Welcome to the first in the series on horse behavior. We have a simple purpose: to benefit horses through the science of animal behavior. Our experience is that once people have access to scientifically accurate and practical knowledge, they naturally begin to choose ways that increase the welfare of their animals. This is the purpose behind this free series of Equine Science articles that we will be publishing in the coming months.
Surprisingly few of the findings from scientific equine behavior research have trickled down to those who can truly make a difference: horse owners like you. As an animal behaviourist, I know that once you understand the science of animal behavior and can take steps to reduce the pressure that domestication puts on our horses, many everyday problems just evaporate. Through the series, we will look at various aspects of horse life, coexistence with humans, and how simple understanding can lead you to have a positive impact on their lives.
It is now a scientifically accepted fact that horses seek a mate to become a lifelong mate bond, a special relationship that potentially lasts a lifetime. Play is one of the ways in which this social bond is enhanced and strengthened. In this article we go beyond the basic benefits to look at other motivations to play.
While paired horses are often sought after as preferred playmates, owners who allow their horses to live in a permanent, stable group can often be lucky enough to witness the entire herd enjoying a game together. Often the game is started by a single horse (usually a youngster), but the rest pick up the cue and easily join in. Scientists know that there are many factors that influence when a horse may feel motivated to start the game, but at least two are important:
- As a prey animal, your horse must feel safe enough to play (compare this to seal pups, where play is the leading cause of mortality in the young, who pay no attention to predators while playing);
- The weather conditions must be just right. Horses generally don’t play when it’s raining or windy. This is because the weather negatively affects your sensory perception of your surroundings; It’s simply too dangerous to play if you can’t properly hear, see or smell approaching predators, especially if most of your attention is focused elsewhere.
Typically, when an entire pack decides that the environmental conditions are satisfactory for all to play at the same time, they choose a pattern of play colloquially known as “chase and charge”: the entire pack sprints in specific directions and in such a way. In doing so, play a game of simulating a flight response from a predator. This is a ritualized pattern with specific rules of conduct.
So some biologists believe that another function of the game is to practice proper muscle movements to help prepare horses for dangerous events that may occur in the future. In contrast, in studies of the play behavior of cats, it was found that instead of conserving energy, as might be expected, hungry kittens played more and longer. The suggestion has been that if you’re a hungry predator like a kitten, it makes sense to work harder to master hunting behaviors so you can eat sooner.
Similarly, when a young foal makes the first cautious attempts to move, the purpose of solitary play in foals appears to be both exercise and practice. In the early days and weeks, the mare provides her foal with food and protection, allowing the foal to concentrate on the solitary task of perfecting locomotion. He does this in playful displays of running, hopping, kicking, hopping, and hopping around his mother, often in circles. At this early stage in a foal’s life, play also appears to be an important component in optimizing the blood supply to different parts of the foal’s body. As far as scientists can tell, solitary play continues in foals until a balance in vascularity is achieved. It is only at this point that the foals are ready to test their muscles in play with other youngsters in the herd.
For a happy horse, here are three personal tips
• Keep your horse as much as possible and preferably with the same group. This will encourage bonding and more play in the pack. Their natural behavior is to be together 24 hours a day. (Most of us wouldn’t even contemplate keeping a zebra away from its herd—the domestic horse and the zebra share the vast majority of their evolutionary history.)
• At night, if your horse is stable, place him next to his partner, preferably they should be able to pet each other, but at least they should be able to see each other. Being able to touch each other allows them to satisfy some play needs, such as grooming and nibbling each other.
• Don’t keep your horse alone; make sure he always has equine company. It is not natural for a herd animal to spend extended periods alone and can cause significant stress and all the associated problems.
If you are passionate about horses, we recommend that you consider a serious career as an animal behavior specialist. In our experience, turning your passion into your livelihood is a surefire way to fulfillment, and as a self-employed behaviorist, you’ll have the freedom to shape the life you truly want. Our only request: get a science-based rating before you start consulting.
Look for an organization that provides both the practical science and skills you need to set up a business as an equine behavior consultant. Ask education providers; ‘Do you check yourself and if not how can I be sure I’ll be fully prepared to go out and earn a living once I qualify?’ So before you make your decision, think about what happens after rating – Will you be able to earn a living? We see so many people who are passionate about animals, but have taken a course that didn’t equip them to make a living doing what they love to do.
For both of you (the animals you will be helping and yourself) put yourself on a path that will lead you to earn a living the day you graduate. In the horse industry in 2010 the best option is your own business
Our mission statement is simple… positively influencing animal welfare around the world. The challenge arises in the implementation of such a vast concept. It is clear to me that we need horse owners like you to create the positive impact we are looking for… I would love it if you decided to accompany me on this path. If you want to read more about practical and applied animal behavior, I recommend Teach Yourself to Horse or Meet Your Horse’s Needs.
The Animal Nature Center…home of the Equine Behavior Qualification.