Blink rate assessment as an indicator of brain activity in populations of domestic and semi feral native pony breeds

Martin, Susan Katherine Anne-Marie (2023) Blink rate assessment as an indicator of brain activity in populations of domestic and semi feral native pony breeds. Masters thesis, University of Gloucestershire. doi:10.46289/YVIZ6102

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Abstract

Spontaneous Bink Rate (SBR) has been used as an inferred measure of dopamine (DA) transmission in humans for a number of decades, in order to learn more about dopamine related disorders such as Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. More recently, SBR has been correlated with both stress levels, emotional state and welfare, cognitive indicators and stereotypic behaviours in domestic horses (Roberts et al 2016). However, in order for SBR to be used effectively in this species for diagnostic and research purposes, it is critical to first establish accurate base line values. Generating this data became a primary objective for this work. In addition, in order to 1) validate SBR quantification methods that can be applied to free-roaming horses and 2) to ascertain the potential effects of domestication, both semi-feral and domestic herds from various UK breeds were sought as research subjects. A total of 128 individuals were studied between September 2019 and October 2022, with animals recruited from free living semi-feral herds with a minimum of human contact and domestic populations kept under traditional management regimes with a mixture of stabled and turnout livery. The study group consisted of UK breeds including New Forest, Exmoor, Shetland, Welsh section A and Eriskay ponies. Full blinks, partial blinks and eyelid flutters were measured for 15 seconds on 10 separate but consecutive occasions for each horse. Irrespective of breed, domestic horses exhibited significantly lower full blink values (mean 0.974 ± 0.6215 s.d) than semi-feral equivalents (mean 1.678 ± 0.855 s.d). However, domestic animals displayed higher SBR (mean 9.813 ± 3.890 s.d) than semi-feral counterparts (mean 8.1625 ± 3.274 s.d) for partial blinks. The baseline values for full blinks from domestic horses can now be used to inform future research. However, further investigation needs to be carried out to verify the partial blinks with respect for comparison of the results, to verify that partial blinks can be used for dopamine tone, welfare and stress level indication. At breed level, domestic Eriskay ponies exhibited lower full blinks compared to the semi-feral equivalents. With reference to partial blinks, New Forest semi-feral horses recorded significantly higher values than domestic animals of this breed. Finally, no significant effects were observed, where season or time of day were concerned.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Additional Information:	A thesis submitted to the University of Gloucestershire in accordance with the requirements of the degree of a Masters by Research (MScR). In collaboration with The Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	spontaneous blink rate; domestic ponies; semi feral ponies
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2026 10:16
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2026 10:16
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16572

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