Natural equine behaviour

Wild / Feral?

• Wild:• Occurring or living in a natural state;

not domesticated or tamed.

• Feral:• a. Existing in a wild or untamed state.• b. Having returned to an untamed

state from domestication.

How do we know how horses behave in the wild?

• No such thing as a wild horse any longer.

• The Przewalski horse has been domesticated since 1950’s when retrieved from the wild before extinction.

• (Przewalski overview: http://arkive.org/przewalskis-horse/equus-ferus-przewalskii/video-00.html )

• Closest approximation to wild horse behaviour is seen in feral horses that are free ranging.

• Feral / semi-feral herds include Brumbies, Mustangs, New Forest and Welsh ponies.

Feral Welsh ponies• A number of populations in Wales.

• Societies exist to defend the populations:

– The Cymdeithas Merlod y Carneddau – covering the Carneddau ponies of Northern Snowdonia.

– The Hill Pony Improvement Society of Wales covering the 26 individual pony Improvement Societies covering 23 hills and commons in South and Mid Wales.

• Welsh Assembly Government made special arrangements for passport and micro-chipping these populations.

Feral Welsh ponies continued

• Benefits:– part of the landscape, culture and heritage of

Wales; – provide conservation benefits, helping to

maintain the ecology and environment in which they live;

– Hardiness is maintained by existing in the natural environment.

• See the link to an article on Moodle.

• http://www.pbase.com/gefailgof/cwm_greigddu

How do feral horses spend their time?

• Watch the video clip.• Observe all the different types of

behaviour.• Write your example on the board.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvFYUmDSOvU

How do feral horses spend their time?

Time budget:Average throughout the year of how Camargue horses spend their time

Why is wild horse behaviour important to us?

• Survival instincts are still present today in the domestic horse.

• We need to understand these instincts, so that we can work with them.

What is an instinct?

• Innate reactions and inclinations that animals are born with.

• The horse’s ancestors had to survive as a prey animal on the plains.

• Survival depended on:– keen sensory systems to

detect danger signals– effective defence

mechanism to provide protection.

What are the main features of natural equine behaviour /

lifestyles?

• All horse behaviour is inspired by 4 overwhelming needs:

• To eat & drink.• To stay alive.• To reproduce.• To socialise with his own kind.

• Explain how and why the feral horse meets these needs through their behaviour / lifestyle.

• Living in small herds. – Larger numbers makes good sense in terms of

survival from predators.– Allows ideal opportunities for reproduction.– Less danger = more time for eating.

• Moving around, covering several miles each day in search of food & water.– A free-ranging horse will graze for a min. of 12 - 16 hours / day.– Selects a range of low-quality herbage (leaves, plant, herbs &

grasses).– Trickle feeding of varied, low-grade fibrous forage.– Ability to select what the body needs.

• (Przewalski – grazing http://arkive.org/przewalskis-horse/equus-ferus-przewalskii/video-08.html ) • (Przewalski – winter http://arkive.org/przewalskis-horse/equus-ferus-przewalskii/video-01b.html )

• The flight mechanism.– In open grassland speed is the best form

of defence against predators.– When a horse is alerted to danger, the

hormones adrenalin & noradrenalin are release in response. This prepares the body for flight.

– The horse is more comfortable in open spaces as there are then plenty of escape routes.

• Defence through fighting can sometimes be necessary:– Kicking with the hind

feet.– Striking out with the

forefeet.– Biting.– Squashing a predator

against a tree / scraping it off under a branch.

– Bucking & rearing.

• ( Przewlaski stallion defending:• http://arkive.org/przewalskis-horse/equus-

ferus-przewalskii/video-11.html )

• Reproductive behaviour, e.g. the in-season mare.

- Reproduction is the reason for living for all animals.

- In the wild state, the reproductive pattern is: intense, prolonged courtship & stimulation, followed by a brief mating, which is repeated several times over 4-5 days.

- Most mares will reproduce every year, depending on the nutritional status.

The structure of the herd

• What is the basic structure of a herd of wild horses?

• Usually about 4-8 members, but can range from 2-20+.

• An average herd would include: – 1 mature stallion – His harem of mares – Their offspring up to the ages of ~2 years.

• The stallion:

– Keeps the herd together from the back whenever the herd moves on or danger threatens (sheepdog).

– Rarely demonstrates aggressive behaviour to his own herd.

– Defends his herd against challenging stallions. Fights occur between the herd and the challenging stallion.

(Przewalski stallion herding behaviour:http://www.arkive.org/przewalskis-horse/equus-ferus-przewalskii/video-03.html )

• The boss mare:– Every herd has an alpha mare /

matriarch.– She makes all the decisions & frequently

initiates the movement of the group and acts as pathfinder.

– Often acts as law enforcer.

• Other mares:– Mares with foals at foot / barren mares.– Strong family bonds whilst offspring still

in the herd.– Fiercely protective of their young.

• Young females:– May stay with group for a year or more after

gradual, natural weaning.– Father will not usually mate them, so they are

not discouraged from wandering off to join a group of bachelor males / another stallion.

• Young males:– Pose a threat to their sire as they mature & get

stronger.– From ~18 months colts are driven away from

the herd & set up bachelor groups.– May challenge an older stallion for his harem

or push away his bachelor companions & claim any young fillies that have joined them as his own.

Social hierarchies

• The framework of the social structure in horse herds tends to rely on friendships and family groups.

• Defined social hierarchies encourage stability and decrease injuries.

• Dominance hierarchies or pecking orders are most likely to be seen where a resource is scarce, e.g. availability of / access to water.

• Ranking is complex.• Ranking is influenced by factors such as maternal

status, age and length of residence.