Equine Behavior Flashcards
What are harems?
One mature breeding stallion, several mature mares and their immature offspring
What are bachelor bands?
all male non-breeding groups
What is the approximate weaning period of horses?
1-3 years
What is the pace of weaning? Time period?
Gradual; 6-12 months
What does it mean for foals to be precocial?
They can see. hear, stand, move upon birth
What are the average time budgets for foraging and resting?
Foraging 50-80%
Resting 20-30%
What do horses do when the weather changes?
Play
Activities are done in a ________.
group
How can horses rest?
lateral recumbency or standing
How often do horses trek to water?
daily or every other day, strict order
What is the order of horses?
Mare leads, stallion follows behind
What can foals do within one hour?
Stand and nurse
What can foals do in one day?
run, play, explore, groom
How long do foals stay close to their mom?
2 weeks
How often does nursing occur?
3-6 per hour
When do foals forage?
2 weeks
How do horses communicate visually?
Subtle cues
When does the foal receive colostrum?
8-24 hours
How do horses communicate with touch?
touch head or neck as pass
How do horses communicate with smell?
breath, urine, feces, flehmen (curling lip)
How do horses communicate with sound?
Long and close range vocalizations, hoof sounds
Describe the features of a stall kept horse?
Isolation, On bedding, diet on grain, time budget VERY different
Best way to pet a horse?
With strokes
Describe the features of a pasture kept horse?
Mares act as would in harem, gelding like in lead stallion, gelding group like bachelor band
What can happen due to artificial weaning?
gastriculcers
Best practice for weaning?
Removing dominate mare first, the second, so forth SLOWLY
What are the 3 M’s of treating behavior problems? 3 F’s?
Motivation
Management
Modification
Friends
Forage
Freedom
Describe the law of effect.
Behavior with a pleasant consequence repeated
Neutral/Negative- reduced
Classical Learning Theory is based on…
Emotion
Operant Learning Theory is based on…
Action
Habituation is based on…
Attention
What is the result of modified flooding?
Potential desensitization, not likely to have long lasting effect
What is the result of serious flooding?
Major interference with mare-foal bondingt
What is the best practice for human imprinting?
allows mare/foal to bond, handle short periods, allow foal to come to you
How do horses distance themselves? Most common of two?
Flight or fight; flight
At what point does the fear period begin?
7 days
How do we know when horses hurt?
Prey species SO very good at masking pain
Pain looks like fear
What is the most common type of complaint with horse owners?
Behavioral which likely means environment, pain, or fear
What is the horse grimace scale?
quantifier of pain in horses
What are indicators of pain in horses?
Stiffly backwards ears
Orbital tightening
Tension above eye area
Prominent strained chewing muscles
Mouth strained and pronounced chin
Strained nostrils and flattening of the profile
What are diagnostics for horses?
Palpation
Lameness Exam
Imaging
24 hr video
Endocrine/Hormone systems
