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Interest in Equine assisted services (EAS) has grown over the past two decades, with research highlighting the benefits for participants in ridden, or mounted services. However, there is a notable lack of studies focusing on the welfare of the horses involved in these services. As research in this area continues to develop, a review is necessary to evaluate the quality of existing studies about the welfare of horses in the EAS industry. Systematic reviews provide a structured approach to organizing current literature and identifying gaps in the research. The goal of this systematic review is to summarize the existing literature on the stress and welfare of horses in EAS and pinpoint areas requiring further investigation. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, five databases were searched using terms relevant to EAS. Of the search result, 28 papers met the criteria for inclusion, requiring research to be published in English, in a peer-reviewed journal, studying EAS and its effects on equine welfare. Of the 28, 24 articles focused on quantitative data, including behavioral and physiological indicators of stress and welfare. The remaining 4 articles were survey and EAS module analysis, providing qualitative data about EAS horses. From the selected papers, we found the following trends related to EAS horse stress indicators. First, 20 (71.4 %) papers investigated physiological indicators, and 16 (57.1 %) investigated behavioral indicators. The sample size in 16 (57.1 %) articles was ten or fewer animals. The results in 17 (60.7 %) of the articles found that there was no significant difference in horses' stress or that no conclusions could be drawn regarding the horses' stress and welfare. A survey conducted by Rankins et al. (2021) revealed that the most common problems EAS centers face are behavioral and soundness issues leading to high horse turnover. Despite these findings, many studies found a lack of significant differences in their results, likely due to limitations in study design, highlighting significant gaps in the research. We also identified several inconsistent factors that are likely to affect and confound the results of EAS research. Therefore, given the limited knowledge about the welfare of horses working in EAS and the confounding factors that are likely to influence the results of studies, more robust research is needed to better understand the challenges of horses working in EAS and their welfare. • Research in Equine-assisted service horse welfare has been largely based on behavior and physiological indicators. • The most common behavioral indicators were head, ear, and tail posture. • Heart rate, heart rate variability, and cortisol were common physiological indicators. • Lack of conclusive findings on horse stress and variable research methods lead to inconsistent research conclusions. • More robust studies are required to understand horse welfare in EAS and address confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of temperament of the order Psittaciformes has been expanding over the past decades due to the publication of papers investigating individual differences in various species. This review aimed to integrate studies on the temperament of Psittaciformes in a systematized manner, focusing on methodological aspects. It also aimed to reveal the main dimensions of temperament described for these species, identify possible gaps and suggest new themes that deserve the scientific community's attention. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was followed, and the search was conducted using Population, Intervention, and Context (PICo) terms. Three databases were used (Scopus, Web of Science, and CABI), resulting in a total of 24 publications included. The most used term to express consistent interindividual behavioral differences was 'personality' (11; 45.83 %), followed by 'temperament' (8; 33.33 %), without a clear distinction of both in this research field. Studies on temperament were conducted within the families Psittacidae (18; 75 %), Psittaculidae (4; 16.67 %) and Cacatuidae (2; 8.33 %), with the genus Amazona being the most investigated (14; 58.33 %). Regarding context, all papers used animals under human care (kept in captive environments). In total, 22 temperament dimensions were compiled, with 'boldness' (or 'shy-bold' axis or 'shyness-boldness'), 'neophobia/neophilia', 'exploration', and 'vigilance' being the most common. Quantitative methods of assessment (coding) were more commonly applied, being used in 19 (79.17 %) publications, compared to qualitative ones (rating methods). Among the factors related to temperament, pre- and post-release behavior was the most investigated (5; 20.83 %). We could conclude that studies were concentrated on a few taxonomic groups, highlighting the need to broaden the subjects studied, including other families, genera, and species. Furthermore, it would be interesting to expand the temperament evaluations into wild contexts to better understand consistent interindividual differences in parrots' natural behaviors. More efforts should be directed towards methodological and conceptual standardization, in addition to applying temporal consistency analyses. Some additional gaps that have not been studied yet include research on the genetic basis, as well as morphophysiological and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying temperament in Psittaciformes. • A systematic review about temperament in Psittaciformes birds was conducted. • The search resulted in 24 publications, with Psittacidae and Cacatuidae families. • The most registered temperament dimensions were boldness, neophobia/neophilia, exploration, and vigilance. • Among the factors related to temperament, pre- and post-release behavior was the most investigated. • Several gaps were identified in this field of study, presenting opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Choice and control" is a phrase used widely in animal welfare science to describe providing captive animals with the ability to select between possible outcomes (stimuli or events). This concept has gained traction as a pivotal management technique across a variety of captive settings; however, little has been done to quantitatively evaluate choice as a welfare-improving practice. Our goal was to use a PRISMA framework to identify and review the current empirical literature on the welfare effects of choice provisions by examining measurable behavioural and biological outcomes. We evaluated choice-based studies which used an experiment design to compare choice to non-choice conditions and the impact of choice on welfare. Covidence software was used to screen and extract data from peer-reviewed literature identified across PubMed, Web of Science Advanced, and Scopus Advanced databases. Study inclusion was contingent upon a methodology which offered options for at least two or more stimuli/events given concurrently and which also contrasted a choice condition to a non-choice condition. A total of 13 papers were identified and included in this review. The majority of the papers included choices associated with enclosure access, food, and enrichment devices which resulted in improved behavioral and physiological welfare indicators across zoological, agricultural, and research laboratory settings. However, the presence of a couple papers reporting unclear or neutral impacts highlighted the need for further empirical research into the welfare impacts of choice. Increased experimental examinations with a wider range of captive settings and species are discussed and considered necessary to better comprehend the welfare benefits of providing increased choice opportunities for captive animals. [Display omitted] • Choice is considered a critical component of captive animal welfare. • We conducted a scoping review of experimental studies of choice and welfare. • Most choice studies were conducted with mammals, in zoos, and on enclosure manipulations. • Most studies showed a positive effect from a choice condition, but more research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predatory behaviour is a relevant part of the behavioural repertoire of dogs, which often entails negative or desirable implications, depending on the context and target to which it is directed. It is also considered one of the most characterising aspects of breed-specific behaviour. Despite its relevance, there is surprisingly little scientific knowledge about the topic. In the present study we sought to develop an ethogram of the predatory sequence of dogs, with the aim of providing a sufficiently general structure to be applicable to dogs at large, without eluding peculiar aspects of the species' specific behaviour. Sixty videos of dogs of different breeds expressing predatory acts, including both videos obtained from public internet repositories and videos made on purpose, were described in detail by two different observers. From descriptions, a general sequence was identified, consisting of four functional phases, i.e. search, approach, chase and bite. The descriptions of the behaviours included in each phase were organised into three levels, characterised by different levels of detail and focusing on different aspects of the behaviour. When appropriate, these descriptions highlighted differences in behaviour expressed by dogs belonging to different working groups. The ethogram proposed in the present paper could represent a useful starting point for improving knowledge about the predatory behaviour of dogs and answering relevant questions about both its evolution and ontogeny. • 60 videos of dogs expressing different predatory behaviour were analysed. • The functional phases of the predatory sequence: search, approach, chase, bite. • Behaviours in each phase is organized into 3 levels of detail and behavioural focus. • Ethogram shows consistency in the sequence and breed-specific differences in phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]