Equine Behaviour

Question 1

what is ecology

Answer 1

• the scientific or objective study of an animal under natural conditions
• insight into physiological and psychological needs

Question 2

what do we know about the horse

Answer 2

• they are a prey species - with the main defence being flight
• herd animal

Question 3

what is precocious

Answer 3

• neurological maturity at birth
• able to process stimuli right at birth

Question 4

what is imprinting

Answer 4

• bond created younge in order to bond with mother or humans

Question 5

what is neophobic

Answer 5

• fearful of novel stimuli
• degree is based on breed and experience

Question 6

what are the two most important and developed sense in horses

Answer 6

• sight
• hearing

Question 7

what type of vision do horses have

Answer 7

• large eyes
• placed on sides = for feild of vision
  anterolaterally positioned
• not good depth perception
• 350 field of vision - 55-60 binocular range

Question 8

what types of head shapes do horses have

Answer 8

• dolichocephalic
• mesocephalic
• brachycephalic

Question 9

why is the shape of the head important

Answer 9

• peripheral acuity is influence by the shape of the head
• ## head postition affects focus of binocular vision

Question 10

does a horse have good motion detection?

Answer 10

yes, doesnt have to see clearly just has to detect movement
- makes horses reactive

Question 11

do horses have night vision

Answer 11

• better then people
• high density of retinal rods
• tapetum lucidum - shines at night

Question 12

auditory sense

Answer 12

• hear better then humans
• acoustic discrimmination
• 10 independent muscles - position control they will move ear towards the sound

Question 13

how can you use auditory senses

Answer 13

• vocal cues, understanding tone ( learn to understand not born)
• click training - repond with goos reaction time

Question 15

what are the different types of learned behaviours

Answer 15

• fearful stimulus - flee
• ## non fearful stimulus - ignores

Question 16

what is more diffucult to transition between fearful and not fearful

Answer 16

not fearful to fearful is the least difficult
- fearful to not fearful is the most difficult

Question 17

what are the different techniques to reduce fear

Answer 17

• desensitization
• reassurence
• body language
• presence of other horses

Question 18

why do we need to be carful with memory

Answer 18

• effect of first experience - harder to go from fearful to not fearful
• so every first experience needs to be good

Question 19

predatory habituation

Answer 19

• do not want horse to recognize you as a predator
• ## continously remind horse we are sustinance provider and safe

Question 20

flight

Answer 20

• primary survival behaviour
• grasslands
• large predatory enemies
• sprinters
• ## quick reaction time, running from perceied threats starting at birth

Question 21

herd mentality

Answer 21

• increased ability to detect a threat
• wont sleep and eat all at once = guards
• move eyes and ears and snort to communicate

Question 22

social structure

Answer 22

• fluid
• submission - you want to lead the horse not dominate it
• cannot try to over power
• cannot make horse fearful

Question 23

Signs of submission

Answer 23

• lower head position
• chewing
• licking lips (both are associated with high cortisol and stress)

Question 24

what is movement control

Answer 24

• manipulation of primary defence mechanism
• horses dominate other horses by movement of control
• humans dictate, when where and how fast they move
• potential fear stimulation
• everything humans do with a horse involves controlling movement
• horses should always feel safe

Question 25

What is tactile sensitive

Answer 25

• horse skin is like human fingertips
• grooming and rider position can be felt at all times by the horse
• individual sensitivity can come down to genetics and different breeds
• rewards
• que movements and communicates

Question 26

why is body language important

Answer 26

• controls movements
• signals threats
• horse is very adept at learning to read humans body language