Horse Behaviors

Horse Behaviors

Since I have been packing up the contents of our home for the move, I came across a little book filled with quite a bit of information listing some facts on “curious equine behaviors”. Lisa Dines wrote this little book. I thought it would be an interesting topic to cover. I have added some additional facts/theories that I have collected over time. Hopefully, you find the read enjoyable and if you have any interesting ones to contribute, please let us know - info@agreenhorse.com.

EYES

A horse has nearly 360 degrees of panoramic vision on each side of their bodies from the large eyes placed on the sides of their heads. Prey animals have eyes on the sides of their heads while predators’ placement is in front. The position of the eye provides both binocular and monocular vision. They can see forward using binocular vision (both eyes are used together). Vision to the sides and rearwards is monocular (they can see a different image with each eye). They also have a nictitating membrane or ‘third eyelid’, which helps protect the eye from dust and debris while grazing. 

• They have very good night vision.
• They see the slightest movement.
• Horses have the largest eyes of any land animal.

• The limitations horses have due to a 360-degree vision:
  

1. Close ups.
2. They have bad depth perception. They see a puddle, but cannot judge how far away. This is why trailer loading can be an issue. Horse trailers look like a long dark tunnel.
3. They do not see color very well.
4. Blind spots:

under nose – that is why they have whiskers to help them feel what is there
behind tail – where nature has provided them with powerful kicking and running devices – their hind legs and pelvic structure

• A horse that is asked to do something for the first time needs to investigate it; first by sight, then smell and touch before proceeding.

NOSE

FLEHMAN

A horse detects an odor and presses the smell into a sensitive organ located in its nasal cavity called the vomeronasal. The vomeronasal increases flow of air through nostrils and brings the scent through openings behind the incisors on the upper palette.

• When a Horse Breathes into another Horse’s Nostrils They:

1. are saying hello
2. are registering scent - how they remember each other

• If huffing escalates, (harder breathing) indicates a desire to work out dominance issues – this can lead to biting, squealing, striking or a kick.

• Two horses meeting may squeal and strike to show they will stay and fight for dominance vs. running away.

• Horses make Four Acoustic Sounds:

1. a squeal – dominance
2. a nicker – affection
3. a neigh or whinny – used to maintain contact with herd – can be heard by another horse ¼ mile away.
4. a scream /roar – occurs between rival stallions

• Horses make Two Non-verbal Acoustic Sounds:

1. a blow or snort – a blow is made for others in herd to pay attention or to quickly clear obstruction to better smell and a snort is softer than a blow and may indicate alarm, but not to others in herd
2. sneeze - clear nasal passages

• Horses cannot breathe through their mouth.

TEETH

• Adult Horses have:

1. 12 molars – dense, tall and constantly growing – they have ridges of enamel for grinding and placed at an angle for shearing
2. Six incisors – must meet together in front to be effective nippers

• Most wild horses die of malnutrition, not disease because of missing or worn down teeth.

• Male horses and sometimes mares grow pointed teeth in the space in-between the molars and incisors on both top and bottom called “canine” teeth. They can be rounded off and reduced in height so not to cause pain or injury.

• Some horses grow small, sharp, shallow rooted teeth called “wolf” teeth. They erupt next to the first molar on the top jaw. They are removed or they will dislodge by the bit and cause pain.

• Bits fit in a horse's mouth over his tongue and in the natural gap (called the bars) between its front and rear teeth. The bit is used for direction and pressure, not pain.

•  Horses lower their heads and neck, opening their mouth and clacking or clapping their teeth together communicating their subordinate behavior.

• Play fighting or fighting horses will bite the knees of the other horse bringing them down, showing undisputed dominance.

FOOD

• Cows, goats and sheep chew their cud to digest food. These animals are called Ruminants. They are cud chewing and can hold their food for hours longer in more digestive chambers and extract energy from a smaller amount of overall feed. Horses do not have to rest and chew their cud to digest food. This why they are raised as meat animals and horses are not.

• Horses have an organ called Cecum that breaks down plant cellulose quickly while on the run and are not cud chewing animals. This way a horse is more like a rhino. Horses prefer inhospitable, dry, rocky or sandy areas with low protein plants that cannot sustain cattle and sheep. The land with high deserts and rugged terrain in six western states and the shores of two eastern states are perfect natural habitats for them. They reproduce and live in the wild very well  in these areas.

• If a Horse cannot Graze on Nutritional Pastures or has No Exercise, these Problems will Occur:

1. aggression
2. colic, founder
3. ulcers
4. worn down teeth
5. worn down hooves
6. weaving
7. pacing
8. cribbing
9. chewing wood

• If a Horse is Overfed and has No Exercise, these Problems will Occur:

1. damage to internal organs
2. damage to hooves
3. damage to moods

• Horses grazing on a healthy pasture 24 hours per day with plenty of fresh water will have less stomachache pains or problems.

• Colic is a stomachache in horses.

• Horses will get ulcers if their stomach remains empty.

• Hay is important in winter because it takes the most energy to eat and digest and thus keeps them warm.

• Horses cannot vomit.

• Horses can experience stress when their routine and or surroundings change. Examples: difference in feed, water and schedule. These changes can affect them emotionally and physically and because they need to build up the necessary new bacteria in their guts to digest new things, gradually bring about food changes whenever possible.

• Horses will eat dried manure and foals will eat their mothers because it supplies the foal w/ the necessary gut flora to begin digesting plants.

WATER

• In the wild, horses create their own mud holes by pawing at the ground surrounding natural springs, then drinking from this. The pawing in water stirs up minerals the horses seek in their diet, which they drink along with the water. Use mineral salt blocks, not the white ones - Himalayan Rock Salt is the best.

Even with plenty of water in the troughs, Tsar will still drink from the watering hole.

• Horses should drink and eat from the ground or as low to it as possible. This simulates the full neck extension and is probably more comfortable and natural – like grazing on grasses.

• Horses can drink up to 10 gallons of water per day.

THE SPECIES

• Originally, there were Four Basic Horse Types:

1. wetland pony
2. wetland horse

The “wetlands” are stockier, hairier on legs (called feathering), thicker skin and less apt to flee – they are more inclined to stand their ground and fight; less sensitive

1. desert pony
2. desert horse

The “deserts” have lighter coats, thinner manes and tails, no leg feathering, lighter bones, thinner and narrower torsos, flighty and sensitive temperament

• From the Four Original Horse Types, the Following Breeds were Created (they are very old breeds):

1. Arabian
2. the Barb
3. the Large European Draft
4. War Horse
5. the Spanish Horse
6. the Exmoor Pony

All other breeds originated from these old breeds.

• Ponies are used to downsize a breed and horses are used to make breeds larger.

• Simple and Necessary Equine Pleasures: (in order)

1. eating
2. moving
3. grooming

• 4 Things that Shape a Horse's Behavior (in order) - Visit 4 Conditions

1. safety
2. comfort
3. play
4. food

• 4 Things that Shape a Horse's Personality (in order)

1. innate characteristics
2. learned behavior
3. environment
4. spirit

• Natural selection favors earth tones on prey animals so they blend well with the natural surroundings – browns, reds, chestnut, black and bays or – stripes (zebras) to dazzle and confuse the eye of the predator.
  

GENERAL INFORMATION

• We have Domesticated Horses because:

1. they are adaptable
2. curious
3. non-territorial
4. non aggressive
5. dependent
6. playful
7. submissive
8. useful

• Horses like to hang out with humans because they benefit from their bounty.

• Horses gain security from their heard by establishing a pecking order. Humans can fulfill this dominance by showing leadership. This is why humans have been able to manage horses for so long. More on herd pecking order, Visit  "Treat with Respect".

• The more confident and relaxed you are, the more your horse will enjoy your company and direction.

• Horses are prey animals and sleep better when in groups. One or some of them will sleep while others stand guard to watch for predators. A horse kept alone will not sleep well because its instincts are to keep a constant eye out for danger.

• Horses have a stay apparatus in their legs that lock and it enables them to stand and doze off. They can lock each leg individually. Horses sleep about five hrs per day and need 30 minutes lying flat to achieve deep REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. When they are in “REM” sleep, they sleep peacefully, dream, twitch, grunt and snore.

• Horse's legs are long and light. The lower legs have less muscle and thinner bones than the upper parts of its body. These fragile legs carry a huge body mass. If something happens to a leg, it is slow to heal because the horse must distribute its weight on all four legs to stand up.

• Hoof problems are the biggest source of debilitating lameness. Most hoof lameness is preventable. Hoof ailments Visit - "Horse Behaviors, Grooming".

• Both domesticated and in the wild, mares go off from the herd to give birth. Most mares give birth at night for safety. The eyes of predators are not as abundant and the herd is not as active allowing the time necessary for birth. Mares prefer a familiar clean stall or grass sterilized by the sun. The foal is usually born 20 minutes after the water breaks. Most foals are born front feet and head first with one leg preceding the other so the shoulders come out at a narrow slant.

• Within an hour of birth, a newborn foal can stand and within 24 hours, the foal can run with the herd.

• When first born, a foal cannot eat grass because its legs are too long for its mouth to reach it. As time goes on, it will learn to spread its legs enabling its mouth to reach it.

• Swayback is caused from weakened back ligaments because of overuse, carrying too many foals or lack of proper conditioning.

• For the safety of the horse, 20% of its body weight is the maximum weight it should carry.

• Horses roll because they have extremely sensitive skin that is exposed to insects, the elements, sweaty saddle blankets, badly fitting tack and sometimes just plain itchy. They cannot really scratch or message their own spines in any other way. It is said that rolling is the “horsey” equivalent of going to a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment, especially if he rolls all the way over and back again.

• If a horse cannot move forward or backward (feels trapped) he may rear.

• Bucking under saddle usually indicates fear, discomfort or pain.

• Horses refuse to go if the rider is not a leader, if the human takes advantage of the horse or has a problem balancing the rider. The horse usually is afraid.

• Horses have dense undercoats in the winter, a layer of fat under their skin for insulation and a longer outer coat, which can have vertical swirl patterns that act as little gullies to carry rain to the ground.

• Horses and humans are the only animals that sweat through their skin to keep cool.

• The direction of the hair on a horse has patterns or whorls. These whorls are unique to the individual horse as fingerprints are to humans. Some horse registries still use these distinctive whorls for identification of horses.

Go Green Tips:

• supply your horse with stimulating items in his pasture and stall

- reuse an old tire and hang it high enough in a tree where with an extended neck, your horse can barley touch it with its nose

- fill the underneath sides of small traffic cones with spray foam and put some in the pasture

- buy a child's hoppity hop and throw it in the pasture

- hang a large rubber dog pull with an eye hook and a double ended eye clip, in your horse's stall. Hang at horse's eye level.

  Any Go Green Ideas?

Email us: info@agreenhorse.com

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. 
Arabian Proverb

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