Stallion harassment and the mating system of horses

Linklater, Wayne L.; Cameron, Elissa Z.; Minot, Edward O.; Stafford, Kevin J.

doi:10.1006/anbe.1999.1155

Cited by 177 publications

(176 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Berger, 1986;Linklater et al, 1999). The predominance of low frequencies and mild forms of aggression, based on subtle communication signals and ritualized displays is made possible in natural horses populations thanks to group stability, dominance hierarchy and learning of appropriate social skills by young horses.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Linklater and Cameron, 2000;Salter and Hudson, 1982). However, tolerance between them is high and some authors have suggested that they form alliances to protect the group (Berger, 1986;Feh, 1999;Keiper, 1976) although this remains controversial (Linklater et al, 1999). Adult horses tend to form dyadic social bonds (mare-mare, stallion-mare and stallion-stallion, Feh, 1999) mostly characterized by spatial proximity (preferential closest neighbours) but also reciprocal positive interactions (e.g.…”

Section: Stable Group Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Fureix

Bourjade²,

Henry

et al. 2012

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms 1 Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballusAbstract. Horses are highly social animals that have evolved to live in social groups.However, in modern husbandry systems, single housing prevails where horses experience social isolation, a challenge-to-welfare factor. One major reason for this single housing is the owners' concerns that horses may injure each other during aggressive encounters. However, in natural conditions, serious injuries due to aggressive encounters are rare. What could therefore explain the claimed risks of group living for domestic horses? Basing our questioning on the current knowledge of the social life of horses in natural conditions, we review different practices that may lead to higher levels of aggression in horses and propose practical solutions.Observations of natural and feral horses mostly indicate a predominance of low frequencies and mild forms of aggression, based on subtle communication signals and ritualized displays and made possible by group stability (i.e. stable composition), dominance hierarchy and learning of appropriate social skills by young horses. Obviously, adults play a major role here in canalizing undesirable behaviours, and social experience during development, associated with a diversity of social partners, seems to be a prerequisite for the young horse to become socially skilled.Given the natural propensity of horses to have a regulation of aggression in groups, the tendency to display more aggression in groups of domestic horses under some management practices seems clearly related to the conditions offered. We therefore review the managing practices that could trigger aggressiveness in horses. Non social practices (space, resource availability) and social practices (group size, stability of membership, composition and opportunities for social experiences during development) in groups of domestic horses are discussed here.2 Finally, we propose simple practical solutions leading to more peaceful interactions in groups of domestic horses, based on the knowledge of horses' natural social life which therefore should be enhanced (e.g. ensuring roughage availability, favouring group stability,, introducing socially experienced adults in groups of young horses;…). The state of the art indicates that many questions still need to be answered. Given the importance of the associated welfare issues and the consequences on the use of horses, further research is required, which could benefit horses… and humans.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stable Group Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Fureix

Bourjade²,

Henry

et al. 2012

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…For example, in horses, male harassment better explains the unusual harem mating system than resource-based explanations (6). If aggression reduces female fecundity and a counterstrategy involves long-term stable social relationships between females, the formation of affiliative social bonds may be an adaptive strategy.…”

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confidence: 99%

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Cameron

Setsaas

Linklater

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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468

413

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In many mammals, females form close social bonds with members of their group, usually between kin. Studies of social bonds and their fitness benefits have not been investigated outside primates, and are confounded by the relatedness between individuals in primate groups. Bonds may arise from kin selection and inclusive fitness rather than through direct benefits of association. However, female equids live in long-term social groups with unrelated members. We present 4 years of behavioral data, which demonstrate that social integration between unrelated females increases both foal birth rates and survival, independent of maternal habitat quality, social group type, dominance status, and age. Also, we show that such social integration reduces harassment by males. Consequently, social integration has strong direct fitness consequences between nonrelatives, suggesting that social bonds can evolve based on these direct benefits alone. Our results support recent studies highlighting the importance of direct benefits in maintaining cooperative behavior, while controlling for the confounding influence of kinship.equid ͉ friendship ͉ social structure ͉ alliances ͉ sociality

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“…Horses may display tail movements when in herd (for review of social organisation, see Linklater et al, 1999;Linklater, 2000) or in the presence of a human, body postures being influenced by the person present (Hausberger and Muller, 2002). Humans, in particular horse workers, must thus be particularly attentive to the movements of the various parts of the horse, which gives precise information on their perception of the situation, including the horse workers' actions.…”

Section: Tail and Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tail docking in horses: a review of the issues

Lefebvre¹,

Lips

Ödberg

et al. 2007

Animal

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Routinely performed painful procedures are of increasing interest and, in 2001 (Royal Order, May 17), Belgium prohibited docking in several vertebrates including horses. In 2004, opponents to this decision submitted a Bill (Doc51 0969/001) to Parliament, intending to obtain derogation for Belgian draught horses, which were traditionally docked. The Animal Welfare Council of Belgium, an official body advising the Minister of Public Health, was asked to evaluate this complex question, including biological, ethical and socio-economic aspects, on the basis of the available peer-reviewed studies. In this context, this study reviews legal aspects (overview of the European legislation), zootechnic aspects (uses of the Belgian draught horse) and biological aspects (pain potentially related to docking; horses’ welfare linked to insect harassment and hygiene, communication and reproduction) of tail docking in draught horses. We conclude that (1) there is no benefit for horses in tail docking, including Belgian draught horses, (2) potential advantages of docking are essentially in favour of humans and these advantages could be scrupulously re-evaluated, taking into account practices of other countries. Therefore, there is no need to dock any horse other than for veterinary reasons.

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Stallion harassment and the mating system of horses

Cited by 177 publications

References 46 publications

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Tail docking in horses: a review of the issues

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