Domestication and Welfare

Question 1

hunger and thirst
discomfort
pain and injury
fear and distress
free to express natural behavior

Answer 1

Equine welfare 5 freedoms

Question 2

free ranging social contact
breeding band
- mature stallion
-mares
-immature offspring
-most offspring leave at puberty
-males from bachelor bands

Answer 2

feral herd structure

Question 3

percent of time doing specific activites
-45.2% feeding
-33.3% standing
-8.3% laying down

horses sleep less than predators (15-20%)
sleep in small time segments

Answer 3

time budget of horse

Question 4

horses desire companionship
safety in numbers
more eyes and ears alert to danger
social faciliation
behaviors the group does together
huddling for warmth
sleeping in shifts

horses are most vulnerable when laying down

horses that live in barns may not have optimal welfare

Answer 4

herd behavior

Question 5

not necessarily a herd
often less time spent foraging
45% of a feral horses time budget
have some social contact
outdoor setting and in barn
some horses isolated

being in a stall 24/7 is not how a horse should spend its time, should be outside

Answer 5

domesticated horses

Question 6

high confinement for some
limited social interaction for others
limited foraging for some (higher quality hay)
high concentrate diet
stereotypic behaviors

Answer 6

modern horse keeping

Question 7

cover the basics of health and nutrition and watch for signs of pain

allow for some social contact and affiliation

provide opportunities to express natural behaviors (movement and chewing)

Answer 7

good welfare

Question 8

body condition and availability of food and water
prevalence of lameness and soreness
frequency of stereotypical behaviors
attitudes of horses (aggressive and dull or apathetic)

Answer 8

welfare concerns