Effect of preceding activity and multiple testing of Belgian police horses on behavior during personality tests
Operational police horses must perform under challenging circumstances, so the selection of suitable equine training candidates should include an evaluation of their personalities. We describe the developmental phase of a project aimed at customizing selection tests for mounts at the Belgian Federal Police. The experiment evaluated the influence of preceding activity and multiple testing on […]
The effects of transport, riot control training and night patrols on the workload and stress of mounted police horses
Quantifying and evaluating police work is essential to avoid behavioural problems, minimise wastage and maximise welfare of police horses. Behavioural and physiological measures were used to assess the workload and/or stress police horses experience during police work. Further, the influence of the rider on the fear response and heart rate of the horse was studied. […]