An Equine’s Legacy
Over the years, horses have evolved to suit our needs instead of their own. Through breeding and behavioural manipulation, horses have become a product of our quest to create the perfect specimen and tool.
Equine management, as we have known it, doesn’t always consider the needs of an equine’s natural instinct and behaviour, and many caregivers put their own needs before those of their horses. Even well-meaning trainers, breeders, equestrians, and caregivers often cause undue stress and illness because they don’t understand how to put their equine’s needs at the forefront of all decisions.
Why This is Important
We have, essentially, separated horses from their natural need to be with their herd by domesticating them. To better care for horses, caregivers must understand herd behaviour.
My objective is to show that herd behaviour is a necessary instinct that should not be ignored or discouraged because, no matter how domesticated horses become, the need for companionship will remain essential and will reflect on their overall mental and physical health.
More people have become interested in their equine’s needs in order to improve their relationship with their horses; and, in doing so, improve their horses’ performance. The key, however, is to remember an equine’s mental health should be considered a top priority in every aspect of horse management and training.
Unfortunately, there’s a great deal of misinformation within the industry, and inexperienced caregivers and trainers can easily cause more harm than good while navigating the many choices.
Most of us have witnessed incidents where trainers are cruel or reckless while demonstrating techniques, but are never questioned or held accountable, due to their status and following within the community. This doesn’t just endanger the welfare of equines; the misinformation and mishandling of animals endanger the lives of caregivers, which puts our animals at even further risk of being injured, neglected, or euthanized.
This may be a strange introduction to why horses need companionship, but I want to be blunt in saying that not everything you hear in the industry is accurate or based on concrete evidence, and I ask that you keep an open mind. Remember, if something about an event or trainer doesn’t feel right, don’t participate with them or follow their advice.
Being Taken From the Herd has Consequences
The consequences of taking horses from their herd are obvious, and yet few will openly discuss them. Horses are at our mercy for their physical and mental health when they are removed from the watchful eyes of their companions. Without the herd, a horse is at severe risk of being injured or killed by predators, and even though most domestic horses are well cared for in their stables and fenced pastures, they remain on constant alert for possible threats.
This is why I advocate that we assess a horse’s behaviour from the perspective of a horse, ensuring their welfare needs are met prior to correcting or modifying their behaviour.
Most behaviour problems are a result of a horse’s instinctive need to protect themselves from an assumed and expected threat. The threat may not be real, in our opinion, but it is to them, and to ensure their health and safety, we must assess behaviour holistically and question how it influences all aspects of horse management.
Not only do horses rely on their herd for safety, but their need for companionship and social interaction is imperative to thrive. Herds are formed by a stallion, several mares, and their offspring, becoming close-knit communities with roles and expectations of how they behave and interact with one another.
A Better Understanding is Needed
In recent years, more equine caregivers have become interested in learning to interact with their horses as partners, instead of treating their them like animals that provide a service.. And, though this change is promising and moving in the right direction, the fact that equines are still being treated as solitary animals is concerning. Without healthy companionship, they are at risk of heightened stress, and all the illnesses and diseases that come with it.
For example, perhaps your equine, or one that you have seen at a show or clinic, panics whenever he is separated from another horse, even if they were just introduced. To us, this may seem irrational, or even problematic, and instead of addressing this from the horse’s perspective, some may use adverse methods to correct the behaviour. This will only cause more harm, because instead of being settled or reassured, he will now associate pain to being separated from other horses.
Yes, there are horses that appear to do well without other horses and lope or canter around the ring, passing them by with no apparent regard, but we are very wrong in making the assumption that our horses don’t require companionship. Horses become what we expect of them because our perception of how they behave dominates our perception of what they need to thrive.
Before I get hate mail, I want to clarify that I know the majority of horse caregivers obsessively care for their equines and have the best intentions. Even so,, we can ask a lot of our horses, causing them stress that will reflect in their mental and physical health, as well as in their performance.
I’ve seen people yank their horses around like a dog would a tug toy because they wouldn’t leave the safety of other horses. Though I understand the expectations trainers and equestrians have, especially during events, it’s maddening to see how oblivious they sometimes are to what’s really happening.
In my opinion, if one is not willing to see past their own needs and focus on the needs of their equine, they don’t deserve the privilege of their companionship.
An Equine’s Natural Behaviour
Standing Guard
Have you driven past a farm and saw the majority of cattle or horses lying down, except for a select few who seem to deliberately keep watch? It’s instinctive for herd animals like horses to take turns guarding the other sleeping animals, so they can have a sounder, deeper sleep. The watchful equine may appear to be dozing, but his sleep is lighter, so he can remain aware of what is happening in the immediate environment and alert the rest as needed.
Interestingly, these guard shifts rotate so that each horse has the opportunity to sleep deeply, without having to be on constant alert. This is one of the reasons I advocate for large, boxed stalls, wherein horses can see each other as much as possible if they can’t be together directly.
Loafing
“Loafing,” is the term that animal welfare experts use to describe equine behaviours such as mutual grooming, scratching, and playing. Horses will use their incisor teeth to groom each other which not only improves the bond among horses but also allows them to be scratched and groomed in areas they are unable to reach themselves. To humans, it’s a simple interaction between friendly horses, but to them, it’s about survival and learning to trust each other.
When you see a horse standing together in the shade, nose-to-tail during hot weather, they are using their tails to keep the flies off each other. This may include two or more horses and often a group will gather around the young to protect them from flies and the heat in the same manner.
In cold, rainy, or snowy conditions, horses will huddle together in a sheltered area and use their body heat to protect themselves from the cold. They will take turns standing in adverse weather if they all can’t fit in the sheltered area at once.
Other loafing practices include playing and running together, whereby young horses learn socially-acceptable behaviour amongst the group and adult horses are able to exercise while spending quality time with their peers.
Play is never just playing. There’s always a mental or physical element that’s involved, such as developing a stronger bond or exercising to work out soreness or indigestion. Incorporating play into your equine’s daily routine is essential to stimulate their minds, promote better health, and allow them to be instinctive.
Consequences of Loneliness
Behaviour
Without the emotional and social support of a companion, equines will likely exhibit symptoms of stress or desperation, such as running up and down along the edge of the fence while calling out to neighbouring horses or even trying to jump the fence to find other companions.
Physical
In hypnotherapy, I tell clients that what stresses the mind will stress the body, and what stresses the body will continue to stress the mind. There are different types of stress, some of which is healthy in order to keep your mind aware of your surroundings and keep your body functioning properly in threatening or adverse conditions. The harmful stress, however, is what breaks down our mental and physical states, and even healthy stress can become harmful if we cannot return to homeostasis (normal state) safely.
Horses are similar to humans, in that stress also breaks down their mental and physical states. Extreme or prolonged stress can result in soreness, muscle cramping, indigestion, hair loss, changes in weight, and can severely hinder a horse’s ability to consume and metabolise food and water. If left untreated, these complications can become the catalyst of major health conditions and emergencies, such as cancer.
Mental
One of the major concerns I have with horses who become lonely and stressed is learned helplessness. Learned helplessness resembles depression, and occurs when an equine’s overall interest in surviving and thriving has changed.
Learned helplessness is manifested by a horse to prevent them from being in a permanent and constant state of stress; therefore, they shut down and exhibit behaviour that can be dull and lifeless.
It’s one thing to see a horse acting out because he’s unhappy or trying to communicate his needs; it’s another to see one just exist because he doesn’t want to feel physical or mental pain.
Learned helplessness is very similar to what a person who is orphaned, abandoned, or abused may feel. People who have lost their home, or marriage, or experienced the loss of a loved one may also experience learned helplessness, which can manifest into various forms of anxiety or depression if they don’t move past the grieving process.
You will see dogs in shelters who have developed learned helplessness as they display detached and avoidant behaviours, such as huddling in the corner, burying their head under the blankets, or just staring out into nothingness, even though they have nothing to fear at that moment.
In some cases, horses are taught learned helplessness by their caregivers and trainers through “breaking the horse” because it has been the practice to dominate horses in order to make them into our tools of service.
Before You Get Another Companion for Your Horse
You might now want to rush out and get your horse a new companion. But, before you do that, please consider whether you have the budget, space, time, and ability to care for more than one horse.
Yes, it’s important that your horse has companionship, but you don’t want to create that bond with another horse only to admit you don’t have the ability to care for their friend. Horses, like humans, acutely experience grief, and losing a companion will affect their mental health.
So, what do you do if you can’t afford or don’t have the space for another equine? Horses have been known to bond with other animals such as goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, and miniature horses. And though most of these animals provide great company, a donkey or miniature horse are likely the best companions, since they have similar habits and behaviours as a horse. However, even a barn cat or chicken is better than nothing.
Another horse is always my first choice, because they have the same behaviours and instincts as already mentioned. Horses graze longer than cattle and sheep, for example, and thus wander about the pasture more, whereas cattle and sheep will munch and often lay down.
Chickens will peck away and show interest in your horse on their own terms, and will likely fly away when a five-hundred-pound critter wants to nuzzle. Goats are by far the most entertaining, and your equine will likely tire out just watching her goat’s antics; however, again, the eating and resting habits of a goat are unlike those of your equine, and this can cause some detachment.
Before getting a miniature horse or donkey, I want to remind you that any miniature animal has become such due to breeding manipulation, thus, prone to physical problems, illness, and disease. Therefore, don’t think that having a miniature is going to be less expensive than a large horse or donkey.
This is not to discourage you; I am merely making you aware. Too many miniatures are given up or surrendered because caregivers don’t have the time, patience, or budget to attend to their needs, and that’s not fair to your equine, your mini, or you.
Some caregivers believe they can substitute for another animal and be their equine’s companion. Yes, as a caregiver, you will be a huge part of your equine’s social life and care; however, since you don’t stand over her while she sleeps, swish flies off her face, or run and play with her as horses do, you cannot be a good substitute for companionship.
If your horse only bonds with you, she will become reliant on you for all of her mental, physical, and emotional needs, and though many try to fulfill them to their best ability, it’s nearly impossible and not considered good practice for the well-being of horses.
Think Outside the Box (Stall)
So, what do you do if you can’t afford to get another equine?
In dog training, I suggest that all puppies attend puppy parties before they become adolescents, so they can socialize, learn acceptable behaviour, and meet both people and new puppy friends.
As part of a research project and to help two very lonely mares and their concerned humans, I developed a plan for their horses to regularly meet so they can play, groom, and socialize with each other. Their guardians alternated between stables and pooled their resources to make it happen. The results were beyond what I could have hoped. Both mares are now happier, perform better, and don’t exhibit the same nervous behaviour.
Before anyone judges, these measures as overdone or too much, consider the efforts we make for our dogs and then remember that equines are also sentient beings with complex emotions, who require mental health care.
Yes, I am asking you to consider Horsey Play Dates. Why not? Why not think outside the box and do what you can to make your equine happier?
Summary
Equines are sentient beings who require the companionship of other equines or animals to thrive. As caregivers, it’s our responsibility to ensure this is not overlooked and that this need is kept in mind while assessing, and modifying, behaviour. More times than not, an equine’s behaviour is altered by human interaction and, for this reason, it’s important to monitor our expectations and think beyond our needs to consider our equines. It’s imperative to ask whether you are the cause and willingly be the solution.