The aim of this master's thesis was to investigate how different work tasks affect the reactivity and fearfulness in Lipizzan horses. The study comprised sixty-eight Lipizzan horses over the age of five, including 18 mares, 20 geldings, and 30 stallions. Demographic information and data on the type of work and care were collected from the horses' carers. Reactions to fear-inducing stimuli were measured using a series of four consecutive behavioural tests. The series of tests included: a passive human test (which served as a passive social stimulus), an umbrella test (a visual static stimulus), a rolling ball test (a moving visual stimulus), and a plastic bag test (a combined visual and auditory moving stimulus). Each horse completed all tests twice. Reactions were scored on a five-point scale, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest response level. The assessments were based on a predefined ethogram and were performed by video analysis. The results showed that the type of work task had a significant influence on the reactivity of the horse, while no statistically significant correlation was found with fearfulness. Riding school horses were the least reactive, while dressage horses and horses participating in equine-assisted interventions were the most reactive. Younger horses and those with less daily contact with humans also showed higher reactivity, emphasising the importance of experience and social contact. Fearfulness appears to be a stable personality trait, regardless of the work task or environment. Our results underline the importance of using the behavioural tests in selecting the appropriate work task for a horse.
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