7th International Equitation Science Conference Academy Bartels - Hooge Mierde - The Netherlands 27th - 29th October 2011 www.equitationscience.com CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS Edited by: Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck Drs. Patricia de Cocq Dr. Kathalijne Visser THEME: Equitation Science: principles and practices - science at work Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work International Society for Equitation Science ISES Presents: 7th International Equitation Science Conference 27th - 29th October 2011 Academy Bartels, Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work Proceedings edited by: Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck Drs. Patricia de Cocq Dr. Kathalijne Visser Proceedings publication and Abstract Submission System (OASES) by Wageningen Academic P u b l i s h e r s This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned. Nothing from this publication may be translated, reproduced, stored in a computerised system or published in any form or in any manner, including electronic, mechanical, reprographic or photographic, without prior written permission from the publisher: Design front and back page and logo: Wageningen Academic Publishers Anne Knoops P.O. Box 220 6700 AE Wageningen Picture front page: The Netherlands Arnd www.WageningenAcademic.com [email protected] Website intermediate: Elke Hartmann The individual contributions in this publication and any liabilities arising from them remain the responsibility of the First published, 2011 authors. The publisher is not responsible for possible © Wageningen Academic Publishers damages, which could be a result of content The Netherlands, 2011 derived from this publication. Table of contents General information IX Welcome XI Kathalijne Visser and Joep Bartels Welcome XII Andrew McLean Organisation XII ISES History XIV Andrew McLean What is ‘science’? – Benefits & limitations XVI Camie R. Heleski Global Dressage Forum XVIII Richard Davison Learning principles in horse training XIX Andrew McLean Does your training system stand the test of science? XXII Time table XXIV Biographies of plenary speakers and clinic presenters XXIX Abstracts 1 Appendices 103 Authors index 105 Glossary 109 A quick guide to statistics for non scientists 112 Hayley Randle ISES UK 2012 115 Map of ISES conference keypoints 116 Map of venue 117 Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work VII General information Welcome The 7th International Equitation Science Conference will be held at Academy Bartels, Hooge Mierde, the Netherlands. Since 10 years the Global Dressage Forum has been organised at the Academy, in close cooperation with the International Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). In 2011 the two conferences will be partners, sharing the same facilities in the same week. The conferences of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) are being organised by a group of equine scientists and veterinarians who share the view that the horse-human dyad will undeniably benefit from the application of objective research and advanced practices. ISES conferences give the opportunity to present new scientific results and discuss their potential applicability in equine sports. With the pleasure to partner this year’s conference to the Global Dressage Forum, the theme of the 7th annual conference was chosen to be ‘Principles and Practices – Science at Work’. With this theme, which was gratefully borrowed from the work of Professor Daniel Mills, we aspire to take another step forward in bringing equine scientists and equine practitioners nearer. We are very pleased to have four renowned keynote speakers in the programme: Professor Daniel Mills, Drs George de Jong, Professor Hilary Clayton and Professor René van Weeren. Additionally, at the practical day, we are very excited to have demonstrations from Kyra Kyrklund and Rob Ehrens. Several people have been involved in organising this year’s conference. Different working groups have shown a tremendous effort and time to make this all possible. The Scientific Committee (chaired by Machteld van Dierendonck) has received 118 abstracts which were submitted through the submission system of Wageningen Academic Publishers. All abstracts were reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers from the Scientific Committee. The Media Committee (chaired by Fenna Westerduin) has prepared and distributed over a thousand flyers and posters and numerous news items and columns worldwide. The Sponsor Committee (chaired by Mirella van Leeuwen and Gijs Bartels) has succeeded in getting the main sponsors on board. We gratefully thank our sponsors and funding bodies for making this conference possible. The proceedings, which are produced by Wageningen Academic Publishers, contain the full programme of the three days ISES conference, abstracts of invited as well as the contributing speakers, including posters, of all sessions. The programme is very interesting and we trust to have a wonderful and inspiring meeting in Hooge Mierde, the Netherlands. We hope you find this book a useful reference source as well as a reminder of a good meeting during which a large number of people actively involved in equitation science and practice did meet and exchanged ideas. Kathalijne Visser and Joep Bartels (Chair Local Conference Organising Committee) (Academy Bartels) Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work XI Welcome This year, ISES has taken another step forward and closer to the heartland of equine performance sports – ISES is pleased to partner the Global Dressage Forum at Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands. On behalf of the ISES council, I would like to welcome you all to this beautiful setting at Academy Bartels and to the next stage of the ISES journey. We very much hope you find it not only edifying and exhilarating but also very moving as science edges closer to understanding interactions that span around 3 millennia. My sincere thanks to Kathalijne Visser, Machteld van Dierendonck and the local committee for their untiring efforts and I am especially grateful to the Bartels family of Academy Bartels for their willingness to collaborate. Andrew McLean Honorary President, ISES Organisation The 7th ISES conference and the pre-conference Popular Equitation Science Day are organised by Local Conference Organising Committee Chair Dr. Kathalijne Visser (Wageningen UR Livestock Research, NL) Co-chair Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck (Equus Research; Utrecht University, NL) Finances Drs. Fenna Westerduin (Nederlands Hippisch Kenniscentrum (Dutch Equine Knowledge centre); University of Applied Sciences HAS Den Bosch, NL) Practical organisation Mirella van Leeuwen (Academy Bartels, NL) Academy Bartels Gijs Bartels (Academy Bartels, NL) The conference could not have been organised without the help of (in alphabetical order): • Anne Knoops (Academy Bartels, NL) • Carolien Munster (Moxie Sport; Utrecht University, NL) • Cees van Beckhoven (Heart for Horses, NL) • Elke Hartmann (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE) • Inga Wolframm (Van Hall Larenstein – Wageningen University, NL) • Joep Bartels (Academy Bartels, NL) • Patricia de Cocq (University of Applied Sciences HAS Den Bosch; Wageningen University, NL) • All other members of the Bartels Family and employees of the Academy Bartels • The students helping during the conference days XII Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work Scientific Committee Chair Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck (Equus Research; Utrecht University; NL) Co-chair Drs. Patricia de Cocq (University of Applied Sciences HAS Den Bosch; Wageningen University, NL) Members Prof. Wim Back (Utrecht University, NL; Ghent University, BE) Prof. Hilary Clayton (Michigan State University – McPhail Center, US) Drs. Patricia Cocq, de (University of Applied Sciences HAS Den Bosch; Wageningen University, NL) Dr. Sue Dyson (Animal Health Trust, UK) Prof. Martine Hausberger (Université de Rennes, FR) Dr. Camie Heleski (Michigan University US) Dr. Konstanze Krueger (University of Regensburg, DE) Prof. Jan Ladewig (Copenhagen University, DK) Prof. Sue McDonnell (University of Pennsylvania, US) Dr. Michela Minero (University of Milano, IT) Prof. Christine Nicol (University of Bristol, UK) Prof. Frank Ödberg (Ghent University, BE) Dr. Hayley Randle (Duchy College, UK) Dr. Ellen de Graaf-Roelfsema (Utrecht University, NL) Dr. Barbara Schöning (Veterinary Referral clinic for Behavioural problems, DE) Dr. Marianne Sloet (Utrecht University, NL) Dr. Eva Søndergård (AgroTech, DK) Prof. Natalie Waran (Edinburgh University – Jeanne Marchig International Animal Welfare Centre, UK) Prof. René van Weeren (Utrecht University, NL) Dr. Inge Wijnberg (Utrecht University, NL) Dr. Inga Wolframm (Van Hall Larenstein – Wageningen University, NL) Equitation science: principles and practices – science at work XIII ISES History Andrew McLean, PhD Honorary President ISES, Director Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, Australia The formation of the International Society for Equitation Science is a great step forward for a scientific understanding of human/horse interactions and is a direct result of the growing worldwide interest in this area among equestrian professionals and academics alike. Our mission is to promote and encourage the application of objective research and advanced practice, which will ultimately improve the welfare of horses in their associations with humans. ISES adopts ethical