Unit 4: Equine Behavior

Question 1

the scientific study of animal behavior/the study of animals in their natural habitat

Answer 1

ethology

Question 2

7 unique behavioral characteristics of horses

Answer 2

1. social herd animals
2. herbivores - grazing
3. imitation b/t young and old
4. seasonal breeders
5. form male subgroups at certain times of year
6. prey species
7. strong pair bond relationships

Question 3

seeking affection, protection, or other benefits from animal contact

Answer 3

contractual behavior

Question 4

behaviors associated with eating & drinking

Answer 4

ingestive behaviors

Question 5

associated with defecation & urination

Answer 5

eliminative behavior

Question 6

related to mating

Answer 6

sexual behavior

Question 7

giving care & attention usually b/t mare & foal

Answer 7

epimeletic behavior

Question 8

related to mimicry; contagious or infectious behavior

Answer 8

allelomimetic behavior

Question 9

curiosity or exploration of surroundings/objects

Answer 9

investigative behavior

Question 10

conflict or fighting, anger, aggression, submission, & flight from conflict

Answer 10

agonistic behavior

Question 11

2 categories of agonistic behavior

Answer 11

1. aggression

2. fearfulness

Question 12

referred to as “pecking order”; dominance hierarchies prevalent; dominance established through agonistic & violent behavior or threatening looks; if lower ranked horse has no place to go there is usually no contact

Answer 12

dominance/submission

Question 13

horses have mainly monocular or binocular vision?

Answer 13

monocular - visual field only 1 eye

Question 14

spooking happens when…

Answer 14

it shifts from monocular to binocular vision

Question 15

does sound arrive at each ear at same or different times?

Answer 15

different times

Question 16

smell is used to:

Answer 16

• pick out their foal
• identify other horses
• during mating
• determine if feed is spoiled

Question 17

are horses “nutrition wise”

Answer 17

no - won’t balance own rations and will consume more feed then necessary

Question 18

sign that horse feels good & is in a playful mood

Answer 18

bucking

Question 19

behavior when they are playing

Answer 19

rearing

Question 20

when horse is agitated

Answer 20

tail swishing

Question 21

sign that it is attentive & listening

Answer 21

ears forward

Question 22

sign horse is angry & threatening another horse

Answer 22

ears back

Question 23

listening to something behaving them

Answer 23

1 or 2 ears slightly back

Question 24

puberty age

Answer 24

fillies: 12-15 months
stallions: 15+ months

Question 25

period of repro cycle when ovulates & if bred is likely to conceive

Answer 25

estrus

Question 26

estrous cycle length

Answer 26

21 days (19-26d)

Question 27

behavioral display when a stallion checks a mare lifting its nose & curl upper lip

Answer 27

Flehmen response

Question 28

denotes sexual drive or degree of sexual urge in animals

Answer 28

libido

Question 29

gestation length

Answer 29

11months or 341 days

Question 30

3 stages of parturition

Answer 30

1. labor
2. expulsion of fetus
3. passage of afterbirth

Question 31

longest stage of foaling (30min-6hrs)

Answer 31

labor

Question 32

foal born after how long of heavy laboring

Answer 32

12-18 minutes

Question 33

might need help if expulsion of the fetus takes longer than ____

Answer 33

30min-1hr

Question 34

after giving birth mare will lay on side for how long

Answer 34

15-20 min

Question 35

afterbirth how long after foaling

Answer 35

15-20 min

Question 36

foal starts breathing within

Answer 36

seconds

Question 37

foal stands within

Answer 37

55 min

Question 38

foal vocalizes within

Answer 38

45 min

Question 39

foal defecates meconium within

Answer 39

30 min

Question 40

foal suckles within

Answer 40

1 hr

Question 41

foal walks/runs within

Answer 41

90 min

Question 42

foal takes nap within

Answer 42

2 hrs

Question 43

wean foals at what age

Answer 43

5-7 months

Question 44

can be due to lack of fiber in diet or boredom

Answer 44

wood chewing

Question 45

grasping surface with teeth then expelling bolus of air

Answer 45

cribbing

Question 46

habitually kicking/pawing at stalls

Answer 46

stall kicking

Question 47

shifting body from side to side

Answer 47

weaving