LECTURE - behaviour

Question 1

Normal behaviours (3 F’s)

Answer 1

1 friends (social)

2 forage (trickle feeders - never leave without food for <3hrs)

3 freedom (prey animals)

Question 2

Domestication: how human behaviour has changed the social structure of horses (old vs new)

Answer 2

• Free roaming + close contact with other horses > indiv housed
  • Family bands > unstable herd hierarchy/herds created by humans/no natural bands/usually separated based on age/gender

Reproduce freely > reproduction, exercise, diet dictated by humans

Question 3

Modern management practices of horses tailor to

Answer 3

convenience

injury prev.

Question 4

Modern management of horses - 4 implications on equine welfare:

Answer 4

• Isolation
• Access to forage
• Opp to sleep
• Resp disease (stable)

Question 5

Abnormal repetitive behaviours:

points to note

Answer 5

• Not goal orientated
  
  • Prevalence varies between discipline
  • 2 categories: oral + locomotive
  • CANNOT be ‘learnt’ by watching other horse
  • Very difficult to stop (prevention>cure)

Question 6

ABNORMAL REP. BEHAVIOURS:

CAUSES: (+4E.G.S)

Answer 6

sub optimal conditions in current OR prev env.
e.g.
- Inapp diet/feeding practices
- Limited soc contact
- Inapp housing = locomotive restrictions
- Inapp/abrupt weaning methods

Question 7

ARBs: oral behaviours (2)

Answer 7

1) Wind sucking - arching neck and gulping air (no contact with surfaces)

2) Crib-biting - grasping surface w teeth, gulp of air

Question 8

ARBs: locomotive (2)

Answer 8

1) Box walking - constant movement around stable

2) Weaving - rocking body/swinging head from side to side

Question 9

ABNORMAL REP. BEHAVIOURS: PREVENTION

3 physical methods (note: welfare implications, physical/surgical means NOT recommended)

Answer 9

• Cribbing strap/collar
• Averse liq
• Anti weaving bars