Imagine being able to read your horse's mind; building a strong bond requires listening to their body language and taking cues from their behaviour. But often, what we think we know about horses is shaped by our human perspectives and the domesticated environments in which we typically interact with them. The path to strong relationships is often blocked by misunderstandings that arise from poor communication. Unfettered by human constraints, wild horses lay bare the underlying mechanics of their societies - alliances forged and broken, a multifaceted communication system, and the fundamental drives that propel them through their daily lives.
The Learning Wild Experts
Bonnie Mealand, an experienced equine podiatrist and advocate of ethological study, spends as much time as possible observing free-living equines all over the world, including Plains Zebra in Zimbabwe. Her award-winning work with the Takhi (Equus ferus ssp.Przewalskii) of the Highland Wildlife Park has been featured on BBC Inside the Zoo, and she runs courses for organisations such as the RSPB, RZSS and Knepp Wildland.
Emily Kieson is the executive director at Equine International. She holds a PhD in comparative psychology, an MS in Psychology, and a graduate degree in equine science. She also possesses multiple certifications in various models of equine-assisted activities. Her collaborations with universities and non-profits worldwide focus on developing research and educational programs.
Her current research explores equine affiliative behaviours, examining how horses form and maintain social bonds. She also investigates how these behaviours overlap with human affiliative behaviours, creating authentic and lasting friendships between horses and humans.
Through Learning Wild, they travel to different places, watching herds and their actions. This helps them learn about horse behaviour. It's fascinating to see how these animals communicate and their social structures.
When we observe horses living freely, without human interference, their social dynamics and behaviors take on a fresh, almost unrecognizable form compared to the horses we're used to seeing in stables or pastures.
They have observed firsthand the crucial role of choice and communication in a horse’s life. While domestic horses may often have limited choices within their managed environments, wild horses can freely move, graze, and socialize, forming deep bonds and navigating complex social structures. Horses can develop separation anxiety when removed from their herds, as they are naturally highly social animals.
Telos: Understanding the Essence of "Horse"
Mealand and Kieson's approach is heavily influenced by the concept of “telos” - a term coined by veterinary ethicist Professor Bernard Rollin. Telos describes the essence of a being, their "horseness", so to speak.
A horse's natural inclinations, built into their very being through the slow grind of evolution, hold the secret to understanding their inherent ambitions and desires. A eureka moment struck Mealand as she watched horses roam free, and she suddenly saw the disconnect between the words of horse experts and the actual lives of these magnificent creatures. Get to know the real horse beneath the surface.
Ethology: Studying Horses in Their Natural Habitat
The foundation of Learning Wild lies in aetiology—the study of animals in their natural habitat. To get a real handle on horse behaviour, you need to observe them in the environments they were meant to thrive in, say Mealand and Kieson.
As we shadow their movements, tracking their every step through the terrain, we start to pick up on their subtle cues and unwritten codes. Horses that develop quirky habits can teach us a thing or two about their natural instincts - but only if we take the time to observe them in their own territory.
Communication and Mutual Respect: Building a Connection
Communication between humans and horses goes beyond simple commands and responses. According to Mealand and Kieson, respect is a two-way street – it's essential to develop a shared language that reflects this, allowing everyone to thrive. It's a basic principle of building trust with horses - respect their decisions, and they'll be more likely to respect yours. This fundamental exchange forms the foundation of a strong, symbiotic bond.
By switching the script on traditional training methods, they're able to cultivate a sense of cooperation with horses, where the horse's comfort is always top of mind. It is important to understand horse training from a place of mutual respect.
Interpreting Horse Behaviour: Beyond "Naughty"
Horses aren’t trying to be difficult when they display certain behaviours; those behaviours are often misinterpreted. One common mistake is labelling horse behaviour as "naughty" or "bad" when it's usually a response to something in their environment or management.
Common Signs of Stress: Spotting a Worried Horse
When horses are stressed, they exhibit various subtle signs, including pinning their ears back, pawing the ground, swishing their tail, and showing the whites of their eyes. More intense expressions include kicking, biting, bolting, rearing, bucking, or a combination of them.
Stressful situations can prompt certain behaviours that are, in fact, a cry for help, an attempt to dissipate the tension or communicate unease. If we can spot these signals early, we can make adjustments on the fly to promote a safer, healthier environment for them. As we tune in to these soft signals, we can craft a relationship rooted in empathy and trustworthiness. For example, ears pinned back on a windy day probably doesn't mean the horse is stressed, but ears pinned back while being ridden may indicate the horse is in pain.
Stereotypic Behaviors: Understanding Their Root Causes
Many horse owners are familiar with stereotypic behaviours such as weaving, cribbing, and wood chewing. According to research published in the PubMed database , stereotypic behaviours often arise from a lack of engagement with natural instincts due to confined spaces and restricted movement.
As the Rutgers Equine Science Center points out, allowing sufficient turn-out time, adding meals, or providing enriching toys can minimize such behaviours, recognizing that they are the horse’s attempts to cope with unnatural living conditions. Owners may notice a horse weaving if they spend time watching horses stabled in a barn.
In the stables, is freedom possible?
Imagine horses being able to make their own decisions - it can make all the difference in their mental and physical health. Although fully replicating a wild horse's life is impractical for most domestic horses, creating opportunities for choice within their environment is essential. We need to overhaul our approach, examining everything from our daily yard routines to the types of experiences we offer.
Freedom Within Limits: Recognizing Where Choices Lie
As Dr Kieson suggests, the first step in creating a choice is acknowledging where domesticated horses lack it, for example, stall confinement or restrictive training methods. However, Dr Kieson reminds us that giving horses complete autonomy in a domesticated setting is impossible for various reasons.
Striking a balance means defining limits that still allow for plenty of options. Witnessing the dynamics of a horse herd up close reveals the ins and outs of their social behaviour, which can inform our approach to creating a more natural environment for them in captivity.
Communication Through Options: Building a Two-Way Street
One impactful strategy Dr. Kieson recommends is associating specific halters or bridles with distinct activities, allowing horses to anticipate and choose the activity based on the equipment presented. A halter used solely for grooming communicates relaxation, while one used for more active engagement signals a different type of interaction.
Horses can even express their preferences by choosing to participate or walk away. Something magical happens when you implement this simple shift: a barrier falls, and a flood of back-and-forth understanding rushes in, smoothing the path to successful collaboration.
Embracing the "No": Honoring Their Choices
Just as we communicate preferences, horses should feel comfortable expressing theirs too, including saying "no" when uncomfortable. Dr. According to Kieson, true partnership starts when we acknowledge and accept refusals without relying on coercion. This small but powerful step can totally flip the script, trading domination for mutual understanding. It is a good idea to give the horse the option to say no to improve your relationship with the horse.
Mastering the Subtleties of Connection
Consider this: the way a herd interacts is not just a matter of beasts following a leader—it's a delicate balance of social power, trust, and instinct that influences their collective behavior.
One thing's for sure: horses are social creatures, and their emotional health depends on it.
The removal of choice regarding companionship, a central element of a wild horse’s social life, may result in stress or behavioral problems. You can't help but notice how freely wild horses interact with each other—their playful moments reveal the secrets to a happy, healthy horse, which we can replicate in our own horse care settings.
Understanding Stallions: Beyond Stereotypes
Stallions, particularly, suffer from negative stereotypes. Many view them as dangerous, aggressive, and purely hormone-driven, leading to their isolation from other horses in many domestic settings. But watching them interact with their families in the wild, showing gentleness toward mares and foals, challenges this misconception.
The Gentle Guardians: Rethinking Our Perception
As Dr Kieson reveals, observing wild stallions shatters preconceived notions, showcasing tender moments, fierce protection, and profound connections within their herds instead. They are far from the perpetually aggressive stereotype.
Behind their strong exterior, older horses possess a secret sensitivity. They look out for each other and take young ones under their wing with a kind of emotional maturity that's really quite impressive. Many horse owners get stallions all wrong, and that can spell trouble if they're not handled with care.
Here's the final word – wrapping our journey with a last thought or two.
Wild horse behaviour is an invaluable source of knowledge, offering essential insights for every horse owner, rider, and enthusiast. To truly understand horses, we must watch them being uninhibited and unscripted. This is where we learn what makes them happy, what sets them off, and the silent conversations they have with each other. With Mealand and Kieson as our guides, we're prompted to abandon top-down approaches and tap into the horse's inner wisdom. By doing so, we can forge authentic relationships where the horse has a say, trust is hard-won, and where communication flows seamlessly in both directions.
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