Table 2.
Ethogram developed for evaluation of the †novel object test and §trailer test.
| Behavioral trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Bucking† | Fast dynamic movement in which the horse lowers its head, rounds its back and jumps in the air, sometimes leaving the ground with all four legs while kicking with the hindquarters |
| Cocking hindleg† | Horse standing firmly on three legs while one hindleg touches the ground with only the tip of the hoof |
| Defecating† | The horse relieving itself from fecal matter |
| Digging/scratching†§ | Standing firmly on three legs while purposefully scratching the ground with the tip of one front hoof |
| Ear movement§ | (Independent) flickering of one or both ears |
| Flehmen response† | Stretching the neck and the head upwards while curling the nose and exposing the teeth |
| Freezing§ | Freezing of the horse with tense posture and forward gaze |
| Head tossing†§ | Abrupt, powerful, short movement of the head and neck sideways or upwards; usually combined with tilting of the head |
| Licking/chewing† | Movement of the jaw that results in opening and closing of the mouth including movement of the tongue |
| Looking around or behind§ | Turning the head and neck toward the back without leg movements |
| Neighing†§ | The sound of a characteristic noise of a horse with different volumes and voice pitches |
| Remaining near exit† | The horse seeks close proximity to the exit of the round pen and remains there |
| Rolling† | Laying on the ground and demonstration a rolling motion, sometimes tilting over to the other side |
| Sniffing† | Horse lowers the head and sniffs the ground |
| Sniffing the ramp§ | Horse lowers the head and sniffs the ramp |
| Snorting†§ | Accelerated exhale through the nostrils accompanied by a characteristic flapping sound of the nostrils |
| Stomping† | Lifting of one leg and placing it back down forcefully |
| Tail swishing†§ | Short, intense, omnidirectional movement of the tail |
| Treading on the spot§ | Lifting and lowering the hooves without forward, backward or sideways movements |
| Urinating† | The horse relieving itself from urine in a characteristic stand |
| Walking backwards§ | Stepping backwards |
| Walking sideways§ | Stepping sideways |