Analysis of the žemaitukas breed horses adaptability to hippotherapy

The aim of this study was to find out if it’s possible for the Žemaitukas breed horses to become hippotherapy service horses. During the first test, the horse behaviour test methodology was used to find out congenital characteristics of the Žemaitukas breed horses, neurological activity type and to compare obtained results of the horses already used in hippotherapy. The research methodology is based on an assessment of the sensitivity of five horse sensations (taste, smell, hearing, vision, tactile) using unexpected stimuli in the horse's neutral environment. During the temperament test, 32 horses were tested by summing the number of horses tested in both stud farms. 29 of them were Žemaitukas breed horses and 3 of them were horses used in hypothermia activity (trakėnai breed mare, kabardin and Žemaitukas breed castrates). After the temperamental test, the results of each individual horse were summarised and a specific nerval activity type was appointed to each horse. Mares or castrates of the Žemaitukas breed, who collected more than 26 points, were further tested by the ,,hippo-test”. During the ,,hippo-test” the intention was to check the horse's behaviour in situations or tasks specific to hippotherapy. The aim is to find out the suitability of the horse's response to an unknown person, his ability to stay calm, reaction to non-typical equipment, to exercises done while sitting on top of him, his ability to separate himself from the tribe, the level of trainability and fearfulness. In this study, 9 horses from both stud farms were tested (3 - used in hippotherapy activities and 6 - Žemaitukas breed horses). Each of tested horses could score from 0 to 28 points. More than 22 points means, that horse can be used in hippotherapy, less than 22 points – not suitable. It should be taken into account that in this methodology the horses are not evaluated according to their training level, this criteria could be introduced in further development of this method. Also, the same 9 horses were measured for height along the withers and chest measurements. Additional zoometric measurements have been performed and the calculated "mass index" also confirms the individual match of the horse's exterior in hippotherapy activity