STIMULUS REACTIVITY TESTS FOR THE DOMESTIC HORSE (EQUUS-CABALLUS)

Reactivity tests quantifying the responses of the domestic horse (Equu s caballus) to strange footing (approach time to a plastic tarp on the ground) loud noises (time required to return to the source of a loud noise), and fast movement (time required to adjust to a rapidly opened umbrella) are described. A humane method for objectively estimating p ain tolerance outside the laboratory (the number of pounds of pressure which must be applied to the mandible to create an escape reaction) i s also provided. The potential of these tests for predicting future su ccess of horses, diagnosing fear related training problems, evaluating response times and breeding calmer horses are discussed.