Differences in
social behaviour between
late-pregnant, post-partum and barren mares in a
herd of Icelandic horses
by
“Precondition for
appropriate husbandry and dealing with horses is the knowledge about native
behaviour of horses.”
Horses are gregarious animals, which combine to
herds of more than hundred individuals. In the wilderness they live in family
groups of about 20 horses; they are composed of one stallion, some juvenile
fillies and one to seven mares. There
exists a rank order in every herd, which is managed by a routing mare. The
stallion is responsible for defensiveness and coherence of the herd. Similarly
stallions or youngsters can temporarily form groups.
The daily group dynamics and the social
behaviour are influenced by different factors:
- Allogrooming
- Dynamics in proximity
- Kinship and familiarity
- Dominance and rank order
… And furthermore by environmental condition,
manner of feeding, resting and sexual behaviour
Allogrooming
The main point of allogrooming is
not just “cleaning and care behaviour”, it is rather
the communicative aspect. Allogrooming is influenced by seasonal- climate
conditions, breed constellation, sex- age differences and mainly by the
reproductive state.
It is important to know that every mare has one
preferred allogrooming partner.
In the
time after parturition it decreases obviously in foaling mares also in barren
herd members. There is no difference in the behaviour of pregnant mares and
pre-foaling mares.
Dynamics in proximity
Similar to allogrooming the activity
of proximity can be seen especially in mares of the same reproductive state,
for example in pregnant, post- partum or barren mares. It decreases just during
the foaling season.
In the period of parturition the distance
between the mares with their new born foals and the other group member increases,
to protect their foals. It is at least 50- 100m for several hours, until they
join the group back again. The animals have as well one preferred partner with
whom they live in close relationship. It is significant to have enough spatial
separation. The individual distance is not given or ruled, it is rather related
to the rank position.
Kinship and familiarity
Horses show the ability and necessity to form
friendships. Nevertheless familiarity occupies a more powerful connection to
family members than to herd mates; both are related to allogrooming and
proximity.
Dominance and rank order
There is not really a relationship
between dominance and allogrooming, dynamics of proximity or reproductive
state. The hierarchy positions of the individuals often change correlated to
the age. The top is built by older mares, followed by the oldest and than by the
younger mares. Mares, which had a higher rank in former times, maintain the “respect”
of the other group members. An aggressive behaviour of mares, immediately after
parturition -to defend their foals- does not intermit the rank order.
Social behaviour in pastured groups of
Icelandic horses
In the years 1997 and 1999 the behaviour of
Icelandic horses have been studied. The main focus of the research has been on
late- pregnant, post- partum and barren mares.
About one-hundred horses kept
together in an area of 8- hectare sub-enclosure. The observation concentrated
on eighteen individuals for 24h each day.
In 1997 seven foals and in 1999 thirteen foals were born. The results of
approaching behaviour were taken from this period of time, when the horses come
together for grazing, but not during the convention because of feeding by
human. Dominance hierarchy includes submission and four offensive behaviours.
·
Threatening with ears back
·
Approaching for biting
·
The bite itself
·
Attacking movements
The relative aggressiveness was measured with
the last mentioned headwords.
On the basis of the study you could draw the
conclusions of allogrooming, proximity, kinship and familiarity, dominance and
rank order.
In summary pregnant mares and mares with new
born foals changed the activity of social behaviour between them and group
members. Nevertheless the team of researchers could not observe any harassment
while and after parturition. The important aspect for natural manner between
horses was sufficient space for separation from other group members.
Natural behaviour and its supply to horse
husbandry
In my opinion it’s very important for horses to
enjoy their life by interactions with other individual species. Unfortunately
in the common husbandry there is no way for horses to exhibit a social
behaviour. The horses should get the possibility to build up interrelation like
allogrooming and undergo an education by other herd members.
Sources:
Literature:
·
M.C. van Dierendonck, H.
Sigurjonsdottir, B. Colenbrande, A.G. Thorhallsdottir: “Differences in social
behaviour between late pregnant, post-partum and barren mares in a herd of
Icelandic horses” in Applied Animal Behaviour Science 89
(2004) 283–297
·
Zeitler- Feicht, Margit H.: Handbuch Pferdeverhalten (Stuttgart, 2001)
ISBN 3-8001-3110-2
·
Zeeb Klaus: Die Natur des Pferdes (Stuttgart, 1998)
ISBN 3-440-07238-X
·
M.
Kiley-Worthington: The Behaviour of Horses, J.A. Allen,
ISBN: 0-85131-688-3
·
A.F.
Fraser: The behaviour of the horse, CABInternational,
ISBN: 0-85198-785-0
·
Skriptum: “Ethologie of the horse” (
Worldwideweb:
·
http://www.naturschule.com/Monatstier-2004/November04/November04.htm
·
http://www.duelmen.de/duelmen_mehr/bilderbogen/wildpferde.htm
·
http://www.zoo-koeln.de/takhi/Seiten-eng/zuchtP_eng.html