Time: London 6PM / Paris 7PM / New York 2PM / Sydney 5:00AM (+1)

Part of the Clinical Equine Behaviour - Science, Welfare & Behavioural Medicine Online Lecture Series

CONTENT DESCRIPTION

Equine ethologists studied feral horses in the United Kingdom and France as well as the North American Great Plains and barrier islands. The important finding was that the horses spent more than half their time grazing. In addition, they rarely moved faster than a walk and were almost never alone. The contrast between their time budgets and those of most racehorses, show horses and even horses used only for leisure activities reveals what may be the causes of stereotypes and misbehaviours. The availability of inexpensive video cameras and recorders allow us to appreciate the night-time behaviour of horses and how (or if) the horses lie down. 

Equine ethology began with studies of feral horses in the United Kingdom and France a as well as in North American Great Plains and barrier islands. The important finding was that the horses spent more than half their time grazing. In addition, they rarely moved faster than a walk and were almost never alone. The contrast between their time budgets and those of most race horses, show horses and even horses used only for leisure activities reveals what may be the causes of stereotypies and misbehaviours. The availability of inexpensive video cameras and recorders is allowing us to appreciate the night-time behaviour of horses and how( or if) the horses lie down.