Perhaps we all know that horses are herd animals, in the
wild they were prey animals and living in a herd gives them safety in
numbers. Think about the antelope in
Africa that we see on T.V. moving in groups to protect themselves against the
lions! Now, we have few wild horses or
ponies living free (there are some in remote regions of the world) but even in
domesticated horses their natural instincts are still strong. In the wild, horses move across grassland,
hills and moors searching for water and
the best grass. They live in herds as I
mentioned and an alpha mare leads the herd to drink, to new pasture and when it
is time to doze.
The stallion is
primarily concerned with reproduction, ensuring his genes are passed on. Wild horses live in a stable group, they
develop deep friendships and will develop a hierarchy. The group hierarchy does not necessarily work
in a 'linear' way ie: horse A is dominant over horse B, horse B is dominant
over horse C, horse C is dominant over horse D.
Horse group dynamics and relationships seem more complicated and can
mean that although horse A is dominant over horse B and horse B is dominant
over horse C, horse C could be dominant over horse A!
As you would expect,
horses that react quickly to danger are the ones who will survive, they are the
ones with quick reflexes. To survive in
the wild (again think about the antelope) good hearing, excellent peripheral
vision and speed are vital. A horse's
first instinct is to run, but if a horse is cornered it will fight and defend
itself by kicking, biting and rearing
Many of these survival traits are still seen in our
domesticated horses.
The herd instinct means that many horses are not happy
living alone. Some will be happy living
with other animals eg: sheep or cows, but few are happy living in
isolation. A horse that is unhappy when
left on its own will run up and down a fence, whinnying, they may jump a fence
or even go through the fence to get to a companion. This instinct also means that a horse may be
reluctant to leave a yard without their 'friends', however , it also means that
a young horse will often follow an older more experienced horse past an
obstacle or over a jump. Our
domesticated horses also seem to have a strong homing instinct which means that
they will increase their pace when on their way home. This instinct can be an advantage, as if a
horse (or rider) gets lost, the horse will find its way back to the stable.
As in the wild our domesticated horses move slowly though
their fields grazing, sometimes they will move to a different area. Horses
graze for between 16 and 20 hours a day only resting for short
periods, this is called 'trickle
feeding'. They eat grass, herbs, shrubs
and leaves. Grazing is only one of a
horses most important behaviours which have been identified and prioritised by
a group of scientists. These include:
- Reaction & Response
- Grazing & Drinking
- Body Care
- Rest & Sleep
- Motion
- Exploration
- Territorialism (their space and the herds' space)
- Association (friendships & stable herd)
There is so much to learn about Horse Psychology. Adopting some slightly different behaviours
and methods could make our horses happier and in turn healthier. I try to use what I have learnt, it is
sometimes difficult with the facilities available but I am sure that anything I
can do will make my horses happier.
If you would like to
know more a good book to start with is 'Teach Yourself Horse' by Heather
Simpson.
Check out my new vlog channel on You Tube .... Horse Life and Love
or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QrzYSmC9kI
Until next time!
Jo
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