Equi Balancefor better performance and happier, healthier horses |
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Natural behaviourNatural Herdlife Horses have a very complex social structure and crave the company of other horses. Without the structure and pecking order of a group or herd, the horse will suffer psychologically. We know from our own human experiences how much a psychological imbalance affects our existance and overall health. It is the same for horses. Horses rely on the group or herd for their own safety. When a horse in the wild becomes separated from their herd, they are destined to be eaten by a predator. This instinct lives just as strong in our domesticated horses today. In most conventional boarding facilities, horses are kept in stalls and out of the view from other horses, or on individual turnout without direct contact with other horses. I do not believe that it is right to take our horses, of which are highly social herd anmials, and put them into an environment where they cannot interact with other horses all day and all night. Horses need this social interaction not only at certain times of the day...but ALL day long. The natural structure of a family of horses is the band. The dominant stallion is the boss. His role is to protect his band from danger and increase his harem of mares and foals. The band is led in its daily routine of grazing and watering by the lead mare. 
Wild horses are shy creatures and must be approached with caution. A wild horse's natural instinct for defense is flight,
but a stallion can show aggression when he fears his family is being threatened. When searching for bands of wild horses, stud piles are the first sign of horse activity. These large piles of manure are territorial markings left by rival males. Recent horse activity is determined by the freshness of these piles. A young stallion, at the breeding age of two years or more, will be driven from his maternal band by the dominant stallion. The banished youngster will continue to follow the band at a distance until he finds other ousted young males to join up with. These groups are called "bachelor bands." You can observe these groups following family bands. Occasionally old studs will join a group of bachelors. 
 The lead mare is "second-in-command" to the dominant stallion in the band. Cautiously she will lead the band of mares and foals to new forage areas and watering holes. Ever watchful, she will take the lead for a fast retreat if danger is present. The stallion will bring up the rear, ready to protect and defend his band from any attack. A band of horses can be come easily disoriented if the lead mare is lost or disoriented. Ritual posturing and snorts often resolve a confrontation between stallions but fighting does occur. The males are at high risk from combat but death is unlikely. Horse pawing is used for communication, breaking ice in water holes, digging in deep snow for winter forage, and enlarging water holes. More information about natural horse behaviourDVD, Cloud, wild stallion of the rockiesWatch preview: Book, The nature of horses, Stephen Budiansky | |