Horse Behaviour Explained
origins, treatment and prevention of problems

Margit H. Zeitler-Feicht
Munich University, Germany

A general guide to understanding horse behaviour, how the horse learns and how horse handlers can adjust their behaviour to avoid creating anxiety in the horse. The author begins by providing an overview of the evolution of the horse and the consequences of domestication. She goes on to provide a very detailed description of normal equine behaviour and its impact on husbandry and training. This is followed by the causes of abnormal and undesirable behaviour in the stable, handling and when being ridden. The author links difficulties arising from the management of horses today with the natural behaviour of the horse and recommends therapeutic, as well as training, methods for horses exhibiting behavioural problems.

The central theme of this book is prevention or cure of undesirable behaviour through understanding making this book useful to anyone who routinely works with horses, and is concerned with equine well being.

Contents

Preface

Foreword

Part A: The horse’s adaptability to the environment

1. Evolution
2. Domestication
3. Ontogenesis
4. Limitations of behavioural adaptability

Part B: Inborn behavioural patterns – implications for management and handling

1. Daily routine of free-roaming horses
2. Social behaviour
3. Breeding behaviour
4. Mare-foal behaviour
5. Eating behaviour
6. Drinking behaviour
7. Resting behaviour
8. Locomotion behaviour
9. Excretion and marking behaviour
10. Comfort behaviour
11. Playing behaviour
12. Curiosity and exploration behaviour

Part C: Causes, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of problem behaviour

1. Behavioural aberration or unwanted behaviour?
2. Classification of behavioural abnormalities
3. Causes and triggers of problem behaviour
4. Diagnosis of problem behaviour
5. Basics of handling and learning psychology
6. Therapy and prevention of problem behaviour

Part D: Problem behaviour in the stable

1. Feeding behaviour
2. Locomotion behaviour
3. Social behaviour
4. Comfort behaviour
5. Resting behaviour

Part E: Problem behaviour during handling and use

1. Unwanted behaviour during handling
2. Unwanted behaviour during use

Glossary

References

Index