EFFECTS OF TRANSPORTING HORSES FACING EITHER FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS ONTHEIR BEHAVIOR AND HEART-RATE

The effects of transporting horses facing either forwards or backwards were compared by transporting six thoroughbred horses in pairs in a l orry on one journey facing in the direction of travel, and on another journey facing away from the direction of travel, over a standard one- hour route. Heart rate monitors were used to record their heart rate b efore, during and after the journey and the horses' behaviour was reco rded by scan sampling each horse every other minute, The average heart rate was significantly lower (P<0.05) when the horses were transporte d facing backwards, and they also tended to rest on their rumps more ( P=0.059). In the forward-facing position, the horses moved more freque ntly (P<0.05) and tended to hold their necks in a higher than normal p osition and to vocalise more frequently (P=0.059). During loading the average peak heart rate was 38 bpm lower (P<0.05) when the horses were backed into the horse box for rear-facing transport than when they we re loaded facing forwards, However, there was no difference between tr ansport facing forwards or backwards in terms of the peak unloading he art rate, or the average heart rate during loading or unloading, The h orses seemed to find being transported less physically stressful when they were facing backwards than when they were facing forwards.