Equine Communication, Handling and Husbandry

Alison Bush,

ELISTA Education

January ‘12

About Today!About Today!TODAY: A review, and the chance to learn something new; approach different thinking…understanding the horse and its needs, so to ethically and effectively ‘use’.

NOW…

• Concepts of Sociability in Animals

•Introduction to communication

•General Intra-specie Equine Communication

•Inter-specie Equine-Human Communication

•Objective Observation

The Horse“Large four-legged mammal with

flowing mane and tail, used for riding and to carry and pull loads”

THOMPSON.D ed. (1992), The Pocket Oxford Dictionary, 8th Edition, Clarendon Press, Oxford

The HorseDate of domestication unclear, most evidence is around 2000BC as use in chariots as transport, but evidence also supports the domestication of the horse as early as 4000BC in the Eurasian Steppes. Uses of the horse:

meat

work transport warfare

leisure

The majority of large animal species that we have domesticated and ‘use’ are group animals, we generically refer to these groups as HERDS.

All animals can be categorised as either:

• Solitary

• Gregarious

• Social

Concepts of Sociability

• Avoid predation (more eyes and ears)

• Protect and minimise loss (structure)

• Learning

• Reproduction

• (catching prey)

Concepts of Sociability: Reasons for Social Behaviour

                                          

• Competition for resources

• More visible to predators

• Spread of Disease

Concepts of Sociability: Disadvantages of Social Behaviour

• Primary Socialisation…

Rapid for precocial species, not so for altrecial species

IMPRINTING occurs…

First by smellThen by hearing and

sight

Concepts of Sociability: Elements of Social Behaviour

• Secondary SocialisationSocialisation with others in the group, this may take the forms of…

• Play• AggressionBoth of these behaviours help in the formation of

a hierarchy with the majority of social species

Concepts of Sociability: Elements of Social Behaviour

A hierarchy is established quickly in order to reduce the risk of continuous fighting.

There are various forms of hierarchy with different groups

Linear A B C D

Triangular A Square A B

B C C D

Concepts of Sociability:A Hierarchy

A hierarchy is kept fairly stable by superiors visual, vocal and chemical signals, but can change if a dominant animal is removed.

New animals entering a group have to find their ranking within a group.

Concepts of Sociability:

A Hierarchy

Sociability in the Horse

•Group of horses is called a band

•Most natural response is to flee, flight of one horse will trigger response from others

•May defend for safety of young or group

•Subordinate to lead (mare usually, although male is overall in charge increasing harem and protecting)

•Roam for grazing and

water

•Isolate for birth

Sociability in the Domestic Horse

How does sociability in the domestic horse differ?

Does it?

Are hierarchies clearly defined?

Leadership as clear?

Are responses as significant?

CommunicatioCommunicationnCommunication occurs upon

production of a signal by one animal that is recognised and

alters the behaviour of the receiver of the signal

Communication can be:

VisualAuditoryChemicalTactile

Through Energy??

Parts of the Horse to Observe in Intra or Inter Specie Communication

General Intra-specie CommunicationVisual

•Ears-show attention and agnostic behaviour

•Eyes-whale eye, relaxed

•Head-lowering in submission, raising in dominance or anxiety

•Muzzle-tight or relaxed

•Hind quarters-used to threaten, warn off a resource

Tactile

•Teeth- mutual grooming and affection or warning and biting

Chemical

•Sniffing-introduction

Intra-specie Communication

Vocal

•Neigh-alturistic warning or greeting

•Snort, Blow or Nicker…

Inter-specie Communication

Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication

Easy to be anthropomorphic in interpretation, aim to be objective.

1. What they are showing; body language as physical signals of “emotional” state/preceding behaviour.

Eyeslook of the eyes:

*Whites visible (except in appaloosas)- looking back to something negative “threatened”/”anxious”/”angry”.*Half closed – Reducing light (and stimulus) input. “Tired”, “relaxed”.*Wrinkled brow – possible response to adjusting lens focus: assessing new (negative)stimuli/“worried”.*Blinking - Processing information/assessing new (positive?) stimuli, “thinking”, *”Soft eye” - Gentle, relaxed, learning mode.(most likely non-novel stimuli-comfortable environment)

*”Hard eye” - Tense, resistant. (most likely novel stimuli in environment) “uncertainty”

Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication “by Adrianne Lake”

EarsWatching the ears can help determine where the horse is focusing and whether he interprets that as a positive or negative stimuli (how he is feeling!). Generally a horse is focused on what the ears might be pointing at.

*Turned back - Focused on something behind, also at rest/tired (not responding to anything).*Pointing forward - Attentive, curious. *Rigid pointing – Uncertain/Fearful of stimuli ahead. *Droopy - Tired, sleepy, lack of stimulation (bored).*Pinned back - Threatening, aggressive, angry, warning. (DISTANCE INCREASING)

*Pointing in different directions - Focused on two things at once.*Rotating - Lots going on, curious, nervous, unsure what stimuli to respond to.*Airplane ears (drooped out to side) - Depressed, drugged, unwell, sleeping.*Neutral – Normal (limited novel stimuli).

Muzzle, Lips and Nostrils*Tight/hard lips – “Anxious”, “tense”. *Wrinkled muzzle – “Nervous”, “worried”. *Licking/Chewing - Stress release, “digesting ideas”, acknowledgement. *Drooping lip - Relaxed, “bored”.*Swishing/Mobile Muzzle - Curious, extroverted. *Flared nostrils - Nervous, excited, alert, working.*Relaxed nostrils, soft muzzle - Neutral, relaxed.*Flapping lower lip – “Unfocused”, sensitive, “nervous”. *Open mouth, mouthing - Often seen in foals. "I'm a baby- don't hurt me".

Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication

Head and Neck Set*Low -Accepting, relaxed.*High - Fear, anxiety, defiance.*Level - Neutral, Focused.

Tail*Swishing - Annoyed, irritated, flies.*Flagged – “Excited”(Aroused), “happy”(positive stimuli), playful, alarmed (often seen naturally in Arabians and foals and mares in season).*High/Raised - Attentive, “excited”, “happy”. *Low - Submissive.*Neutral/level - Focused, normal.*Clamped down - Fearful.

Legs*Pawing – “Frustrated”/anticipation.*Standing square - Attentive.*Hind hoof resting - Relaxed.*Hind leg lifted - Warning, defensive.*Stamping- Flies, mild irritation.*Striking – “Angry”, threatening, fighting. *”Dancing around” - Nervous, excited, frightened.

As always, although this knowledge is useful, the whole picture must be seen and behaviour put into context.

Don’t forget to also observe environment!

Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication

Adapted from Cheryl Sutor

2.What they are saying; vocalisations of “emotional” state/preceding behaviour.

The Snort-horse holds head high while exhaling through the nose with his mouth shut. The strong exhale creates a vibration or flutter sound in the nostrils, lasts about 1 second.

The Blow -The horse exhales through his nose with his mouth shut. Usually used when a horse is curious, or when meets another. The strength of the blow and body movements that follow will tell you what the horse is saying.

The Nicker The horse creates a vibrating sound with his mouth closed, from his vocal cords. The strength and tone of the nicker vary greatly, and will tell you what the horse is saying.

The Neigh or Whinny   The Neigh starts out as a squeal, but ends up as a nicker. The neigh is the loudest and longest of the horse sounds. The neigh is not a sound of fear. It is used when a horse is being separated from others.

The Squeal The horse usually squeals with his mouth closed. The squeal can be short and quiet or loud and long. The squeal can be heard far away if the horse squeals loud enough.

Is this dangerous?

Are you a friend?

Hello- good to see you!

Is anyone else here?

I don’t want to!

Objective Observation• “trotting, walking, canter”

• Ears back/forward

• Head up/down/turned

• Tail lifted, swishing

• Muzzle moving/still

In context of environment allows for analysis of visual (and vocal) communication.

Environment=

•External and Internal Stimuli

•Social Interactions

Example…practical IObservations: Ears back=Agnostic

Neck Down= Submissive /Relaxed

Tail= Small swish of tail

Environment: Other horse behind at distance

Analysis: Listening to something behind whilst relaxing

OR Mild warning to other horse

OR Irritated by flies?!

Fearful, prepared to defend

Attentive and Listening

Relaxed, non-stimulated

Alert and Interested

Anxious

Uncomfort-able or ill