Equine Behavior

Question 1

why study behavior?

Answer 1

guides handling and management, safety, and best housing practices

Question 2

horses are gregarious

Answer 2

live in groups

Question 3

horses form harems

Answer 3

group of females, share a male
-head stallion = protection and breeding
-head mare = tells herd what, when, and where

Question 4

hierarchy

Answer 4

not about size, show dominance by controlling movement

Question 5

reactive

Answer 5

natural preservation, response to homeostasis

Question 6

ingestive

Answer 6

how horses eat, first behavioral trait

Question 7

eliminative

Answer 7

rid of waste, urine or feces

Question 8

sexual

Answer 8

seasonal, spring and summer

Question 9

epimeletic

Answer 9

caregiving behaviors

Question 10

agnostic

Answer 10

fight or flight

Question 11

allelomimetic

Answer 11

mimicking behavior

Question 12

investigative

Answer 12

curious, easily scared

Question 13

grooming

Answer 13

horses groom each other

Question 14

sleep and rest

Answer 14

very important, can sleep standing up or laying down

Question 15

vision

Answer 15

monocular and binocular
– head placement affects range
– has to adjust to light changes

Question 16

hearing

Answer 16

• better than sight
• each ear moves independently
• projects body language

Question 17

what percent of time is spent eating?

Answer 17

60%
-multiple small meals

Question 18

what percent of time standing?

Answer 18

20%
- “stay apparatus” = lock front knees and back leg to sleep

Question 19

what percent of time spent laying?

Answer 19

10%

Question 20

Stereotypic Behaviors

Answer 20

repetitive, invariant behavior pattern with no goal or function due to boredom and/or stress.
–> affects 15% of horses

Question 21

locomotive stereotypic behaviors

Answer 21

pacing and weaving