Equine personality assessments can be made with this questionnaire by assigning a numerical score for all the personality traits listed in the following questions. Make your judgments based on your own understanding of the trait guided by the short clarifying definition following each trait. The equine’s own behaviours and interactions with other equines should be the basis for your numerical ratings. Use your own subjective judgment of typical equine behaviour to decide if the equine you are scoring is above, below, or average for a trait. The following seven-point scale should be used to make your ratings.
This tool is designed aid understanding of equine personality and is not a diagnostic tool. As well as providing information on personality for those using the tool, it is gathering data to further validate the use of the tool to ensure that it is a reliable method of assessing equine personality. The use of this tool is entirely voluntary. You can withdraw from continuing the use of the tool at any point up to the point of submission. Your responses will be confidential. If you choose to provide your email address, we will collect this for the purposes of providing you access to your results in the future and enabling you to register for an account without losing previously submitted responses. If you do not provide your email you can still view the report however you will not be able to recall this at a later date.The data you provide will be stored on secure servers and no identifying data will be shared.
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By checking the 'Accept' button, you are confirming that:· You understand that you are free to withdraw your consent for involvement, up until the point of submission.· You understand that no identifying data will appear in any published document relating to this study.· You understand that the data collected will - though fully anonymised - appear in publications and reports relevant to this area of research.By continuing and submitting a response to the survey, you agree that you have read and understood the above and have given informed consent. If you do not want to take part, you can close this browser window now.Please tick to confirm that you have read and understood the above statement and consent to participate in this survey.
IRRITABLE: Equine often seems in a bad mood or is impatient and easily provoked to anger, exasperation, and consequent agonistic behaviour.
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CONVENTIONAL: Equine seems to lack spontaneity or originality. Equine behaves in a consistent manner from day to day and stays well within the social rules of the group.
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CURIOUS: Equine has a desire to see or know about objects, people, or other horses. This includes a desire to know about the affairs of other horses or activities that do not directly concern the equine.
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INDEPENDENT: Equine is individualistic and determines its own course of action without control or interference from other horses.
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ASSERTIVE: Equine is able to displace, threaten, or take resources from other horses. Or equine may express high status by decisively intervening in social interactions.
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CONFRONTATIONAL: Equine often initiates fights or other agonistic encounters with other horses.
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EXCITABLE: Equine is easily aroused to an emotional state. Equine becomes highly aroused by situations that would cause less arousal in most horses.
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ACTIVE: Equine spends little time idle and seems motivated to spend considerable time either moving around or engaging in some overt, energetic behaviour.
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INVENTIVE: Equine is more likely than others to do new things including novel social or non-social behaviours. Novel behaviour may also include innovative ways of using objects or materials.
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SOLITARY: Equine prefers to spend considerable time alone not seeking or avoiding contact with other horses.
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AFFECTIONATE: Equine seems to have a warm attachment or closeness with other horses or humans. This may entail frequently grooming, touching, or spending time next to others.
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UNEMOTIONAL: Equine is relatively placid and unlikely to become aroused, upset, happy, or sad.
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PREDICTABLE: Equine’s behaviour is consistent and steady over extended periods of time. Equine does little that is unexpected or deviates from its usual behavioural routine.
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PLAYFUL: Equine is eager to engage in lively, vigorous, sportive, or acrobatic behaviours with or without other horses.
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PERSISTENT: Equine tends to continue in a course of action, task, or strategy for a long time or continues despite opposition from other horses or humans.
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IMPULSIVE: Equine often displays some spontaneous or sudden behaviour that could not have been anticipated. There often seems to be some emotional reason behind the sudden behaviour.
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ACQUIESCENT: Equine often gives in or yields to another horse. Equine acts as if it is subordinate or defers to other horses.
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DEPRESSED: Equine does not seek out social interactions with others and often fails to respond to social interactions of other horses. Equine often appears isolated, withdrawn and has reduced activity.
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HELPFUL: Equine is willing to assist, accommodate, or cooperate with other horses.
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INDIVIDUALISTIC: Equine’s behaviour stands out compared to that of the other individuals in the group. This does not mean that it does not fit or is incompatible with the group.
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SOCIABLE: Equine seeks and enjoys the company of other horses and engages in amicable, affable, interactions with them.
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DEFIANT: Equine is assertive or contentious in a way inconsistent with the usual dominance order. Equine maintains these actions despite unfavourable consequences or threats from others.
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SYMPATHETIC: Equine seems to be considerate and kind towards others as if sharing their feelings or trying to provide reassurance.
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FEARFUL: Equine reacts excessively to real or imagined threats by displaying behaviours such as snorting, shying, moving away or other signs of anxiety or distress.
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DECISIVE: Equine is deliberate, determined, and purposeful in its activities.
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DISTRACTIBLE: Equine is easily distracted and has a short attention span.
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BULLYING: Equine is overbearing and intimidating towards younger or more acquiescent horses.
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UNPERCEPTIVE: Equine is slow to respond or understand moods, dispositions, or behaviours of others.
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INNOVATIVE: Equine engages in new or different behaviours that may involve the use of objects or materials or ways of interacting with others.
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TIMID: Equine lacks self-confidence, is easily alarmed and is hesitant to venture into new social or non-social situations.
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COOL: Equine seems unaffected by emotions and is usually undisturbed, assured, and calm.
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SENSITIVE: Equine can understand or read the mood, disposition, feelings, or intentions of other horses often on the basis of subtle, minimal cues.
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INTELLIGENT: Equine is quick and accurate in judging and comprehending both social and non-social situations. Equine is perceptive and discerning about social relationships.
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FRIENDLY: Equine often seeks out contact with other horses for amiable, genial activities. Equine infrequently initiates hostile behaviours towards other horses.
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GENTLE: Equine responds to others in an easy-going, kind, and considerate manner. Equine is not rough or threatening.
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VULNERABLE: Equine is prone to be physically or emotionally hurt as a result of highly assertive behaviour, aggression, or attack by another horse.
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CAUTIOUS: Equine often seems attentive to possible harm or danger from its actions. Equine avoids risky behaviours.