Is it a good idea to train fillies and colts separately?

Area of Science:

• Equine Science
• Animal Behavior
• Physiology

Background:

• Understanding the impact of social housing on equine behavior is crucial for optimal training.
• Physiological responses, such as heart rate (HR), can indicate stress levels in horses.
• Previous research has not extensively explored the effects of sex-mixed versus sex-separated training environments on young horses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the physiological stress responses of young horses in sex-separated versus sex-mixed training groups.
• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of training young horses in a mixed-sex system.
• To determine if training environment (sex-mixed vs. sex-separated) influences heart rate (HR) during novel experiences.

Main Methods:

• Forty-one 2½-year-old Purebred Arabian horses were divided into sex-separated and sex-mixed groups.
• Heart rate (HR) was monitored at rest, during transitions (stable to walker, walker to stable), and during exercise on an automated walker.
• Groups included sex-separated colts and fillies, and a combined sex-mixed group housed and trained together.

Main Results:

• Mean heart rate (HR) during exercise on the walker was higher in sex-mixed groups compared to sex-separated groups.
• Significantly higher HR scores were observed in sex-mixed groups during transitions between the stable and the walker.
• These findings indicate increased physiological stress in young horses trained in mixed-sex groups.

Conclusions:

• Training young horses in sex-mixed groups resulted in elevated heart rates (HR), suggesting higher physiological stress.
• The study does not recommend training young horses in sex-mixed groups due to increased stress responses.
• Separate sex training environments may be more beneficial for managing the physiological well-being of young horses during initial training phases.