Abstract

MUNOZ, L et al. Crib-biting and racing performance in thoroughbred horses. InVet [online]. 2016, vol.18, n.1, pp.93-97. ISSN 1668-3498.

The objective of this study was to determine if racing performance is negatively affected by crib-biting in thoroughbred horses. Three hundred and eighty nine animals were randomly chosen between those residents at the Club Hípico de Santiago, all of them with rank rate and at least 5 races run. Horses were divided in two groups according to rank rate criteria: group A (lower performance) with ranking rates from 1 to 29 (n=333) and group B (higher performance) with ranking rates from 30 to 56 (n=56). Presence or absence of crib-biting was observed by visual inspection in each horse. Results are expressed as percentages. Fisher Exact Test was used for the analysis of the data, with a significance level of p<0.05. Average prevalence of crib-biting was 1.3%. Crib-biting in the A group was 0.6% and 5.4% in group B. Significant association was found between crib-biting and a higher ranking rate (p=0.02). Results suggest that crib-biting have no negative effect on racing performance in thoroughbred horses.

Keywords : Stereotypy; Behaviour; Equine; Turf.