ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR - Equine Behaviour

Question 1

What are the five features of a relaxed horse?

Answer 1

Ears forward and relaxed
Head at shoulder level
No sclera showing
No nostril flaring
Relaxed tail

Question 2

What are the six features of an excited horse?

Answer 2

Ears pinned forward
Furrowed brows
Some sclera showing
Nostril flaring
Slightly raised tail
Tense muzzle

Question 3

What are the five features of a nervous horse?

Answer 3

Ears pinned towards source of concern
Head above shoulder level
Visible sclera
Flared nostrils
High tail carriage

Question 4

What are the six features of a stressed/defensive horse?

Answer 4

Ears pinned back
Furrowed brows
Tense neck
Tense muzzle
Flared nostrils
High or swishing tail

Question 5

Which breed of horse has a naturally raised tail?

Important to be aware of this when reading equine body language

Answer 5

Arabian

Question 6

What are the three basic needs of horses?

Answer 6

Companionship
Forage
Freedom

Question 7

What are the consequences if the three basic needs of horses are not fulfilled?

Answer 7

Restriction of any of these basic needs can cause a physiological stress response in horses

Question 8

Which component of companionship is particulary beneficial for horses?

Answer 8

Mutual grooming

Question 9

What is the optimal herd size for horses to allow for companionship but prevent competition?

Answer 9

4 - 6 horses is the ideal herd size to allow for companionship but prevent competition

Question 10

For how many hours do horses forage daily?

Answer 10

Horses forage for 16 hours daily

Question 11

What is post inhibitory rebound in horses?

Answer 11

Post inhibitory rebound is a behaviour that occurs in horses that have been stabled for long periods of time where when they are at last turned out, they will feel the need to run and play at a high intensity which can increases their risk of injury

Question 12

What are stereotypies in horses?

Answer 12

Stereotypies in horses are repetitive actions or sounds which can arise as a response to stress and/or boredom

Question 13

What are five common stereotypie behaviours seen in horses?

Answer 13

Yawning
Crib biting
Wind sucking
Box walking
Weaving

Question 14

What can be indicated by yawning in horses?

Answer 14

For horses, yawning can be indicative of stress/mild pain

Question 15

What is the difference between crib biting and wind sucking?

Answer 15

Crib biting is when a horse repeatedly bites something such as a stable door or fence post. Wind sucking is when a horse crib bites followed by sucking air into their stomach

Question 16

What is one of the main risks of crib biting?

Answer 16

Crib biting can cause damage to the incisors

Question 17

How can wind sucking increase the risk of a horse developing colic?

Answer 17

When a horse is wind sucking, they are sucking air into their stomach which can cause gastric ulcers, simple colonic obstruction, distention and epiploic foramen entraption - all of which can cause colic

Question 18

What is box walking?

Answer 18

Box walking is repetitive walking, often in circles or up and down the fence line, in the stable or a small paddock

Question 19

What is one of the main risks of box walking?

Answer 19

Box walking can cause or exacerbate lameness. This is particularly important as horses are often put on box rest because of lameness or because they are at a high risk of laminitis, so it is important to prevent box walking behaviour as this could worsen the lameness or stimulate laminitis

Question 20

What is weaving?

Answer 20

Weaving is when a horse remains stationary but repeatedly shifts it’s weight between their forelimbs whilst laterally swaying their head

Question 21

What is one of the main risks of weaving?

Answer 21

Weaving puts pressure on the horse’s feet which can cause or exacerbate lameness

Question 22

What is the best way to prevent stereotypie behaviours in horses?

Answer 22

The best way to prevent stereotypie behaviours in horses is to provide them with a stimulating and interesting environment

Question 23

List five methods that can be used to provide horses with an interesting environment and prevent stereotypie behaviours

Answer 23

Provide companionship
Stick to a routine
Regular supply of forage
Toys in stable
Mirror in stable

Question 24

What are five horse behaviours that owners often perceive as ‘bad’ behaviour?

Answer 24

Bucking
Rearing
Napping
Spooking
Girthy

Question 25

What is bucking?

Answer 25

Bucking is when a horse kicks out with their hindlimbs

Question 26

What is rearing?

Answer 26

Rearing is when a horse brings itself up onto their hindlimbs

Question 27

What four factors can cause bucking and rearing behaviours in horses?

Answer 27

Pain
Lameness
Rider error/miscommunication
Being ‘fresh’

Question 28

What does being ‘fresh’ mean in regards to horses?

Answer 28

Being ‘fresh’ in regards to horses means that the horse is full of energy

Question 29

What is napping?

Answer 29

Napping is when a horse is resisting the bit/bridle when ridden or not moving in the direction the rider requests

Question 30

Which five factors can cause napping behaviours in horses?

Answer 30

Neck pain
Dental pain
Lameness
Rider error/miscommunication
Fear

Question 31

What can owners expect in terms of their horse’s napping behaviour after correcting dental pain?

Answer 31

Owners should be aware that even after correcting dental pain in horses, the napping behaviour may persist for a while until the horse readjusts to the bit and bridle. Therefore owners should not be able to immediately ride their horse as normal

Question 32

If called out to assess bucking, rearing or napping behaviour in a horse, why is it important to assess the horse while the are being ridden in addition to not being ridden?

Answer 32

It is crucial to assess a horse displaying bucking, rearing or napping behaviours when they are being ridden to determine if these behaviours are being caused by rider error/miscommunication

Question 33

What is spooking?

Answer 33

Spooking is when a horse bolts when frightened

Question 34

Which five factors can cause a horse to spook?

Answer 34

Inexperienced ‘green’ horse
Tense rider
Pain
Poor vision
Loud noise/movement nearby

Question 35

Why is it important to advise riders NOT to discipline their horse when they spook?

Answer 35

Disciplining a horse when they spook can teach them to be scared of the rider in addition to the thing that frightened them in the first place

Question 36

What is girthy behaviour in horses?

Answer 36

Girthy behaviour is when horses are reactive to the girth being tightened on their saddle

Question 37

What can be indicated by girthy behaviour in horses?

Answer 37

Girthy behaviour in horses is strongly associated with pain

Question 38

What are four training methods that can be used for horses?

Answer 38

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Positive punishment
Negative punishment

Question 39

What is positive reinforement in terms of training horses?

Answer 39

Positive reinforcement is the addition of a reward (such as a treat) in response to a horse performing the correct action

Question 40

Why is it important to reward the correct behaviour quickly when using positive reinforcement for training horses?

Answer 40

Horse’s have a poor short term memory so it is important to reward the desired behaviour within half a second of the horse carrying out the behaviour

Question 41

What is negative reinforement in terms of training horses?

Answer 41

Negative reinforcement is the removal of a mildly unwanted stimulus to reward the horse performing the correct action

Question 42

What is positive punishment in terms of training horses?

This is NOT a recommended method!

Answer 42

Positive punishment is using something like a whip or shouting at the horse when they carry out the incorrect action

This is NOT a recommended method!

Question 43

What is negative punishment in terms of training horses?

This is NOT a recommended method!

Answer 43

Negative punishment is the removal of something the horse enjoys when the horse carries out the incorrect action

This is NOT a recommended method!

Question 44

What causes horses to remain sensitive to past negative experiences, resulting in ongoing behavioural challenges?

Answer 44

Horses react based on how they perceive a stimulus to be, not necessarily to how aversive the stimulus actually is. This causes the horse to hold onto the memory of what they perceive to be an extremely aversive experience and remain sensitive to this unless habituated to the stimulus