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Bedding Material Preferences of Ponies¹

Cornell University^,3, Ithaca, NY 14853

Abstract

The bedding preferences of ponies were determined using video recordings of nighttime (1900 to 0700) behavior of individually housed ponies. The ponies' behavior each minute was recorded to determine time budgets. In Exp. I, preference for bedding was determined using three mares, three stallions and two geldings given access to bedded and unbedded areas in a box stall. The ponies spent more time (66%) on the bedded area and were never observed lying on the unbedded areas. In Exp. II, three mares and six stallions were given access to a box stall, one side of which was bedded with wood shavings and the other with straw. Although some individual animals preferred one bedding over the other, neither form of bedding was preferred consistently. Time budgets in Exp. II were similar on both bedding materials. The ponies spent 12% of their nighttime lying, 2% walking, 35% eating and 50% standing inactively. Some ponies had a relatively strong preference for bedding, but the type of bedding preferred varied with the individual animal. Some individual ponies had no clear preference, but instead had a side or position preference.

¹ The authors thank P. Livesay-Wilkins and R. Foote for use of ponies, and C. McCulloch and H. Erb for statistical consultation.

² Reprint requests: K. A. Houpt, Dept. of Physiol., New York State College of Vet. Med., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, 14853-6401.

³ Dept. of Physiol., New York State College of Vet. Med.

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