Animal Lifestyle of a Horse
Differences seen in behaviour between wild and captive environments.
Factors affecting lifestyle
Method of feeding, predator vs prey, herbivore
Sleep/wake cycle circadian rhythm
Social behaviour – solitary, social (including sub social, para social and eusocial)
Wild horse Lifestyle
Factors affecting lifestyle
The instincts of the wild horse are commonly affected by life in the domesticated human world such
as invasion of natural habitats, risks of being hunted, and the risk of being captured. Moreover, with
limitations of their natural habitats ever-growing they will face extinction due to decreased grazing
and lessening watering holes. Additionally, climate change and pollution levels contribute to the
destruction of wild horse's natural habitats putting strain on the survival rate; Stallions are known to
limit breeding to one or two lead mares reducing the herd population in demanding times when
grazing and water conditions are poor. Moreover, a wild horse's lifespan is shorter than a
domesticated horse, living 15-20 years rather than 20-30 years seen in domesticated horses.
Social Behaviour
Wild horses live in co-operative family structure herds (depending on a co-operative social system
known as followership) containing around three mares and a single stallion however this can vary,
with size range anywhere from two to twenty-one horses, with multiple stallion harems typically
being larger than single stallion harems. In the wild, a harem will typically consist of one to six
stallions, several mares, and the mares' offspring that are up to five years old. Harems are not
limited to any certain geographic area, as they usually travel continuously in search of food and
water. By sexual maturity of colts, they are implied to leave the herd so they will not challenge the
top-ranked stallion for dominance by the age of two years old. Strong bonds between the herd are
vital to maintain their safety, and the stallions’ ability to breed within the Harmen plays importance
in the role of bonds.
A herd has a hierarchal social behaviour system passed down from the alpha stallion to the lead
mare for the rest of the herd to rely on, also known as the pecking order. The herd is led by the
leading mare and the alpha stallion provides security by guarding the rear of the herd from potential
threats/predators. It is the stallion's job to fend off predators while the lead mare guides the rest of
the herd to safety and have the responsibility to be alert and on guard while the mares and foals are
resting or grazing. Horses are prey animals with a well-developed fight-or-flight response in-built in
their natural instincts. Their first reaction to a threat is often to flee, although sometimes they will
stand their ground and defend themselves or offspring in cases where flight is not possible, such as
when a foal would be threatened by a predator; this would be an appropriate time for the alpha
stallion to show aggression by rearing up, bucking, and striking out kicks towards the threat.
, Horses communicate with each other through subtle body language and vocalization. A scream will
alert the whole herd to work together as a whole body, whilst a snort is a gentle warning, and
whinnying can call from foals playing or scattered from members of the herd. When using body
language, the combination of ear position, neck and head height, movement, foot stomping or tail
swishing is used in communication.
When greeting one and other, they will softly touch muzzles and inhale each other's breath,
commonly physically position themselves in each other's ‘heart area’ as this is seen as an acceptable
area to communicate from. An example of communication would be if an individual pins its ears
back towards its poll, tenses its mouth, lips, and shows the white of the eye, presenting that they are
apprehensive and likely to bite. A horse can show its alertness by positioning one ear forward, one
ear backward, and raising their head indicating they are monitoring the environment or objects in
the distance. Fillies and colts will often clack their teeth together, tuck their tail in, and extend their
neck to show older or more aggressive herd members they are submissive, encouraging the others
to be cautious around them decreasing the chance of injury.
Throughout the herd many individuals will obtain a favourite companion selected for social
grooming and play. They will spend a lot of time with each other, stay close by allowing each other in
their flight-one and personal space, forming a pair-bond benefiting from protection. When mutual
grooming occurs, one may raise their upper lip when scratched in a good spot while teeth and lips
may move in a mutual grooming gesture.
If a horse is in pain/lame it may struggle to preform to the best of its ability or display natural
behaviours, however as horses are prey animals, they will conceal lameness as this would make the
individual an easy target to predators in the wild.
Undomesticated horses will rarely show abnormal behaviours because they have freedom of
movement and not confined in one space, such as a stable or selected turn-out where abnormal
behaviours are often exhibited. Some examples are cribbing and windsucking; cribbing is biting a
solid object with the front incisor teeth, and windsucking is when a horse tightly draws in the
muscles of its neck/oesophagus and forces air into the throat making a gasping/grunting noise
followed with repetitive swallowing and licking of the lips. These stereotypical behaviours send
signals to the brain that release endorphins which creates the sense of reward.
Sub social behaviour
Sub social behaviour is seen in horses caring for their offspring. Mares will often nurse their foals
until they are at least eight months old, however this may continue if the mare has not foaled the
following year and throughout the winter sometimes lasting up to a year. When under threat the
herd will create a circle round the foals as a form of protection (safety in numbers) from external
factors e.g., predators such as wolves, wild dogs, and coyotes.
Solitary behaviour
Solitary behaviour in horses includes maintenance behaviours such as defecation and urination. They
may also roll in mud to provide themselves with protection from the sun or flies. Although wild
