Questionnaire-based Personality Test of Trotter Horses in Hungary
| DOWNLOAD | DOI: 10.62897/COS2024.2-1.61 |
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Author: Katalin Maros, László Pongrácz, Éva Veres, János Tőzsér University of Győr, Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary Federation of Hungarian Horse Breeders, Budapest, Hungary pongracz.laszlo@sze.hu |
Abstract: The selection of horses in equestrian sports during the last decades has mainly focused on phys- ical attributes such as strength, speed, and size. However, concerning continuity and sustaina- bility nowadays, other desirable traits like human-horse interactions could play a more impor- tant role because of the change of use and environment. So, we focussed on the behaviour of horses. 74 adult and trained trotter horses in Hungary were involved into a personality assess- ment. A questionnaire of 32 different behaviourally defined adjectives (BDAs) was completed. Horses were scored on each BDA by trainers using a seven-point scale (1 – not typically; 4 – ordi- nary; 7 – typically). Measures of sampling adequacy were the following: scary (0.77), fearful (0.74), insecure (0.71), reliable (0.65), intelligent (0.61), untrustworthy (0.53), aggressive (0.52), lively (0.44) and playful (0.41). These variables are strongly connected to all others. Anti-image correlations were very loose (-0.65-0.29). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.635. The rotation of factors resulted in four different patterns of components (I: fearful, insecure, scary; II: aggressive, untrustworthy; III: intelligent; IV: lively, playful). The total variance of the four principal components was 77.79 %. Correlations between specific components and their associated behaviours were logical and consistent with the type of behaviours. Mapping the behavioural characteristics of horses can help the selection process through better adaptation to changed environments and requirements. For the separation of horses’ behaviour and the expectations of trainers, an advanced questionnaire will be created using representative horses from the different groups.
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