Horse Behavior, 2nd Edition

First published in 1983, the second edition of this informative book remains the most comprehensive and current overview of the behavioral traits and adaptations of horses. The book integrates findings from hundreds of international researchers to provide the reader a factual synthesis of the behavior of domestic and feral horses. Building on the strengths of the first edition, the author has thoroughly updated coverage of horse ancestry, development, perception, learning, play, social behavior, behavioral manipulation, maintenance activities, and sexual behavior. In this second edition more emphasis has been given to animal husbandry and management. Additionally, the second edition includes an all-new section on ecological influences on activity patterns, habitat utilization, social behavior and reproduction. An expanded section on applied ethology provides behavioral considerations for management and insight regarding the behavioral indicators of horse health and well being. This is followed with an updated appendix listing behavioral symptoms and possible causes. The text contains numerous tables and nearly 100 illustrations and photos.

Waring (Southern Illinois U.) presents an overview of current international literature regarding the behavior and behavioral evolution of horses, both feral and domesticated. The material is organized in sections on behavioral development, reproductive behavior, social behavior, ecological influences, and applied ethology in horse care and management. This is an updated version of a 1983 book. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Dr. J.K. Blackshaw, Associate Professor, School of Vetertinary Science, University of Queensland - Australian Veterinary Journal

This is a great source book for veterinarians, students of animal sciences, especially those interested in animal behaviour and researchers needing a reference book. Every topic has extensive references from both the recent and older literature. If you want to know some fact about normal horse behaviour such as how long a foal suckles, duration of copulation, how much an adult horse sleeps - the experimental data will most likely be in this book. There are numerous tables, illustrations and photographs and a comprehensive index and bibliography.

The first edition of this book as published in 1983 and this second edition has been updated in every section. There are new sections on ecological influences on activity patterns, habitat utilization, social behaviour and reproduction. An expanded section on applied ethology and behavioural considerations for management, horse well-being and health is a useful addition.

The book is in seven parts consisting of three to five chapters. The index in the front of the book gives a clear understanding of what subjects are covered in each part. Part I covers the ancestry, special senses and motor patterns of the horse with a useful table on horse taxonomy and related species of living equids. There are detailed line drawings and definitions of all the motor patterns. In the discussion of the special senses, the horse's use of them is put into the ecological, morphological and physiological contexts. There is also detailed descriptions, including good drawings of the different gaits. Part II includes the development of behaviour patterns: play, post- and peri-natal development, learning, memory and often difficult to find data on foal development. The section on learning covers useful information on habituation, classical conditioning and instrumental conditioning (operant conditioning). Maintenance activities (resting, sleep, ingestion, elimination, comfort behaviours) are discussed in Part III. A term used that I found in appropriate, was 'self-indulgent' to describe sunning, shelter seeking, licking, nibbling, scratching and rubbing - these are maintenance behaviours. An interesting section is included on the symbiotic relationships of horses with birds, such as cattle egre, and humans.

The section on reproductive behaviour (Part IV) is full of useful data which covers the sexual behaviours of mares and stallions and a detailed account of maternal behaviour. Both normal and abnormal behaviours are discussed. The stimuli that can affect sexual behaviour are commented on, including age, colour and sexual signals.

Social behaviour in Part V covers herd behaviour, social attachment, home range and territoriality, social dominance and agnostic behaviour. Mare-foal and foal-mare attachments are discussed and there is a small section on interspecies relationships. The excellent line drawings of facial expressions, head and ear positions add useful information. Part VI, the interaction of horses and their environment, includes an excellent section on the influence of native horses on various environments. However, the destructive effect of introduced feral horses in countries like Australia is not mentioned - this would have completed the discussion. The chapter on ecological influences and the effects on reproduction and social behaviour is a useful addition.

The expanded section (Part VII) on applied ethology provided behavioural considerations for management and insight regarding behavioural indicators of horse health and well-being. An appendix after this chapter categorizes many equine behavioural signs and possible problems they may indicate. The behavioural signs include facial expressions, posture, changes in motor coordination, changes in maintenance behaviour and social behaviour.

There is no specific section devoted to behaviour problems -these are discussed in the appropriate chapters along with the normal behaviour. This arrangement works well and gives a good understanding of how the normal behaviour has changed.

This is an easy-to-read, hard-back book, packed with useful information written by an author, who not only has conducted research, but is also an educator. I am lucky to have it on my shelf.

FRONT COVER......Page 1 HORSE BEHAVIOR Second Edition......Page 4 Preface......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Part I Introduction......Page 16 1 Ancestry of the Horse......Page 18 2 Perception and Orientation......Page 33 3 Motor Patterns......Page 51 Part II Behavioral Development......Page 78 4 Ontogeny of Behavior Patterns......Page 80 5 Play......Page 98 6 Investigative Behavior......Page 106 7 Learning and Memory......Page 111 Part III Maintenance Activities......Page 130 8 Resting and Sleep......Page 132 9 Ingestive Behavior......Page 139 10 Eliminative Behavior......Page 159 11 Comfort Behavior......Page 164 Part IV Reproductive Behavior......Page 176 12 Sexual Behavior of Stallions......Page 178 13 Sexual Behavior of Mares......Page 197 14 Maternal Behavior......Page 214 Part V Social Behavior......Page 224 15 Social Organization......Page 226 16 Social Attachment......Page 234 17 Home Range and Territoriality......Page 248 18 Social Dominance......Page 258 19 Agonistic Behavior......Page 268 20 Communicative Behavior......Page 285 Part VI Ecological Influences......Page 318 21 Interaction of Horses and Their Environment......Page 320 22 Ecological Influences on Reproduction and Social Behavior......Page 330 Part VII Applied Ethology in Horse Care and Management......Page 342 23 Behavioral Considerations in Horse Management......Page 344 24 Behavioral Manipulation......Page 355 25 Behavioral Indicators Relevant to Health and Well-Being......Page 377 Appendix......Page 384 Bibliography......Page 400 Index......Page 430