behavioral Scientists and 5 lay persons, using a Behavioral Score (BS) from 1 (highly negative response) to 5 (highly positive response) and a focal animal sampling ethogram was filled with the frequency of selected behaviors. No statistical difference in the heart rates were found, indicating that both T-T and M/P did not stress the animals, but cortisol concentration showed a downward trend only after T-T. The horses showed the highest frequency of lowering of the head, relaxation of lower lip, sighing and self-grooming during T-T, without eliciting any aggressive behavioral responses. In addition, BS results clearly showed that horses accepted more positively the T-Touch procedure respect to massage/petting, trying to groom the masseur more times. Overall, this study suggests that the horses positively accept T-Touch inducing relaxation, and it could improve equine welfare and masseur-horse relationship.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
