Behaviour

INTRODUCTION TO EQUINE BEHAVIOUR

Understanding equine behaviour gives insight into their physical and mental states. The presence or absence of certain behaviours can indicate whether an animal is experiencing a good quality of life or if they are experiencing welfare problems.

Horses, donkeys, and mules are social herbivores that spend much of their time moving in search of food and water. On average, free-ranging equids graze and forage for about 16 hours a day.(1–3) When well-handled and trained positively, equids are generally approachable and curious and can view human interactions as positive. If their natural needs for forage, social connection, movement and space are met, equids display low levels of aggression between companions.

In contrast, hypervigilance, high rates of aggression, hyperarousal, and depressed/apathetic responses are abnormal behaviours and indicate the animal's welfare is compromised. Under chronic stress some animals may display unusual, repetitive, and harmful patterns of behaviour. Many behaviours that people consider challenging are adaptive for the animal. For example, reluctance to move may be a protective response to pain or fear or an animal who fidgets and vocalises when alone is distressed by their isolation.

Whilst horses, donkeys, and mules share some characteristics, there are also differences in their behavioural tendencies, needs, and how they express internal states. Recognising and interpreting species-specific behaviour is the foundation of good care and management, safe handling, and positive human-animal relationships.

All animal behaviour has a reason behind it and understanding these root causes are key to improving animal welfare.

WHAT AFFECTS EQUINE BEHAVIOUR?

Equine behaviour is influenced by genetics, individual characteristics, past experiences, and current welfare, as well as factors like nutrition, health (including pain), environment, and social interactions (1,2,4). Some influences affecting behaviour are stable, others vary over time - such as weather, health, social and environment factors.

Many working equids suffer pain, whether acute or chronic, which significantly affects their behaviour. Horses, donkeys, and mules express pain differently, and the behavioural signs of pain in donkeys are particularly misunderstood. (1,5)

An animal’s accumulated experiences (positive or negative) over time impacts their behaviour. Learned helplessness is a state of trauma, commonly seen in working equids, where an animal becomes passive, withdrawn, and displays an unnatural disinterest and reactivity to their surroundings. Although the animal may appear compliant, these behaviours indicate poor welfare. (6)

Species-specific traits also influence behaviour. Each species has unique behavioural needs and tendencies that they are highly motivated to perform, and which must be met for good welfare.

Behaviours occur for a variety of reasons.

Even a single experience can have a lasting impact on behaviour. For example, horses are capable of recognising a person after just one interaction, and this recognition can have a long lasting influence on their behaviour toward that person.

KEY BEHAVIOURAL NEEDS OF WORKING EQUIDS

• The ability to live with others of the same species, with freedom to choose preferred companions. (8-11)
• Regular (at least daily) unrestricted movement with freedom to roll and lie down on soft ground, free from faeces, debris or hazards. (11)
• Opportunities for both grazing and browsing, including selecting different forage and expressing other exploratory feeding behaviours such as digging/pawing grasses. (1-11)

Equids need freedom, friends, and forage.

Social isolation is a significant stressor for equids, with some evidence suggesting that horses perceive social isolation as a greater threat than mild pain.(12)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EQUINE BEHAVIOUR IS MISUNDERSTOOD?

• Animal welfare cannot be accurately assessed if people cannot recognise and interpret equine behaviour. (4)
• If people are unable to recognise and understand equine behaviour — and apply that understanding to their interactions with equids — their handling will be less effective, leading to poor working relationships that can risk both animal and human safety.
• Failing to meet the behavioural needs of working equids causes chronic stress, leading to poor health and mental suffering. (8,13,14)
• If working equids cannot express their natural behaviours, these behaviours may be expressed in a rebound manner when equids find the opportunity and/or at times that are challenging and dangerous for those who work with them. (8,13)
• Misunderstanding species-specific differences in behavioural expression and needs can lead to handling and management challenges, poor welfare, and chronic stress.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING, RECOGNITION, AND INTERPRETATION OF EQUINE BEHAVIOUR?

Animal handlers should be familiar with the normal and abnormal behaviour patterns of horses, donkeys, and mules, and how this relates to working equids.

Handlers should be able to recognise and interpret behavioural signs of both negative (e.g. trauma, discomfort, pain, fear, anxiety, stress) and positive (e.g. relaxation, curiosity, playfulness, and positive anticipation) experiences, and use this to guide their handling and management practices.

Handlers should understand natural equine behaviour, needs and species differences, so that if working equids display unwanted behaviours they are not punished for this, but instead handlers identify and address the root causes of the behaviour.

Training anyone who works with or cares for working equids (including animal health care professionals) is essential and competent authorities have a responsibility to support this.