Survey of the Prevalence of Equine Problem Behaviors

The goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of problem behaviors in horses. This study is being conducted through the Center for Companion Animal Behavior at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine.


Contact Information

Name: Diana Stolba and Melissa Bain, DVM, DACVB
Email: vetbehavior@ucdavis.edu


1. 		 

Instructions
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   
You must be 18 years or older to fill out this survey. Please fill out this survey ONCE, for ONLY ONE horse that you own. If you own more than one horse, fill out this survey for the horse whose name begins closest to the beginning of the alphabet.

 
   

1.1.  
Please enter the first 3 letters of this horse’s name.
 
   
 

 
   

1.2.  
Please enter your zip code
 
   
 



2. 		 

Information about this Horse
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   

 
   

2.1.  
Please choose the best description for your relationship to this horse.
 
   
    Owner & primary caregiver
   
    Owner, but someone else is the primary caregiver
   
    Primary caregiver, but someone else owns the horse
   
    Trainer/barn manager/other

 
   

2.2.  
What is this horse’s breed? If it is a mixed breed and you know the breeding, select the breed that is most dominant (> 50 % of the mix).
 
   
    Arabian
   
    Color-registered Horse (i.e. Paint, Appaloosa, Palomino)
   
    Draft Horse (all Draft Horse breeds)
   
    Gaited Horse (i.e. Tennessee Walker, Missouri Fox Trotter, Paso Fino, Saddlebred, Morgan)
   
    Pony (all Pony breeds) or Miniature Horse
   
    Quarter Horse
   
    Standardbred
   
    Thoroughbred
   
    Warmblood (all Warmblood breeds)
   
    Mixed Breed, no dominant breed
   
    Unknown
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

2.3.  
How old is this horse, in years?
 
   
    < 1 year
   
    1 - 2
   
    3 - 8
   
    9 - 17
   
    18 - 29
   
    > 30 years
   
    Unknown

 
   

2.4.  
What is this horses gender?
 
   
    Mare
   
    Stallion
   
    Gelding

 
   

2.5.  
Where is this horse currently kept for the majority of its time?
 
   
    On my property
   
    On a family member’s or friend’s property (boarding fee charged)
   
    On a family member’s or friend’s property (boarding fee NOT charged)
   
    At a boarding facility (not a training facility)
   
    At a training facility currently being trained
   
    At a racetrack
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

2.6.  
What percentage of time is this horse currently housed directly with other horses? i.e. share a paddock or pasture
 
   
    0%
   
    1-25%
   
    26-50 %
   
    51-75%
   
    76-99%
   
    100%

 
   

2.7.  
In what type of housing does this horse currently spend the majority of its time? Pasture is considered anything > 1/2 acre in size for this study.
 
   
    Never on pasture, 100% of time in stall/paddock
   
    1-25% on pasture, rest of time in stall/paddock
   
    26-50% on pasture, rest of time in stall/paddock
   
    51-75% on pasture, rest of time in stall/paddock
   
    75-99% on pasture, rest of time in stall/paddock
   
    100% on pasture, no other housing provided

 
   

2.8.  
What is this horse’s current PRIMARY use?
 
   
    Purely a companion or retired, very rarely, if ever, ridden
   
    Pleasure riding (i.e. trail riding, hacking around arena)
   
    Western pleasure
   
    Hunter/jumper
   
    Dressage
   
    Eventing
   
    Endurance
   
    Carting
   
    Racing
   
    Rodeo events
   
    Working (i.e. Plowing, herding, Ranch work, Service animal, lessons)
   
    Breeding
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

2.9.  
What is this horse’s current SECONDARY use?
 
   
    Purely a companion or retired, very rarely, if ever, ridden
   
    Pleasure riding (i.e. trail riding, hacking around arena)
   
    Western pleasure
   
    Hunter/jumper
   
    Dressage
   
    Eventing
   
    Endurance
   
    Carting
   
    Racing
   
    Rodeo events
   
    Working (i.e. Plowing, herding, Ranch work, Service animal, lessons)
   
    Breeding
   
    No other use for this horse other than its primary use
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

2.10.  
Which of the following terms best describes how you overall currently view this horse?
 
   
    Work or competition animal
   
    Pet
   
    Family member
   
    Child



3. 		 

Interactions with this Horse
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   

 
   

3.1.  
How many hours per week do you spend with this horse? This includes grooming, riding, training, and exercising.     

 
   

3.2.  
How many hours per week do other people spend with this horse? This includes grooming, riding, training, and exercising.     

 
   

3.3.  
How much money on average do you spend ANNUALLY for HOUSING and FOOD for this horse? This does NOT include special supplements or any medications, including deworming medications. Only enter whole numbers, and round to the nearest $50.    $ 

 
   

3.4.  
How much money on average do you spend ANNUALLY on MEDICAL CARE for this horse? This includes veterinary bills, farrier bills, dental care, medications, and supplements. Only enter whole numbers, and round to the nearest $50.    $ 

 
   

3.5.  
How much money on average do you spend ANNUALLY on TRAINING OR EVENT RELATED ITEMS for yourself and/or this horse? This includes seminar or clinic fees, show entry fees, trail fees, trailering fees, and registration fees. Only enter whole numbers, and round to the nearest $50.    $ 

 
   

3.6.  
How much money on average do you spend ANNUALLY on OTHER SUPPLIES for you and/or this horse? This includes treats and toys, saddlery, soaps/shampoos, and riding apparel. Only enter whole numbers, and round to the nearest $50.    $ 



4. 		 

Behaviors of this Horse
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   

 
   

4.1.  
Has this horse had formal training?
 
   
  Yes   No
   
   
 
  Unsure


 
   

4.2.  
Is this horse CURRENTLY in training? If so, who is the PRIMARY trainer?
 
   
    Not currently in training
   
    Yes, I am the primary trainer
   
    Yes, someone other than myself is the primary trainer

 
   

4.3.  
Choose from the following ALL problem behaviors that this horse has displayed for at least the PAST MONTH.
 
   
    Bucking and/or rearing under saddle
   
    Refusal to go and/or speed up when prompted
   
    Refusal to stop and/or slow when prompted
   
    Biting, kicking, and/or striking when attempting to saddle, bridle, and/or groom
   
    Pawing/kicking in stall or paddock
   
    Pulling back when tied
   
    Cribbing and/or windsucking
   
    Wood chewing and eating
   
    Weaving
   
    Stall walking (pacing in the stall, usually in circles)
   
    Aggression towards other horses
   
    Aggression towards animals other than horses and people
   
    Fearful of objects, people, or other animals
   
    None. S/he currently does not have ANY problem behaviors
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

4.4.  
Choose from the following the MOST SERIOUS problem behavior that this horse has displayed for at least the PAST MONTH.
 
   
    Bucking and/or rearing under saddle
   
    Refusal to go and/or speed up when prompted
   
    Refusal to stop and/or slow when prompted
   
    Biting, kicking, and/or striking when attempting to saddle, bridle, and/or groom
   
    Pawing/kicking in stall or paddock
   
    Pulling back when tied
   
    Cribbing and/or windsucking
   
    Wood chewing and eating
   
    Weaving
   
    Stall walking (pacing in the stall, usually in circles)
   
    Aggression towards other horses
   
    Aggression towards animals other than horses and people
   
    None. S/he currently does not have ANY problem behaviors
   
    Fearful of objects, people, or other animals
   
    S/he does not have any problem behavior that I consider SERIOUS
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

4.5.  
Please select from the following what best describes your feelings regarding this horse’s MOST SERIOUS problem behavior.
 
   
    N/A. This horse has no problem behavior that I consider serious
   
    The problem does not affect me or this horse, and I am not going to do anything to change the behavior
   
    I am planning on changing the current situation to correct the problem behavior i.e. move to a different place, remove the trigger, etc.
   
    I am planning on changing the behavior through professional or personal training methods
   
    I will address this problem for a limited time, and if the problem persists I will sell or rehome this horse
   
    I am going to sell or rehome this horse because of the problem behavior



5. 		 

Relationship with this Horse - 1
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   
For the following questions, please select how strongly you CURRENTLY agree or disagree with the statements.

 
   

5.1.  
My feelings towards people are affected by the way they react to this horse.
 
   
  Strongly disagree       Strongly agree
 
  1 2 3 4 5

 
   

5.2.  
I believe this horse helps me stay healthy.
 
   
  Strongly disagree       Strongly agree
 
  1 2 3 4 5

 
   

5.3.  
If this horse was no longer usable for riding or driving, I would still keep him/her.
 
   
  Strongly disagree       Strongly agree
 
  1 2 3 4 5
   
 
  Not Applicable: This horse currently is too young to be ridden or driven


 
   

5.4.  
If this horse destroys something very valuable to me, I would consider selling or rehoming him/her.
 
   
  Strongly disagree       Strongly agree
 
  1 2 3 4 5

 
   

5.5.  
If this horse would hurt you or another human, I would consider selling or rehoming him/her.
 
   
  Strongly disagree       Strongly agree
 
  1 2 3 4 5



6. 		 

Relationship with this Horse - 2
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   

 
   

6.1.  
Do you celebrate this horse's birthday?
 
   
  Yes   No
   

 
   

6.2.  
Do you regularly talk to this horse?
 
   
  Yes   No
   

 
   

6.3.  
Do you miss this horse when you are away from him/her?
 
   
  Yes   No
   

 
   

6.4.  
Do you have a picture of this horse in your wallet or displayed in your home or office?
 
   
  Yes   No
   

 
   

6.5.  
Do you meet new people because of this horse?
 
   
  Yes   No
   



7. 		 

Miscellaneous Information
   
[Top] [Instructions] [Information] [Interactions] [Behaviors] [Relationship 1] [Relationship 2] [Misc.] [Submit]
   

 
   

7.1.  
Do you intend to get another horse in the future?
 
   
  Yes Maybe No
 

 
   

7.2.  
Were you raised around horses as a child?
 
   
  Yes   No
   

 
   

7.3.  
How many horses did you own before getting this horse?     

 
   

7.4.  
Do you have other pets? Please select all that apply
 
   
    Horse (s)
   
    Dog (s)
   
    Cat (s)
   
    Bird (s)
   
    Rodent/Rabbit/Pocket pet (s)
   
    Reptile/Amphibian (s)
   
    Farm animals (goats, sheep, cattle, etc.)
   
   
Other, Please Specify:  

 
   

7.5.  
What is your gender?     

 
   

7.6.  
What is your age?     

 
   

7.7.  
Where do you live?
 
   
    United States
   
    Canada
   
   
Other, Please List:  





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