subject: The Causes Of Equine Behaviour [print this page] The basis of behavioural research is trying to find laws of behaviour. Equine behaviour is of course not predictable but causes for certain behaviour can be detected and defined. The following should be of interest to the horse owner.
What is a horse's "normal" behaviour?
How do I have to keep, feed and work my horse so that it shows "normal" behaviour?
How are behavioural patterns, which would be classed as "abnormal", evoked?
How can I avoid these patterns?
If certain aspects of my horse's behaviour are inherited, can this also apply for "abnormal" behaviour?
So what is "normal"?
We get used to thinking that an animals behaviour is either "normal" or abnormal" and often forget that human influence can play a large role in the influence of this. It should be understood as manipulation and that it can affect the horse's conduct in potentially unnatural and / abnormal ways. It is a balancing act for the horse owner to keep the behaviour of the horse as natural as possible yet on the other hand apply necessary measures related to domestication of the horse. When identifying unwanted behaviour it is important that we distinguish whether we are dealing with a deviation from the normal or rather a normal behaviour pattern expressed in a way that causes a problem for ourselves. Due to these potential unwanted behaviours we must bear in mind that our influence on the horse is not strictly natural and that every contact with humans has to be managed in a way horses remain as horses should and that our incorporation in their lives works harmoniously with their natural way of thinking.
In order to gain an insight into the typical behaviour of a species, it is important to distinguish between behavioural patterns of the species and possible deviations of individuals or groups. A list called an ethogram details these behavioural patterns in order to determine into which functional group any characteristics may fall.
If every horse owner can gain experience with horses that behave in a normal way it will assist in them developing a yardstick for future dealings with equine behavioural analysis, on any scale. This is best judged when human influence or manipulation is at its least. Horses in a herd will develop their social skills and behave as naturally as their wild ancestors, when out in the field together. Without their companions not only will their social behaviour be missing but also other functions will not be expressed normally. Human influence must satisfy the following basic requirements;
1.Constant companionship
2.Free movement
3.Fresh Air
4.Natural Light
When these are adhered to as much as possible genetic inventory can be observed and "normal" behaviour identified.
