The behaviour of the horse

About this book

Horses have traditionally been used by man over the centuries for both work and recreation. Undoubtedly it was the behavioural characteristics of horses that made them suitable for domestication. More recently, horses have been bred for both behavioural and morphological attributes that enhance their abilities as working animals or for recreational or competitive purposes. This book provides a comprehensive scientific overview of the behaviour of horses as a basis for ensuring their well-being. It begins by discussing the evolutionary and neurological bases of behaviour, and concepts such as emotion and motivation. Chapter 3 considers maintenance behaviour, that is, behaviours such as body care, reactivity, sleep and feeding, which relate to homeostasis of the individual. A chapter on reproduction then reviews male and female sexual behaviour as well as fetal, parturient and maternal behaviour. Chapter 5 examines behaviour of the foal, play, general social behaviour and interactions. There is then consideration of abnormal behaviours and how to control them, before the final chapter assesses horse welfare, particularly in the context of training and overall husbandry. The book provides a unique perspective of a topical subject and will interest students and professionals in veterinary science, animal husbandry, animal behaviour and horse management.