Equine Social Behaviour

Question 1

Name 5 breeds of feral horses and their country or origin.

Answer 1

Przewalkski - Mongolia 
Mustangs - USA
Brumbees - Australia 
Konik - Poland 
Exmoor - UK

Question 2

Can all equids interbreed? Can they form social bonds?

Answer 2

Yes and yes but they prefer the company of their own groups (Proops et al, 2012)

Question 3

Which two types of herd exist cooperatively in the wild?

Answer 3

The natal band and the bachelor herd

Question 4

What is the natal band also known as?

Answer 4

The birth band or family group

Question 5

What does the natal band consist of?

Answer 5

One lead mare, usually old - initiates activity, finds resources
Other younger mares - related
0 - 2 stallions may be associated with group, but will not necessary remain with them

Question 6

Who leads the natal band?

Answer 6

The mare, unless the herd is under attack, in which case the stallion will move them

Question 7

What behaviour is associated with the stallion taking charge of a natal band?

Answer 7

“Snaking” - moving the head and chasing to encourage the mares to move.

Question 8

Are high numbers of stallions good or bad for the herd as a whole? When might this occur?

Answer 8

Good, increased rate of foal survival.

Stallions will be related.

Question 9

How do young and old mares interact with the stallions?

Answer 9

Older mares bond with males - grooming, standing together even when out of saxon
Younger mares will be mated but then stallion will be aggressive towards them until they earn his respect.

Question 10

At what age do foals leave the natal band?

Answer 10

~3years - will remain with mother and her new foal for a bit.
By 4 years will be chased off by stallions

Question 11

How does foal play change over time?

Answer 11

1year - becomes aggressive and hierarchical

Question 12

Give examples of courtship behaviour in horses.

Answer 12

Sniffing
Squealing
Pawing
Headshaking
Front leg strike

Question 13

What are pair bonds? Which species bond especially strongly?

Answer 13

Social bonds between similar age or rank individuals.

Donkeys.

Question 14

What is the bachelor herds comprised of?

Answer 14

Colts who have left the natal band
Defeated stallions
- know where local natal ands are
- companionship and social interaction as well as competition between males

Question 15

What is the difference between a band and a herd?

Answer 15

Bands (~30) may join together to form herds (>600) but horses will remain in their bands and are unlikely to form social bonds with animals from another group

Question 16

How may allogrooming be used to secure friendship?

Answer 16

Intervention by a third party if someone else is alogrooming with their “friend”
- usually causes cessation of behaviour
- may be taken over by intervener or continued by original dyad
(Van Dierendonck et al 2009)

Question 17

How is reconciliation after fighting usually performed?

Answer 17

Triadic - ie. a third horse will interact with one of the fighters immediately after (usually)

Question 18

What organ does the Flehmen response involve?

Answer 18

Vomeronasal organ

Question 19

When is Flehmen performed?

Answer 19

Courtship and reproduction

Any time trying to smell something

Question 20

Visually, what can horses interpret well and not so well?

Answer 20

Very acute movement detection

Small details not so good

Question 21

When may flattened ears not be associated with fear or aggression?

Answer 21

Very closely bonded paris

Question 22

What is champing?

Answer 22

“snapping” display - appeasement or submission

performed by foals and may be continued into adulthood

Question 23

How does fighting differ between sexes?

Answer 23

Mares kick backwards, stallions fight with teeth and front legs

Question 24

What is box weaning? What age does it occur at?

Answer 24

~5 months - claims to make foals braver or more accepting of humans
- bad welfare!!!

Question 25

At what age would foals be weaned in the wild?

Answer 25

~12months

Question 26

What is paddock weaning?

Answer 26

A group of foals are weaned together in the field - slightly better welfare.

Question 27

How does positioning of resources impact behaviour in the field?

Answer 27

Increasing competition by putting them in corners increases risk of aggression and fighting