ANBI411: horse behaviour

living in groups

• single ale harem bands most common (1stallion and mutliple females)

• multiple-male bands, but only dominant stallion breeds

• bachelor bands

spatial use

• bands occupy home ranges

• size of group varies depending in where thet are and climate

mountain groups

• smaller groups

• harsh environment

• limited resources

• smaller range

desert groups

• larger range

• still medium group

• more resources

island groups

• small range

• male defends

• larger groups (lots of mosquitos)

cohesion and dispersal

• harem or bands

• death or birth main reasons for change in the herd

• chnage through young moving from one band to another

young mares

• driven out by older mares or taken by other stallions

young stallions

• leave voluntarily or driven out by herd stallion

inter-group interactions

• harem stallions defends his females

• stallions fighting- usually mock fighting to prevent injuries

intra-group interactions

• horses form social bonds

  • form stable hierarchies

  • tolerance and attachment relationships

• male-male- dominant does most of breeding, younger allowed to breed some

• male-female- male approaches female preceding oestrus

• female-female- pair bonds

communication; visions

• wide visual field

• 2 blind spots: right behind and right infront

• monocular vision

• maintains visual contact with herd

• prey species

• good night vision (rods)

communication: visual signals

• facial movements : dialted nostrils, fixed stare, clenched jaw

• aggression: ear back, tail swish, head and tail high

• depression,pain,distress: dropped head/tail, wrinkled nose

• relaxed: drooping lip

communication: vocalisation

• hear more than humans

• ears are large and can rotate to detect predatrs and locate herd

• subtle language to not attract predators

nicker

• low pitched pulsating

• closed mouth

• greeting, maintaining contact, before feeding

whinny (neigh)

• loud

• calling of mate or friend

• social isolation- maintaining contact

squeal

• aggression contacts

• sets boundries

• mating

groan

• comfort OR distress and discomfort

snort

• excitement OR stress

• conflict

• clearing airwats

• alert situations

• interesting odor

blow

high anxiety situations

communication: smell and taste

• scent mark

• use scent to identify their young

• group scents

• mating- receptivity indication through urine pheromones

vomeronasal organ

• on floor of nasal cavity

• detects pheromones

• horse curls top lip to allow air to drop onto organ

managing sport horses

• usually involve controlled exercise

• restricted feeding regimes

• restricted housing for part of day

tie stalls

• social behaviours restricted

• cant form groups

box stalls

• can see other horses

• sometimes groom each other

• small group

loose housing

• social behaviour possible

• cant get away from each other

• limited space

separation- breaking social bonds

1. breeding practices: mares usually taken to the stallion

2. early management: weaning

separation problems

• young stallions separated at young age dont learn social skills

• abnormal breeding practices with mare tehtered amd stallion muzzled (reduction male interest)

abnormal behaviours

• stereotypies - locomotion anf oral

• helps animal cope and improves performance

stereotypies: locomotory

• weaving

• box or stall walking

• shifting leg to leg

• swinging head side to side

stereotypies: oral

• wind sucking

• crib biting

manageing stereotypies

• prevent behaviour from starting

• chnage management system