04/12/2024
๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ: ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ-๐ก๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐
A recent study by K. Kienapfel et all (2024) investigated the relationship between head-neck positions (HNPs), conflict behaviour (CB), and judging scores in elite dressage horses. The study examined how these factors align with the animal welfare principles and competition rules established by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐:
โข Conflict behaviour increases with lower nasal plane angles in elite dressage horses.
โข Relationship found between head-neck positions and conflict behaviour.
โข Surprising rule contradiction: tests with small poll angles received high scores.
โข Urgent need to address animal welfare and enhance solutions in dressage sport.
๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฑ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐:
The study observed 49 horses participating in the Grand Prix Special (CDIO5*) at CHIO Aachen in 2018 and 2019. Researchers analysed video footage of warm-up and competition phases, measuring HNPs (angle at the vertical, poll angle, and shoulder angle) and recording instances of conflict behaviour. These were evaluated against judges' scores.
The results showed that:
โช๏ธ The nasal plane was behind the vertical more frequently during warm-up than in competition (-11ยฐ vs. -5ยฐ).
โช๏ธ Poll angles were larger in competition (28ยฐ) than in warm-up (24ยฐ).
โช๏ธ No significant differences were found in shoulder angles between warm-up and competition phases.
Conflict behaviours, including unusual oral movements, occurred more often during warm-up than in competition. Tail swishing was not affected by the nasal planeโs angle.
๐๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐' ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
The study authors concluded that the findings raise concerns about the welfare of elite dressage horses and the application of FEI rules. According to the authors, horses showing restrictive HNPsโsuch as nasal planes behind the verticalโexhibited more conflict behaviours, yet these positions were not penalised during scoring and, in some cases, correlated with higher scores.
The authors emphasised the importance of addressing these discrepancies to ensure that dressage practices align more closely with established rules and prioritise horse welfare.
