Terms

Equine Behaviour and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ)
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION STATEMENT
(1) What is this study about?
You are invited to take part in a research study about horse behaviour and management. The study is
designed to gather information on how we manage and handle horses and to investigate how these
practices affect behaviour. E-BARQ is the first survey of its kind to cover multiple aspects of horse
behaviour and training and it follows in the footsteps of the very successful C-BARQ that has already
proved so useful to dog owners, enthusiasts and professionals.
You have been invited to participate in this study because you are a horse owner and familiar with your
own horse’s behaviour. This Participant Information Statement tells you about the research study.
Knowing what is involved will help you decide if you want to take part in the research. Please read this
sheet carefully and ask questions about anything that you don’t understand or want to know more
about.
Participation in this research study is voluntary.
By giving your consent to take part in this study you are telling us that you:
✔ Understand what you have read.
✔ Agree to take part in the research study as outlined below.
Equine Behaviour and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ)
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION STATEMENT
(1) What is this study about?
You are invited to take part in a research study about horse behaviour and management. The study is
designed to gather information on how we manage and handle horses and to investigate how these
practices affect behaviour. E-BARQ is the first survey of its kind to cover multiple aspects of horse
behaviour and training and it follows in the footsteps of the very successful C-BARQ that has already
proved so useful to dog owners, enthusiasts and professionals.
You have been invited to participate in this study because you are a horse owner and familiar with your
own horse’s behaviour. This Participant Information Statement tells you about the research study.
Knowing what is involved will help you decide if you want to take part in the research. Please read this
sheet carefully and ask questions about anything that you don’t understand or want to know more
about.
Participation in this research study is voluntary.
By giving your consent to take part in this study you are telling us that you:
ü Understand what you have read.
ü Agree to take part in the research study as outlined below.
ü Agree to the use of your personal information as described.
You can download a copy of this Participant Information Statement to keep.
(2) Who is running the study?
The study is being carried out by the following researchers Agree to the use of your personal information as described.
You can download a copy of this Participant Information Statement to keep.
(2) Who is running the study?
The study is being carried out by the following researchers:

Kate Fenner is conducting this study as the basis for the degree of PhD at The University of Sydney.
This will take place under the supervision of Prof Paul McGreevy.
(3) What will the study involve for me?
The survey will ask you questions about your horse, starting with your horse’s age and breed and
them moving on to particulars about your horse’s behaviour. We know that you know your horse
better than anyone, so you are the best person to describe your horse’s behaviour as well as details
about how your horse is housed and trained.
Several factors effect how we manage our horses and E-BARQ will gather demographic information
about you as a horse owner or handler, including questions relating to your personality, gender and
country of residence.
Many people have more than one horse and you are welcome to do a separate survey for each horse
that you own but we suggest starting with the horse you spend the most time with. There are
separate sections for ridden and non-ridden (companion, young, breeding or resting) and you will be
presented with only the questions that apply to your particular situation.
If you own or lease a horse, you are welcome to complete the survey. We will ask for your email
address so that we can send you a follow-up survey in 6 months’ time, which will enable you to
record any changes in your horse’s behaviour. Your email address will be securely stored at Sydney
University and not used for any other purpose. If you do not wish to take the follow-up survey, and
you are under no obligation to do so, you can simply ignore the email.
(4) How much of my time will the study take?
The survey should take about 20-30 minutes to complete and is in a tick-box format with no requests
for answers that require typing.
(5) Who can take part in the study?
If you own or lease a horse or have regular contact with and control over a horse’s management and
training, you can take the E-BARQ survey.
(6) Do I have to be in the study? Can I withdraw from the study once I’ve started?
Being in this study is completely voluntary and you do not have to take part. Your decision whether
to participate will not affect your current or future relationship with the researchers or anyone else
at the University of Sydney.
Submitting your completed questionnaire is an indication of your consent to participate in the study.
You can withdraw your responses if you change your mind about having them included in the study,
up to the point that we have analysed and published the results.
If you decide to take part in the study and then change your mind later, you are free to withdraw at
any time. You can do this by ignoring the follow-up email or replying to that email requesting
withdrawal. There are no consequences to withdrawal from the survey.
(7) Are there any risks or costs associated with being in the study?

Aside from giving up your time, we do not expect that there will be any risks or costs associated with
taking part in this study.
(8) Are there any benefits associated with being in the study?
While there are no direct benefits to being involved in the study, you will be contributing to the body
of knowledge on horse behaviour and training and helping to improve horse welfare in the long
term. If you decide to do the follow-up survey, you will also be able to see how changes in your
management and training affect your horse’s behaviour.
(9) What will happen to information about me that is collected during the study?
The only piece of information about you will be an email address for the purposes of notifying you
when the follow-up survey is available for you. This will not be shared with others. It will be kept within
Sydney University’s secure data base.
At the end of the survey, you will be able to compare your horse’s behaviour to others that have been
described via the E-BARQ. When we have gathered a significant number of responses, results will be
analysed and they will appear in journal publications.
By providing your consent, you are agreeing to us collecting personal information about you for the
purposes of this research study. Your information will only be used for the purposes outlined in this
Participant Information Statement, unless you consent otherwise.
Your information will be stored securely and your identity/information will be kept strictly confidential,
except as required by law. Study findings may be published, but you will not be individually identifiable
in these publications.
We will keep the information we collect for this study, and we may use it in future projects. By
providing your consent you are allowing us to use your information in future projects. We don’t know
at this stage what these other projects will involve. We will seek ethical approval before using the
information in these future projects.
(10) Can I tell other people about the study?
Yes, you are welcome to tell other people about the study.
(11) What if I would like further information about the study?
When you have read this information, Kate Fenner will be available to discuss it with you further and
answer any questions you may have. If you would like to know more at any stage during the study,
please feel free to contact Kate Fenner at kfen3285@uni.sydney.edu.au
(12) Will I be told the results of the study?
You have a right to receive feedback about the overall results of this study and will do so immediately
after completing your survey. You can also tell us that you wish to receive further updates on how EBARQ is progressing by going to www.e-barq.com and completing the Newsletter form on that page.
Newsletters will keep you up-to-date on how the study is progressing, findings and identify journal
articles involving E-BARQ.

Your individual results will be available to you on completion of the survey and, once entered into
the system, no individual results will be accessible to others.
(13) What if I have a complaint or any concerns about the study?
Research involving humans in Australia is reviewed by an independent group of people called a
Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by
the HREC of the University of Sydney2012/656. As part of this process, we have agreed to carry out
the study according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007). This
statement has been developed to protect people who agree to take part in research studies.
If you are concerned about the way this study is being conducted or you wish to make a complaint to
someone independent from the study, please contact the university using the details outlined below.
Please quote the study title and protocol number.
The Manager, Ethics Administration, University of Sydney:
• Telephone: +61 2 8627 8176
• Email: human.ethics@sydney.edu.au
• Fax: +61 2 8627 8177 (Facsimile)