Equine Body Language Flashcards
What are the signs of a content equine?
- Ears pointed slightly back, but not flat on head.
- Neck and head may be slightly bent or grazing.
- Weight on 3 legs, resting the 4th.
- Teeth hidden by lips.
- Clear, calm eyes.
What are the signs of an aggressive equine?
- Flattened ears.
- Tail lashing.
- Striking out with front leg (NOT pawing).
- Extending neck.
- Hind leg lifted with threat to kick.
- Tail flicking.
What are the signs of a fearful equine?
- Alert pointed ears.
- Neck arched.
- Whites of eyes.
- Feet close together.
- Squealing.
- Prancing if restrained.
What are the signs of a submissive equine?
- Ears turned out.
- Tail tucked.
- Snapping.
When will an equine exhibit signs of submission?
Subordinate approaches dominant. Yearling colt to adult. Mare to stallion.
What does a neigh or whinny mean?
Greeting call or separation call.
What does a nicker mean?
- Care giving or solicitation.
- Mare to foal, or stallion to mare in estrous.
What does a snort mean?
Alarm call.
What does a squeal mean?
- Defensive greeting, non estrous mare to stallion.
- Pain.
- Extreme fear.
When does an equine exhibit the Flehmen response?
- Estrous urine.
- Feces.
- Vaginal fluids.
- Other olfactory stimuli.
What are stud piles used for?
Marking behavior.
What is the Flehmen response?
- Eversion of the upper lip.
- Head and neck extended upward.
- Stimulation of vomeronasal organ.
When it comes to mating, mare are?
Seasonally polyestrous.
-every 3 weeks.
What are signs that a mare gives that indicate she is in estrous?
- Frequent urination.
- Winking.
- Standing.
What are foals for the first two weeks of life?
Solitary.
How do foals play with their dam?
By nibbling legs and mane.
What is most of the locomotion in foals?
70% of locomotion in foals is seen in the context of play.
How do colts play?
They mount and fight.
How do fillies play?
They chase and groom.
When is coprophagy normal?
If the foal is less than 5 months old.
Whose feces does the foal prefer?
His dams.
What are the theorized benefits of coprophagy to the foal?
- Populate the young gut with good bacteria.
- To immunize the neonate against parasites.
- Strengthen the social bond.
What does coprophagy mean in adult equines?
- Nutrition deficiency.
- Deprivation of more appropriate forage.
What are the types of grooming that equines do?
- Allogrooming.
- Rolling.
- Nibbling.
- Scratching.
Grooming in what area cause a decrease in heart rate in an equine?
Withers.
