Herd Animal
Horses are highly social herd animal that prefer to live in a group. They will establish a "pecking order"
for the purpose of determining which herd member directs the behavior
of others, eats and drinks first, and so on. This behavior pattern also
applies to their interrelationship with humans. A horse that respects
the human as a "herd member" who is higher in the social order will
behave in a more appropriate manner towards all humans than a horse that
has been allowed to engage in dominant behavior over humans.
In fact, many domesticated horses will become anxious, flighty and hard to manage if they are isolated. A horse feels security in numbers and fear in isolation, isolate him and he will want to join up with any other creature, even a human predator.
Horses kept in near-complete isolation, particularly in a closed stable where they cannot see other animals may require a stable companion such as a cat, goat or even a small pony or donkey to provide company and reduce stress.
When anxiety over separation occurs while a horse is being handled by a human, the horse is described as "herd-bound". However, through proper training, horses learn to be comfortable away from other horses, often because they learn to trust a human handler, essentially ranking humans as a
How does the herd relate to social behavior
The basic herd has a high horse (lead), a low or bottom horse and horses in the middle. If you have two horses in a herd you have a one and two horse. If you have 10 horses in a herd, you have a one, two, three...... and ten horses. If two horses are close, lets say you know clearly who is one and who is two, but three and four seem to be equal? -- They are not, if you want to know who is three and who is four, pull them from the herd, put out a bucket of grain and the one that eats is three and the one who gets pushed off is four. You can do this with any horses to see who is higher and who is lower. This works with people too. If you cannot take the grain from a horse, he is higher and you are lower. This is key to remember in all contacts with horses. They either see you as higher or lower. If they push you, you are lower, if they pin their ears at you and try to push or intimidate you, you are lower, if they try and kick you, you are lower, if they try and bite you, you are lower, if they make you move out of their space, you are lower. If they make you flinch, you are lower, if they make you nervous and jumpy you are lower. This is very important in dealing with horses. The reverse is also true. If you move them, you are higher, if you push them, you are higher, if you make them move or stop moving, you are higher, if you correct or discipline them, you are higher.
Bands are harems, usually consisting of one adult male, several females, their foals and immature horses of both sexes, although it has been stated there may be one to five stallions. Each band is led by a dominant mare (sometimes called the "lead mare" or the "boss mare"). Bands are usually small, containing between 3 to 35 animals. The composition of bands changes as young animals are driven out of their natal band and join other bands, or as stallions challenge each other for dominance.
In herds, there is usually a single "herd" or "lead" stallion, though occasionally a few less-dominant males may remain on the fringes of the group.
Flight or Fight
The fight or flight response involves nervous impulses which result in hormone secretions into the bloodstream. When a horse reacts to a threat, it may initially ‘freeze’ in preparation to take flight
The
fight or flight response involves nervous impulses which result in
hormone secretions into the bloodstream. When a horse reacts to a
threat, it may initially ‘freeze’ in preparation to take flight
Humans are the greatest threat/predator to the horse
.
It is very rare that a wild animal attacks the horse.
Horse Talk
Neigh: Longer and louder than a nicker,
normally calls to herd or buddy when separated. It is used to locate or
call to each other at greater distances than a nicker.
Whinny: This is a gentler and sadder neigh. More upset and sad calling.
Nicker: This is normally a greeting, low sound
used between two friends. Your horse will normally do this when you are
feeding or giving bringing them food. Very affectionate and is normally a
sign of friendship and even courtship between horses. A mare will
nicker at her foal to get the foal to come or to call it away from
danger.
Squeal: Normally make by the mare but gelding
do it as well. It is defensive and is normally done when two horses are
meeting or smelling each other. It could be an attempt to show dominance
and not weakness or to try and establish that I am higher than you or
don't mess with me.
Snort: This is a strong exhale or air that
sounds loud and worried. It can be low if a horse is close to danger or
something that is scary to the horse. The first time a horse is expose
to a plastic tarp will normally get this sound. However, it will be a
low sound. If a horse sees a threat at a greater distance, then the
sound is much louder and more a warning to other horses and the threat.
If a horse squares off on you and snorts, be very careful, he is about
to go into attack mode if he cannot run or flee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb1o43aJIEc
Blow: This is just a way to express a release of tension. By exhaling air, the horse releases tension. Could be just clearing out the air way.
When horses meet for the first time (or after separation) they will exchange exhalations through their nostrils. This is how horses say "hello", they will remember each other's breath like we recall names. After a few initial breaths, the intensity of the "huffing" will then increase or decrease depending on the information exchanged. Increased, harder breathing in the desire to work out dominance, and can lead to biting, squealing, striking or turning around to pummel with hard kicks from hind legs. For these reasons, its not a good idea to allow them to exchange breaths while riding them! Horses that have already exchanged breaths may just go about there business grassing, grooming or standing next to one another.
Horses will curl their upper lip and
press it to the back of their nose, this is called flehmen. A horse does
this when it detects an odor worthy of pressing into a sensitive
olfactory discrimination area called the voneronasal organ, which is
located in the horses nasal cavity. The flehmen response increases the
flow of air through the nostrils, which brings the scent openings behind
the incisors on the upper palette to the onerously organ. This is seem
more in males than females, especially stallions.
Perfumes and lotions on human
hands can cause horses to curl their upper lip. A stallion will make
this face when he examines a mares urine to find out if she is in heat.
The vomeronasal organ is orientated with the brain's sexual behavior
center, and is used to decipher the pheromones a mare emits.
Why Horses Blow and Snort
The term "blow" refers to a loud almost popping sound a horse
makes with his nostrils. This sound is similar to a gooses honk. In the
wild if the stallion of a herd "blows" or "snorts" its to call the rest
of the herd to attention. Danger may be near and the herd must get
ready to run. A "snort" is a much softer version of the "blow" and is
still used to alarm coming danger but not necessarily to communicate to
other horses of the alarm.
There are many different versions of the
"snort", quick ones that may occur once or twice. Then there is the
deep, rolling, "snort" that is drawn-out
.
If a horse gets instantly frightened of an
object or human, may demonstrate a the more rolling "snort", Standing
their ground with wary eyes. A horse may also "snort" or "blow" at new
horses brought into there pasture. Unsure as to who the horse is they
don't know whether the horse acts as a threat.
Flight or Fight
The fight or flight response involves nervous impulses which result in hormone secretions into the bloodstream. When a horse reacts to a threat, it may initially ‘freeze’ in preparation to take flight
It's all about the Ears
Ears: Of course most horse communication is done with body, ears, tail and head.
Here is a quiz for you.
BEHAVIOR & NATURE JUNIOR STUDY
1. When a horse pulls back with no progress, what will his next move be?
2. A horse cannot see directly in what direction?
3. The horse can see anything behind him that is not narrower than his what?
4. If a horse does not want to leave the barn, it is called what?
5. What is a cribber?
6. The horse’s first reaction to strange & frightening objects is to what?
7. How do you read your horse’s intentions as you approach it?
8. What does herdbound mean?
9. Why should you never punish your horse when you’re angry?
10. Why is it important when you have to punish a horse, that you do it at that instant?
11. Describe head shy
12. What prompts the horse’s immediate instinct to kick or run?
13. What is the definition of a vice?
14. What does it signify if a horse has its’ ears pinned back?
15. What does is mean if a horse has its’ ears pricked forward?
16. What does a nervous handler cause?
17. Teasing a horse may cause it do what?
18.At what distance must an object be from the front of the horse for it to see the object?
19. What is the ability to see separate objects with each eye at the same time?
20.When the dominant horse in a group makes a threat, less aggressive horses will do what?
21. There are few vicious horses. What may cause a horse to become vicious?
22. What practice may prevent a horse from becoming a “halter puller”?
23. Describe the stable vice called weaving
24. Horses have a very strong desire for the company of what?
25. Which sense of the horse is better – sight or hearing?
26. To judge distance, the horse uses which type of vision?
27. What must the horse do to see faraway objects?
28. What must the horse do to see close objects?
29.Under natural conditions, horses do not spend long periods of time in what type of area?
30. When a horse kicks with a forward & sideward motion, it is called what?
31. What term describes the habit horses have of eating too fast?
32. How does a healthy foal normally sleep?
33. What is the proper term for the “boss mare” or most dominant horse in a herd?
34.What is the term for the type of vision where the horse sees the same scene with both eyes?
35. What sound acts as a warning signal between horses?
36. Name 2 vices that are quickly & often copied by other horses
37. What behavior is often displayed when two strange horses stand nose to nose?
ANSWER
BEHAVIOR & NATURE JUNIOR STUDY
ANSWER
BEHAVIOR & NATURE JUNIOR STUDY
1. To charge forward
2. Downward OR directly in front & directly behind
3. Body
4. Barn sour
5. A horse that chews on manger or other objects & frequently sucks air
6. Panic & run away
7. By watching its’ head & ears
8. A horse who refuses to leave a group of other horses
9. Your punishment will be too severe
10 He won’t understand why he’s being punished if you wait
11. Horse that is sensitive about the head/jerks away when touched
12. Fear
13.An acquired habit that is annoying or that may interfere with the usefulness of the horse (a bad habit)
14. Anger (or fake anger)
15. Interest or suspicion
16. A nervous, unsafe horse
17. Develop dangerous habits
18. Four feet
19. Monocular vision
20. Retreat if possible
21. Abuse
22. Untying the lead rope before taking the halter off
23 Horse moves head & upper body from side to side (rocks side to side/back & forth)
24. Other horses
25. Hearing
26. Binocular
27. Lower its’ head
28. Raise its’ head
29. Enclosed
30. Cow kick
31. Bolting their feed
32. On its side
33. Alpha
34. Binocular
35. Snort
36. Cribbing, weaving, wood chewing
37. Striking, grunting, or squealing
