In the horse, inappropriate management and training, as well as pain, frustration, fear and anxiety can result in undesirable behaviours. Common undesirable behaviours include pawing, striking, rearing, kicking, bolting, bucking, shying, napping, freezing, biting and bite threats, as well as a range of oral and locomotive stereotypic behaviours. Many of these behaviours are dangerous for the human handlers and can be unhealthy and harmful for the horse; for safety and welfare reasons, they must be rapidly addressed. An online survey was completed by 943 horse industry participants from 31 countries. The survey was conducted to gain greater insight into the perceived prevalence of undesirable behaviours in horses; options considered in the management of horses displaying undesirable behaviours; attitudes towards the use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) behaviour-modifying agents; and owner attitudes towards the role of veterinarians and equine behaviourists. The results of this survey suggest that undesirable behaviours are common. Agents with a nonspecific sedating effect were the most common agents suggested by veterinarians and used by horse-owners. Horse-owners indicated a greater use of α2 agonists for the management of undesirable behaviours associated with riding horses. Many owners in this survey indicated they would consider seeking advice from veterinarians (83.2%) and behaviourists (58.0%) if they had a horse that was ‘consistently difficult or uncooperative to handle or ride’. The majority (97.3%) of nonveterinarian equine behaviourists would seek the input of a veterinarian to investigate physical causes for undesirable horse behaviour. Twenty-two percent of veterinarians would refer a case to a behaviour expert to address the behavioural component, whilst most veterinarians (77.6%) would devise a behaviour modification and retraining programme themselves. It is hoped that information from this survey can be used to improve existing horse management practices and have a positive impact on animal welfare.

中文翻译：

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一项在线调查，调查马的刻板行为以及与处理和骑马相关的不良行为的感知流行率和治疗方案

在马匹中，不当的管理和训练，以及痛苦、沮丧、恐惧和焦虑都会导致不良行为。常见的不良行为包括爪子、殴打、竖起、踢腿、猛拉、屈曲、害羞、打盹、冻结、咬和咬威胁，以及一系列口头和机车刻板行为。这些行为中的许多行为对驯马师来说都是危险的，对马来说可能是不健康和有害的；出于安全和福利的原因，必须迅速解决这些问题。来自 31 个国家的 943 名马业参与者完成了一项在线调查。进行这项调查是为了更深入地了解马中不良行为的普遍性；在管理表现出不良行为的马匹时考虑的选项；对使用处方药和非处方 (OTC) 行为矫正剂的态度；以及主人对兽医和马行为学家的作用的态度。这项调查的结果表明，不良行为很常见。具有非特异性镇静作用的药剂是兽医建议和马主使用的最常见药剂。马主表示更多地使用 α2 激动剂来管理与骑马相关的不良行为。本次调查中的许多马主表示，如果他们的马匹“一直难以驾驭或不合作”，他们会考虑向兽医 (83.2%) 和行为学家 (58.0%) 寻求建议。大多数（97. 3%) 的非兽医马行为主义者会寻求兽医的意见，以调查不良马行为的物理原因。22% 的兽医会将案例转介给行为专家以解决行为问题，而大多数兽医 (77.6%) 会自己设计行为矫正和再培训计划。希望本次调查的信息可用于改进现有的马匹管理实践，并对动物福利产生积极影响。