Post by Marthana on Apr 7, 2005 0:44:37 GMT
All About Horse Instincts
Successful horsemanship requires a knowledge and understanding of the horse's natural instincts. But even the most reliable animal is capable of being unpredictable. This normally occurs when the horse feels overwhelmed; natural animal instincts come in to play.
Fight or flight instinct in horses Throughout the ages, humans have successfully integrated with horses and interacted in a harmonious manner. Wild horses are herd animals, with a simple defense mechanism of fight or flight. In fact, underlying many aspects of horse behavior are two basic instincts, upon which its survival in the wild depended:
- a powerful herd instinct
- an ability to run quickly from trouble.
Pre-domesticated horses roamed in herds, led by the alpha horse, searching for food and shelter. The herd instinct—there is safety in numbers—and the tendency for one horse to follow another kept the group together. The lead stallion defended the herd from intruders and threats of attack.
Despite the fact that, today, most horses have been removed from free-roaming herds, these instincts remain very much entrenched.
The 'alpha' substitute:
The horse will look to you, the alpha of the herd, for direction in times of fear or anxiety. Your horse will turn to you for reassurance and for a signal regarding the appropriate course of action. It is, therefore, vital that reassurance be given to the horse if you are to prevent a panic reaction triggered purely by its inherent instincts.
Napping as a natural instinct in horse behaviorAre natural instincts the root cause of bad behavior?
It is probably fair to say that many horse behavioral problems can be attributed to natural instincts. Napping, for example is simply an unwillingness to leave the herd. Where the rider or handler has established himself or herself as the alpha herd member, the horse may be willing to accept the reassurance that leaving the herd is a safe and acceptable thing to do.
Even the most submissive of horses often finds itself more at ease when heading towards the 'herd.' Similarly, using a horse that is more dominant or further up the pecking order to lead a younger horse, by example, can often prove successful when dealing with a fearful jumper. This is simply appealing to the natural instinct of a horse to avoid being separated from the rest of the herd.
Are kicking and bucking instinctive behaviors?
A key defense mechanism displayed by many horses is kicking and bucking. In the wild, the horse would have used bucking to remove a predator or attacker from its back. This knowledge is particularly useful when backing a young horse (teaching him to carry a rider). Because of the nature of a horse's peripheral vision, it may catch a glimpse of the rider on its back. This can sometimes spark the natural reaction of bucking as the horse attempts to remove the potential attacker. Bucking and kicking are, simply, natural reactions. With this in mind, backing a horse should always be done slowly, under the constant reassurance of the alpha herd member.
Most equine reactions can be attributed to natural instincts. It is vital to understand and empathize with these reactions if you are to be respected and trusted by your horse and if you are to get the most out of your relationship.
Successful horsemanship requires a knowledge and understanding of the horse's natural instincts. But even the most reliable animal is capable of being unpredictable. This normally occurs when the horse feels overwhelmed; natural animal instincts come in to play.
Fight or flight instinct in horses Throughout the ages, humans have successfully integrated with horses and interacted in a harmonious manner. Wild horses are herd animals, with a simple defense mechanism of fight or flight. In fact, underlying many aspects of horse behavior are two basic instincts, upon which its survival in the wild depended:
- a powerful herd instinct
- an ability to run quickly from trouble.
Pre-domesticated horses roamed in herds, led by the alpha horse, searching for food and shelter. The herd instinct—there is safety in numbers—and the tendency for one horse to follow another kept the group together. The lead stallion defended the herd from intruders and threats of attack.
Despite the fact that, today, most horses have been removed from free-roaming herds, these instincts remain very much entrenched.
The 'alpha' substitute:
The horse will look to you, the alpha of the herd, for direction in times of fear or anxiety. Your horse will turn to you for reassurance and for a signal regarding the appropriate course of action. It is, therefore, vital that reassurance be given to the horse if you are to prevent a panic reaction triggered purely by its inherent instincts.
Napping as a natural instinct in horse behaviorAre natural instincts the root cause of bad behavior?
It is probably fair to say that many horse behavioral problems can be attributed to natural instincts. Napping, for example is simply an unwillingness to leave the herd. Where the rider or handler has established himself or herself as the alpha herd member, the horse may be willing to accept the reassurance that leaving the herd is a safe and acceptable thing to do.
Even the most submissive of horses often finds itself more at ease when heading towards the 'herd.' Similarly, using a horse that is more dominant or further up the pecking order to lead a younger horse, by example, can often prove successful when dealing with a fearful jumper. This is simply appealing to the natural instinct of a horse to avoid being separated from the rest of the herd.
Are kicking and bucking instinctive behaviors?
A key defense mechanism displayed by many horses is kicking and bucking. In the wild, the horse would have used bucking to remove a predator or attacker from its back. This knowledge is particularly useful when backing a young horse (teaching him to carry a rider). Because of the nature of a horse's peripheral vision, it may catch a glimpse of the rider on its back. This can sometimes spark the natural reaction of bucking as the horse attempts to remove the potential attacker. Bucking and kicking are, simply, natural reactions. With this in mind, backing a horse should always be done slowly, under the constant reassurance of the alpha herd member.
Most equine reactions can be attributed to natural instincts. It is vital to understand and empathize with these reactions if you are to be respected and trusted by your horse and if you are to get the most out of your relationship.
