Equine social interactions: implications for horse-human interactions

van Dierendonk, Machteld and Goodwin, Deborah (2004) Equine social interactions: implications for horse-human interactions. 10th International conference on Human-Animal Interactions. People & Animals: A Timeless Relationship, Glasgow, Scotland. 06 - 09 Oct 2004.

Abstract

In feral and free-ranging environments, equids typically form stable social groups with cohesive long living social bonds between members of the group. Disruption of these bonds is uncommon except during juvenile dispersal or conflict between stallions, both processes being associated with social stress and disruption of group structure. Foals are precocial developers and first associate only with their dams. Later, they also associate with peers and develop pair bonds between preferred individuals. Mutual grooming is common; it maintains pair bonding and can be a source of reassurance following social conflict.
Cultural differences in human-horse relationship have been evident from ancient history to the present. Two general approaches can be identified: 1) a co-operative approach based upon understanding the behaviour of the horse and 2) an alternative approach based on human dominance and equine submission. Management and training involving social interactions between humans and horses reflect these differences in approach. These can cause different types of conflict between the evolutionary and adaptive social needs of horses and the husbandry and training practices in both approaches.
Current management and veterinary practices for horses are driven by human demands and economic limitations, but often ignore basic equine social needs. As a result - especially in the western world - intensive management of horses is frequently associated with social isolation, confinement. Concomitant alterations of feeding and foraging practices also violate the horse's physiological and ethological needs. Therefore, horses have to rely on human action in order to fulfil these needs, thus rendering the horse unable to exert control over its environment. In this environment, short term human-horse interactions have to substitute for natural and continuous horse to horse social bonding and interaction patterns. These common management practices have behavioural and physical consequences for the health and welfare of horses and also for human-horse interactions, husbandry practices and training.
In this paper, behavioural, physical and stress parameters of both natural and equine husbandry systems, are reviewed and used to define social requirements and physiological and ethological needs for all phases of a horse’s life. In addition, implications for husbandry practices are critically reviewed. Preventive and curative interventions re proposed that offer welfare solutions, as well as practical and financial advantages. These include modification of traditional stable design, group housing and/or changes in daily management practices.

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