Horse Behavior Flashcards
what are some important qualities that you want in a horse’s temperament?
obedient, intelligent, trainable, courageous, confident, calm
how do you determine a horse’s temperament?
observe, handle it, ask (owner, trainer, breeder)
study of behavior of animals in their natural environment with focus on innate behavior
ethology
understanding behavior means?
safety
gregariousness, SDO, promiscuous matings, precocial young, adaptability, limited agility/ docile temperament
basic behavioral traits (livestock in general)
simple reflex, communication, shelter seeking
reactive behavior
what is the field of vision of a horse?
~220 degrees for each eye
where are the horses blind spots?
directly in front and behind
hoses can see out of each eye independently what is this called?
monocular
horse have _______ vision so the horse raises and lowers head to increase range
poor
horses have trouble judging
height and distance
horses have _____ hearing
good
horses can hear _____ _____ that we can’t hear
high tones
horse’s skin is very _______?
specialized
horses can detect what kinds of things?
cold, hot, hard, soft; detect electric fencing with lip hairs
most sensitive spots of horses are?
mouth, feet, flanks, neck, shoulders
we use ________ grooming supplies on different areas of the body?
different
stallions can detect mares in _____ from far away
estrus
what helps in obtaining food, mates, securing a place in the herd?
pecking order
describe how a horse acts when meeting a new horse
high head, tails up, necks arched, ears erect, nostrils flared, may squeal, rear, strike or kick
once dominance is established, only _______ threats are needed to maintain dominance
subtle
social attachments are what?
hard to manage
this involves courtship, mating, and maternal behavior
sexual behavior
sexual behavior is controlled by what?
hormones, but some is learned
can behavior be affected by the way animals are reared or the environment?
yes
care giving or attention
epimeletic
what are some mutual grooming areas?
nibble each other on neck, back, withers, croup
horses usually have regular grooming what?
partner
what do pairs of horses do for one another?
huddle together, swat flies off each other
what are the two horses used as an example of grooming pairs?
pinch and sunny
signaling for care and attention
et-epimeletic
when is et-epimeletic most commonly observed?
when separated
horses love to what, especially after getting a bath?
roll in the dirt and grass
horses contract muscles, scratch their head on their legs, shoulder and belly, swish their tail, use hindlegs and forelegs to scratch, or rub on fix object all to what?
remove insects and flies
horses inspect the environment by use of what?
senses and movement
if a horse does not investigate it will?
flee
if a horse is unable to investigate something it might become what?
nervous
by book definition a horse urinates every what?
4-6 hours
most horse will not urinate in what?
stall or trailer
some horse urinate in the same location because why?
it is soft and does not splash
a horse defecates every what?
2-3 hours
what horse defecates in small areas?
stallions
what is it when horses learn to copy one another at a young age; this could be good or bad.
mimicry
what is a good mimicry?
playing
what is a bad mimicry?
wind sucking
how do horse’s sleep?
standing up
about how many hours a day does a horse sleep standing up?
~3 hours a day
system of tendons and ligaments that lock their legs; survival mechanism
stay apparatus
how long does a horse lay in sternal recumbency?
~2 hours
what is sternal recumbency?
when a horse is sitting up with their legs tucked up underneath them
when a horse lays completely out with legs stretched out in front of them
Lateral Recumbency
