This is another But they DON’T do it to each other post –

‘They do it to each other’ is a very common excuse or justification for using punishment on horses. A lot of arguments against this focus on – but we are not horses, or, we miss the nuance or the pre-behaviour signals that the horse gives before he attacks.

What I see argued less and I feel is MUCH more relevant – is in fact that horses DON’T do it to each other. Horses that are housed appropriately that is. Those lucky ones that have access to friends, forage and freedom – as all horses should.

Most skirmishes or agonistic displays occur in horses that are kept in sub-optimal conditions. Too many horses in too small a space for example, or too many horses and not enough feed sufficiently spaced to allow all horses to be confident of their food security.

So people often see those inappropriate displays, or they see the young horse being taught manners by their mother or other matriarchs. This then is incorrectly attributed to being bossy, or rank climbing.

All communal, group and herd living species have communication tools. As they grow youngsters learn about body language and their means of communicating with other group members. They learn how to communicate with their con-specifics WITHOUT causing injury.

Puppies in a litter learn bite inhibition when playing with littermates, to enable them to settle differences as adults without injuring each other.

Surely horses learn the same thing through play with other foals within their herd?

Play is often nature allowing youngsters to practise skills they may need as adults.

Communication within a herd or group has evolved (amongst other reasons) to enable the group members to settle altercations WITHOUT injuring each other.

INJURY IS DETRIMENTAL TO SURVIVAL.

Horses are herd animals, it IS how they have evolved. And evolution is about survival, of the individual AND of the species. Evolution ending in death is counter-intuitive! (oxymoron)

Safety for a herd animal involves being a part of the herd. Getting along. Most horse communication is about getting along, NOT about who is going to be boss. If you don’t get along and are outcast, you forfeit the safety the herd offers.

Safety in numbers - more eyes to scout for predators, and the possibility of being the victim is reduced by the numbers in the herd. Safety in being cohesive - when the herd runs you don’t question who has seen what – you trust there is a reason and you go too.

The herd IS safety

If a horse truly was going to inflict injury on a herd member (and they really could) every injury inflicted decreases that herds’ safety. That wouldn’t be very efficient evolution!

Getting along and being cohesive, communicating clearly, watching out for others and staying together ensures better safety and better chances of survival.

Without the human imposed bad horse keeping, equines spend their day harmoniously, peacefully, cohesively. As they have evolved to do.

Written by Vicki Conroy of PPGA Equine sub-committee