Comportamento e desempenho de equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador submetidos a treinamentos e competições

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the training on the behavior and performance of Mangalarga Marchardor horses, in the horse farms and in competition tracks in the North of Minas Gerais. Twenty equines and nine trainers from 4 horse farms and 3 events of breed competitions were observed. The experiment was divided into 2 phases. In the first phase the animals were observed together with their trainer in the horse farm during the daily work, and registered the behavior reactions based on scores before and after each training. The training duration and behavior of the animal according to the trainer's vision were recorded in scores. The second phase occurred in three competitions of the breed in agricultural fairs, where the same observations were carried out regarding the behavior in the horse farms, besides the emotional state of the trainers, presenters and the animals. For the data analysis, multivariate statistics was used by means of principal component analysis and factor analysis using the Vegan package of the statistical R program (version 3.3.2). From the analyzed data, it was verified that the variables: bit, presenter behavior, presenter's tone of voice, reward in competition and incentive in competition influenced the reactivity of the animal in the competition. Variables of man's behavior in daily work influenced the variables of animal behavior during daily work. The behavior of the trainer and the form of daily work, as well as the fact that the trainer to be the presenter, interfered in the behavior of the horses in the horse farm and in the competitions, resulting in safer animals. The need for time adjustment and training management is necessary for the man and the animal to get better rankings in the breed competitions.