A Preliminary Investigation into Forage Dunking Behavior in Horses in the UK

Hieke Brown; Kira Lee

doi:10.64292/ijes.211

Authors

Hieke Brown Department of Equine Sciences, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucester, GL19 3BE, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-1948
Kira Lee Department of Equine Sciences, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucester, GL19 3BE, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3501-4520

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64292/ijes.211

Keywords:

Equine, forage dunking, prevalence, stabling, respiratory conditions

Abstract

Forage dunking refers to a horse collecting forage with its mouth, dunking it in a nearby water source, and eating the dampened forage as it normally would. It is primarily thought to function as a method to rehydrate the forage or is observed when dental pathology is present, though limited research has been undertaken into this specific behavior. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of forage dunking behavior in horses in the UK and potential relationships between the behavior, horse activity, or management practices. An online survey consisting of 20 closed-answer questions was distributed via social media for 3 weeks. Questions focused on horse demographics and their daily management practices, and the presence of forage dunking behavior. Likert scale statements were aimed at gaining further insight into potential influencing factors. A chi-square test of association was used to analyze the collected data. Based on 414 valid responses, a prevalence of 42.7% (n = 161) was reported for forage dunking. This was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in dressage horses (54.8%) compared to other disciplines (36.4–51.0%). Horses housed in American barns were also more likely (P ≤ 0.001) to dunk their forage compared to horses housed in other stable designs. While 50.3% of owners reported that feeding dry forage increased forage dunking behavior compared with feeding soaked or steamed forage, soaking or steaming did not eliminate the behavior (P > 0.05). Of the 71 horses with reported health conditions, 46.5% (n = 33) were reported to dunk their forage, especially those with laryngeal hemiplegia (83.3%). Results from this study suggest that forage dunking may not only be used to rehydrate forage but may, in some way, be used to make the forage more acceptable or palatable to horses with respiratory disorders, particularly those with laryngeal hemiplegia. Forage dunking behavior was not eliminated by feeding soaked or steamed forage; thus, the reasons behind this activity need further investigation to determine if this behavior is beneficial or detrimental to equine health.

References

Harris PA, Ellis AD, Fradinho MJ, Jansson A, Julliand V, Luthersson N, et al. Review: Feeding conserved forage to horses: recent advances and recommendations. Animal 2017;11:958–67. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731116002469.

Gilliland TJ, Johnston J, Connolly C. A review of forage grass and clover seed use in Northern Ireland, UK between 1980 and 2004. Grass and Forage Science 2007;62:239–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2007.00588.x.

Ivester KM, Smith K, Moore GE, Zimmerman NJ, Couëtil LL. Variability in particulate concentrations in a horse training barn over time. Equine Veterinary Journal 2012;44:51–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00647.x.

Olave CJ, Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Franco-Marmolejo J, Mukhopadhyay A, Robinson JP, et al. Effects of forages, dust exposure and proresolving lipids on airway inflammation in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 2022;83:153–61. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.21.08.0126.

Blackman M, Moore-Colyer MJS. Hay for horses: the effects of three different wetting treatments on dust and nutrient content. Animal Science 1998;66:745–50. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1357729800009334.

Clements JM, Pirie RS. Respirable dust concentrations in equine stables. Part 2: The benefits of soaking hay and optimising the environment in a neighbouring stable. Research in Veterinary Science 2007;83:263–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.12.003.

Moore-Colyer MJS. Effects of soaking hay fodder for horses on dust and mineral content. Animal Science 1996;63:337–42. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1357729800014892.

Longland AC, Barfoot C, Harris PA. Effects of soaking on the water-soluble carbohydrate and crude protein content of hay. Veterinary Record 2011;168:618–618. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.d157.

Longland AC, Barfoot C, Harris PA. The loss of water-soluble carbohydrate and soluble protein from nine different Hays soaked in water for up to 16 hours. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2009;29:383–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2009.04.085.

Moore-Colyer MJS, Lumbis K, Longland A, Harris P. The effect of five different wetting treatments on the nutrient content and microbial concentration in hay for horses. PLoS ONE 2014;9:e114079. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114079.

Müller CE, Nostell K, Bröjer J. Methods for reduction of water soluble carbohydrate content in grass forages for horses. Livestock Science 2016;186:46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.06.011.

Merkies K, Bogart E. Discrimination of sour and sweet solutions by mature horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2013;33:330–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2013.03.032.

van den Berg M, Giagos V, Lee C, Brown WY, Cawdell-Smith AJ, Hinch GN. The influence of odour, taste and nutrients on feeding behaviour and food preferences in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2016;184:41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.08.015.

Oberlin C, Hay K, Pyles M. 62 feeding steamed or soaked hay affects water intake and preference compared to dry hay. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2023;124:104364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104364.

Owens TG, Barnes M, Gargano VM, Julien L, Mansilla WD, Devries TJ, et al. Nutrient content changes from steaming or soaking timothy-alfalfa hay: effects on feed preferences and acute glycemic response in Standardbred racehorses1. Journal of Animal Science 2019;97:4199–207. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz252.

Dickson EC, Kayser WC, Latham CM, Leatherwood JL, Daigle CL, White SH. Evaluating equine feeding behavior utilizing GrowSafe Systems: a pilot study1. Translational Animal Science 2019;3:288–94. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txz002.

Houpt KA. Mastication and feeding in horses. Feeding in Domestic Vertebrates: From Structure to Behaviour 2006:195–209. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845930639.0195.

McBane S. Building a five-star relationship with your horse. CRC Press; 2024. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003396376.

McDonnell SM, Freeman DA, Cymbaluk NF, Schott HC, Hinchcliff K, Kyle B. Behavior of stabled horses provided continuous or intermittent access to drinking water. American Journal of Veterinary Research 1999;60:1451–6. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.1999.60.11.1451.

Waring GH. Behavioral adaptation of feeding in horses. Journal of Animal Science 1974;39:137.

Auger E-J, Moore-Colyer MJS. The effect of management regime on airborne respirable dust concentrations in two different types of horse stable design. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2017;51:105–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2016.12.007.

Kusmaryono I, Wijayanti D, Maharani HR. Number of response options, reliability, validity, and potential bias in the use of the Likert scale education and social science research: a literature review. International Journal of Educational Methodology 2022;8:625–37. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.8.4.625.

National Equestrian survey 2023. Wetherby: British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA); 2023.

Dulphy JP, Martin-Rosset W, Dubroeucq H, Ballet JM, Detour A, Jailler M. Compared feeding patterns in ad libitum intake of dry forages by horses and sheep. Livestock Production Science 1997;52:49–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0301-6226(97)00113-9.

Ellis AD. Biological basis of behaviour in relation to nutrition and feed intake in horses. The Impact of Nutrition on the Health and Welfare of Horses, The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic; 2010, p. 51–74. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-711-0_012.

Holzer S, Herholz C, Tanadini LG, Ineichen S, Julliand S. Hay preferences in horses versus selection by their owners. Livestock Science 2022;258:104896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2022.104896.

Müller CE, Udén P. Preference of horses for grass conserved as hay, haylage or silage. Animal Feed Science and Technology 2007;132:66–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2006.02.013.

Earing JE, Hathaway MR, Sheaffer CC, Hetchler BP, Jacobson LD, Paulson JC, et al. Effect of hay steaming on forage nutritive values and dry matter intake by horses1. Journal of Animal Science 2013;91:5813–20. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2013-6333.

Martinson K, Jung H, Hathaway M, Sheaffer C. The effect of soaking on carbohydrate removal and dry matter loss in orchardgrass and alfalfa Hays. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2012;32:332–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2011.11.009.

Cooper JJ, Albentosa MJ. Behavioural adaptation in the domestic horse: potential role of apparently abnormal responses including stereotypic behaviour. Livestock Production Science 2005;92:177–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.11.017.

Hotchkiss JW, Reid SWJ, Christley RM. A survey of horse owners in Great Britain regarding horses in their care. Part 2: Risk factors for recurrent airway obstruction. Equine Veterinary Journal 2007;39:301–8. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x180129.