| The basis of behavioural research is trying to find laws | | | | every contact with humans has to be managed in a |
| of behaviour. Equine behaviour is of course not | | | | way horses remain as horses should and that our |
| predictable but causes for certain behaviour can be | | | | incorporation in their lives works harmoniously with their |
| detected and defined. The following should be of | | | | natural way of thinking. |
| interest to the horse owner. | | | | In order to gain an insight into the typical behaviour of a |
| What is a horse's "normal" behaviour? | | | | species, it is important to distinguish between |
| How do I have to keep, feed and work my horse so | | | | behavioural patterns of the species and possible |
| that it shows "normal" behaviour? | | | | deviations of individuals or groups. A list called an |
| How are behavioural patterns, which would be classed | | | | ethogram details these behavioural patterns in order to |
| as "abnormal", evoked? | | | | determine into which functional group any |
| How can I avoid these patterns? | | | | characteristics may fall. |
| If certain aspects of my horse's behaviour are | | | | If every horse owner can gain experience with horses |
| inherited, can this also apply for "abnormal" behaviour? | | | | that behave in a normal way it will assist in them |
| So what is "normal"? | | | | developing a yardstick for future dealings with equine |
| We get used to thinking that an animals behaviour is | | | | behavioural analysis, on any scale. This is best judged |
| either "normal" or abnormal" and often forget that | | | | when human influence or manipulation is at its least. |
| human influence can play a large role in the influence | | | | Horses in a herd will develop their social skills and |
| of this. It should be understood as manipulation and that | | | | behave as naturally as their wild ancestors, when out |
| it can affect the horse's conduct in potentially unnatural | | | | in the field together. Without their companions not only |
| and / abnormal ways. It is a balancing act for the | | | | will their social behaviour be missing but also other |
| horse owner to keep the behaviour of the horse as | | | | functions will not be expressed normally. Human |
| natural as possible yet on the other hand apply | | | | influence must satisfy the following basic requirements; |
| necessary measures related to domestication of the | | | | 1. Constant companionship |
| horse. When identifying unwanted behaviour it is | | | | 2. Free movement |
| important that we distinguish whether we are dealing | | | | 3. Fresh Air |
| with a deviation from the normal or rather a normal | | | | 4. Natural Light |
| behaviour pattern expressed in a way that causes a | | | | When these are adhered to as much as possible |
| problem for ourselves. Due to these potential | | | | genetic inventory can be observed and "normal" |
| unwanted behaviours we must bear in mind that our | | | | behaviour identified. |
| influence on the horse is not strictly natural and that | | | | |