Estudo de caso: enriquecimento ambiental para cavalos atletas com comportamento estereotipado

Abstract

Horses are animals that exhibit natural behavior and well-characterized social life. When domesticated by humans, the horses had their natural behaviors affected, due to the stability and limitations of areas for living and grazing. Thus, where before in its natural habitat spent about 16 hours of the day grazing and walking, today, with domestication and living in stables, the horse lost all its sociability and grazing space, having more idle time. Changes in habits, feeding, and improper management of animals have led to the development of behavioral problems, also known as stereotypes. All horses, regardless of race, age and gender can develop these abnormal behaviors that act as relief from stress and boredom. Thus, horses that exhibit behavioral changes may not have their welfare met. Two horses of the vaquejada and reins modalities, both with stereotypes were evaluated. They were subjected to cognitive and food enrichment, respectively and added to their management routines, the period of one hour per day released every day of the study. Horses presented a decrease in the frequency of stereotyped behaviors.