Equine behaviour Flashcards
Origin of equids
Four ancestral breeds (subspecies)
Originally, most horses were ponies
A pony is <14.2 hands high
4 inches to a hand measured from sole of foot to withers
Animal behaviour of wild horses
(Przewalski ‘wild’ Horse)
Live in bands (harems) of 10 to 20 horses
Time audit, daylight
45% time eating
15% moving
35% resting
Night
Lie down for about 10% of time (longer in foals)
Domesticated horses animal behaviour
Large groups of mares with stallions split themselves into bands controlled by a stallion
Younger colts and fillies stay with group until 2-3 years old
Then live alone for a few months
Join a new group
Stallions tend not to breed their own daughters
Young stallions may from bachelor bands
Groups of mares and geldings with no stallion often group together under a boss mare or gelding
In a band, relationships (dominance) are linear
Dominance determines order in which horses obtain resources e.g.
Access to stallion (if mare in heat)
Drink at a waterer
Grazing behaviour in horses
Time grazing: preference 60 to 80% of daylight hours grazing
Can eat sufficient in 4 hours on good pasture
Only lie down for 10 to 15% of day
Pasture utilization
Horses avoid feces (latrines)
Avoid forages with a lot of stem
Results in roughs and lawns (good areas)
Smell in horses
Use the sense of smell to identify their surroundings
Pheromones given off by an individual horse help identify it to others
Signal sexual receptivity
Hearing in horses
Far better developed than in humans
Use low, quiet voices
Ears move independently of each other in a 180 rotation
Where a horses’ ears are is where its thoughts are
Ear position gives clues regarding a horses’ mood
Vision in horses
Eyes are very large
Eyes positioned on sides of head
So can see 340 degrees
Blind spots - very poor vision:
Directly in front for 1m
Directly behind them.
Diagram of Visual Field
Have small range of binocular vision
Visual streak in retina with high concentration of receptors
Horse adjusts position of head to see objects in 3D
Extend head to look at distant objects in 3D
Flex head to look at ground
Limited color vision
Blue and green
Very good monochromatic vision
Particularly in low light
Monocular vision, poor focusing
Black mats or water puddles look like deep holes
Horses can fear objects seen many times before that is in a different position
Different colors may cause a horse to spook
Touch in horses
Very important sense for a horse
Tactile hairs on muzzle and around eyes
Lips are very mobile
More sensitive around head (especially the ears) , legs, ribs and flank areas
Mutual grooming – important social aspect
Types of vocalization and what it means in horses
Squeal or scream – threat
Snort - fear
Whinny (neigh) - greeting
Blow – curiosity
Nicker – quiet communications
Laying down and standing up in horses
Lying down
Place all 4 feet beneath body
Collapse
Standing up
Extend fore legs first
Push up with hind legs
Where should you stand when a horse lies down or stands up?
To the side, right side preferably
Risks for human injury while handling horses
Horses are large and powerful animals
Kick – ACCURATE!! Can range 6-8 feet (2-3 M); can kick to the side
Strike – front legs
Bite - not usually, but when they do they can cause serous injury
Run you over
Step on your feet
Crush injuries – frightened or startled horses will always try to escape perceived danger and run right over top of anything in its way
Risk for animal injury while handling horses
They develop strong social relationship with their herd mates
Separation causes anxiety
Injuries from capture/restraint equipment
Attempts to escape chutes or fenced areas
Injuries from housing
Nails, broken boards, and wires
Flight zone in horses
Flight zone is 3 – 10 M
Ensure that the horse looks at you when you approach
Evasive manoeuvre – wheel away, leaving you facing the hind quarters
Do not approach from the rear
When passing behind either give room or stay very close
Never stand directly in front of a horse
Indications for restraint in horses
Safety
Veterinary personnel
Patient
Client
Legalities
Liability for injury
Equine capture: the approach
Approach in a curve to the withers
Do not look at the face directly (predatory); instead look at withers
When approaching, speak gently in a low confident voice.
Scratching the withers is a calming gesture seen in mutual grooming
If the horse starts to move away – stop and stand quiet till the horse is calmed.
Never rush at the horse
Halter
Halter is the basic restraint tool
Rope
Leather
Nylon webbing
Lead shank
Lead shank should always be attached with a snap or knot
Chain lead
Chain lead may be used for more control
It is passed across the bridge of the nose
Used to reinforce authority (similar to a choke collar on a dog).
Do not have the chain under constant pressure!!
More severe chain restraint is passing the chain under the upper lip and onto the gum of the upper jaw.
What to do while restraining a horse
Horses should be held not tied for veterinary procedures
Handler always stands on the same side as the vet
If the horse does act up handler:
Pulls head towards them if needed
Swings hind legs away
The rope/tie in horses
Properly tied horse
Location of rope on fence – level with the shoulder or higher
Tied to a solid post preferably
Length of rope – should be relatively short
Tied with a quick release knot
Never leave a tied horse unattended!!!
Loa
Loading problems in horses
Reluctance to load
Helpful hints
Open the escape door and put a rope across it
Lets light in, you out
Rope/bar keeps horse in
Make sure the brake is on so that everything is stable
Load an ‘easy’ horse first
Back horse in
Use a lunge line behind the butt
Train as foals
Warning signs of horse aggression
Ears flattened backwards
Rapid tail movement
Snaking
Pawing
Squealing
Threats to kick
