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Table 7 Description of the behavioural traits under analysis

From: Behavioural responses of Konik Polski horses to natural, familiar sound of thunderstorm, and unfamiliar similar-sounding sounds of volcanic eruption and sea storms

Category

Trait

Characteristics

Movement

Walk

Four-beat gait with large overlap times between the stance phases of the limb, and no period of suspension [40]

Trot

Two-beat, symmetric, diagonal gait with phase suspension [40]

Canter

Three-beat asymmetric gait with phase suspension. It is executed with either a right or left “lead” [40]

Vigilance

Snoring

Very short, raspy inhalation sound produced in a low alert context, such as investigating a novel object or obstacle [41]

Vocalisation

Production of sound by means of a vocal apparatus of vertebrates [42]

High head position

Neck raised over 45 degrees [43]

High tail position

Fleshy part of tail outstretched horizontally or elevated above horizontal [43]

Sticking together

Horses sticking together on the pasture

Foraging (grazing)

 

Occurs as a horse bites off and ingests grasses and forbs close to the ground [44]

Comfort

Playing

Type of self-enjoyment expression [44]

Examining the surroundings

 

Sniffing

Standing with lowered head and nostrils within 10 cm of object [45]

Maintenance of hygiene

Rubbing against objects

Scratching against an object

Includes using a hind foot to scratch another part of horse’s own body, or rubbing against various objects [46]

Autogrooming or allogrooming

Usually head-to-shoulder or head-to-tail, grooming each other’s neck, mane, rump, or tail by gently nipping, nuzzling, or rubbing [42]

Rolling

Dropping from standing to sternal recumbency, then rotating one or more times from sternal to dorsal recumbency, tucking the legs against the body [42]

Resting

 

It is characterised by a general lack of attention and a relaxed state and may occur in a standing position or in recumbency [44]