Social behaviour in the horse

Horses tend to bond with horses of the same age and rank. They are generally more tolerant towards their favorite. They sometimes even stop other horses from getting near their companion.

The status of the dominant horse gives a priviliged access to any limited resource : water, food, shelter, sexual partner… The most obvious signs of a relationship between a dominant individual and a dominated one are bites, kicks, bucking, charging and chasing away.

Once the hierarchy is established the signs become much more discrete : Threatening with the head, threatening to kick out or bite, small body movements, ears laid back. Signs of submission are even less obvious : the dominated horse will move out of the way, let the other horse pass or wait for his turn to reach the desired resource.

No physical trait appears to be significant as to dominance, but frequently older horses tend to be at the top of the hierarchy, as well as the oldest horses in the group. A stallion is not necessarily dominant over his mares, espacially if he is younger, but his behaviour is respected.

In a family group or harem, foals and younger horse often show their submissiveness towards adult horses. They very frequently show this through « snapping » : head stretched out, they snap their jaws together with lips drawn back and teeth showing.

With horses, hierarchy is very often linear whether in family groups, groups of bachelor stallions, and in groups established by Man (only mares, or mares and geldings) (see the fact sheet : Social organisation in groups of horses).

The setting up of social status allows a certain stability within the group : once a hierarchy is established, it is rarely questioned. Thus horses very rarely show any strongly agressive behaviour, which in turn reduces the risk of injuries or energy loss.

Depending on the time of day or on the activity, different individuals can be the leader.

However, recent observations have shown that the decision to move on is not initiated by a single individual : rather it is the collective decision of several members of the group.

Meetings between stallions more often than not, end without agression but after a series of ritual behaviour comprising one or several of the following : sustained visual attention, increased tone in posture and movements, reciprocal sniffing, squealing and threats with the forelimbs, and defecation. The numerous piles of droppings which mark out the vital space appear to serve as visual and olfactive signs.

The behaviour of the stallion marking his ground, which consists in urinating or defecating over the urine or droppings of his mares could aim to hide the mares hormonal state from rival stallions.

A stallion and his harem of mares interact continually throughout the year. Depnding on the time of year and the mares’ seasons, interaction is either just friendly, or of a sexual nature (intense sniffing, attempts at covering or penetration), during these periods the stallion often has an erection. During the mare’s season, she will move closer to the stallion more and more frequently. Thus she initiates sequences of interest in the stallion several times a day, which lead to profuse sniffing, and to the mare accepting or not to be covered. Reproduction activities have a positive effect on the group’s social cohesion.
Jeu social/ Social games
 

For young horses, playfulness is considered as a sign of well-being. On the other hand, plafulness in adult domesticated horses, is considered a sign of unease.

Observing the frequency and intensity of different types of social behaviour enables us to understand how a group of horses is structured and whether it is functioning normally. The consequences of this social structure can be significant when managing a group of horses in domesticated conditions.