Lesson 8 & 9 - Equine Behavior & Welfare Flashcards
What are the 6 basic needs of a horse?
Hint: “the 6 F’s” - some do not start with F and only have an F somewhere in the word
Forage, freedom, friends, safety, comfort, fun
How do free-roaming domestic horses spend most of their time budget in comparison to stalled horses?
Free-roam: 60% eating
(20% standing, 10% lying down, 10% other)
Stalled: 65% standing
(15% eating, 15% lying down, 5% other)
Give some reasons why socializing/interaction is important amongst horses
- Social groups = anti-predation/safety
- Pair bonding is very common and normal for them
- Horses tend to show more aggression when housed alone
What do horses need, in terms of their environment?
- Variation (more than stall walls)
- Soft/comfortable resting areas
- Good ventilation
True or False: Horses can thrive with performing the same tasks and exercise day after day with no variation
False; horses NEED variety and mental stimulation as much as they need exercise - ability to perform slow, unrestricted movement as well as having variation in day to day training/schedule are very important
What are some consequences of a horse becoming bored with their routine?
Irritability, malaise, fatigue, reduced interest in training, poor performance, reduced body weight, immune suppression
What are some common maintenance behaviors in horses?
Stretching, grooming (self), allogrooming, rolling, rubbing, scratching, licking/nibbling coat
Extra note: grooming in withers area reduces HR
What facial cues indicate that a horse is in pain?
Ears tilted back/rotated outward, tension in muscles above/around eyes, flared nostrils, tension in muzzle, head tilted downward
True or False: Horses have poor long-term memory and do not recognize commonly seen humans or show preference for individuals
False; horses have an average long term memory of 22 months, recognize familiar humans, and show preference for individuals
What are some common calming and stress signals in horses?
- Lateral movement away from threat
- Seeking distraction (sniffing, staring into space)
- Yawning
- Empty chewing
- Lowering head
- Snapping or clapping
- Lateral ears
How do horses typically prefer to handle conflict?
Fleeing
What are common conflict behaviors exhibited by horses unable to flee in response to fear (due to conflict between horse’s interests and rider’s actions)?
Bolting, rushing, napping, shying, bucking, rearing, head tossing, “reefing reins”, defecation
What benefit does the “lip twitch” have when done for 5 minutes or less?
HR decreases, salivary cortisol decreases
What can happen if a “lip twitch” is performed for longer than 5 to 10 minutes?
HR doubles, pain and stress (opposite of response for first 5 minutes)
Why is the “ear twitch” generally not recommended for horses?
- HR and salivary cortisol increase (stress)
- Subdued by fear alone, not analgesia
If all three options are available for subduing a horse, which is preferred: lip twitch, ear twitch, or chemical restraint?
Chemical restraint
What are some general herd structures for horses?
- Harem groups of 3 - 12 with a mature stallion, offspring leave the group at 2 - 4 years old
- Small bachelor groups of 2 - 5 year old stallions
- Solitary individuals
What is imprint learning and what is the significance?
Learning to recognize mother and own species in first week of life; need to be able to follow mother, also vital to social bx and reproduction later on
What are some ways to keep a solitary horse from developing problematic behavior associated w/ isolation?
- Aluminum mirror in stall
- Borrow or rent space to another horse
- Provide another animal to be w/ horse
What are some effects of separation stress in stallions?
- fence/stall walking (pace increases w/ stress)
- weaving
- abnormal sexual behavior
What factor has a direct influence on weaning age for foals?
Nutritional state of the mare (weaning age tends to be earlier for mares in managed herds than in feral horses)
True or False: Adult horses spend the majority of their time grazing
True; duration can vary though by season, time of days, and sex, plus they are selective grazers
What are some problem behaviors in horses associated with eating?
Obesity and psychogenic polydipsia (excess thirst) - often related to boredom
Name some signs of aggression in horses
Ears flat against neck, tense upper lip, teeth bared, rearing or striking with front feet, kick with one or both hind feet, lashing tail
