Equine Behaviour: Principles and Practice

Understanding the flexibility and limits of behaviour is essential to improving both the horse's welfare and its performance. This book tackles the fundamental principles which will enable owners, riders, trainers and students to understand scientific principles and apply them in practice. Subjects covered include the analysis of influences on equine behaviour, the perceptual world of the horse, learning and training techniques including the latest developments in "join-up" and "imprint training".

Table of Contents:
Preface vii Acknowledgements viii Part One: Understanding Behaviour Concepts 1 1 Approaches to the Study of Behaviour 3 What is behavior 3 Ethology versus psychology 6 A brief guide to conducting a behaviour study 9 Conclusion 15 Topics for discussion 16 References and further reading 16 2 Origins of Behaviour 18 An evolutionary approach to understanding behavior 18 Lamarck versus Darwin 19 Genes not individuals 22 Evolutionary throwbacks and genetic jumps 26 Adaptation and apparent stupidity in domestic horses 27 Evolution and the variety of behavior 29 Conclusion 31 Topics for discussion 31 References and further reading 32 3 The Evolutionary History of the Horse 33 Introduction 33 Early evolution of the horse 38 The arrival of Equus 43 The origins of the modern breeds 45 Domestication and its consequences 47 Topics for discussion 52 References and further reading 52 4 The Lifetime Development of Behaviour 53 Instinctive and learned behaviour, what is the difference? 53 Sensitive phases for specia1 times specific associations 56 Using play for better management 58 Using natural biases in development to improve management 60 Conclusion 65 Topics for discussion 65 References and further reading 66 Part Two: Mechanisms of Behaviour 67 5 The Processing, of Information 69 Introduction 69 The nervous system 69 Neural transmission 72 Central processing 80 Behavioural motivation 84 Autonomic and somatic nervous system 88 Topics·for discussion 89 References and further reading 90 6 The Special Senses 91 Sight 91 Hearing 99 Chemoreception 102 Cutaneous sensation 107 Topics for discussion 108 References and further reading 108 7 Communication and Social Organisation 110 Communication 110 Social organisation 125 The composition of the group 129 The social structure of the group 129 The dynamics of the group 133 How horses defend their resources 134 Conclusion 136 Topics for discussion 137 References and further reading 137 8 Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour of Horses 139 Basic genetic foundation of the individual’s sexuality 139 Normal mare specific behavior 140 Normal sexual specific behaviour l49 Modifiers of the genetic blueprint 153 Conclusion 160 Topics for discussion 160 References and further reading l60 Part Three: The flexibility of Behaviour and its Management 163 9 Learning and Training 165 Psychological processes 165 A few basic procedures 167 App1ying reinforcement to train new behaviours 176 Punishment and its problems 180 General guidelines to training new behaviours 182 Learning beyond a change in behaviour 183 Training techniques for problem behaviours 186 Conclusion 193 Topics for discussion 164 References and further reading 194 10 Welfare 196 Understanding welfare 196 What is right is not always the same as what is good 196 Measuring welfare 197 ls the domestic horse a fish out of water? 205 Stereotypies 210 Principles of treatment for stereotypies and other behaviour problems 220 Conclusion 224 Topics for discussion 224 References and further reading 225 Appendix 226 Index 227

About the Author :
Daniel Mills BVSc, MRCVS is a Veterinary Surgeon and Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Studies at De Montfort University, Lincoln, from where he also runs a referral behaviour clinic, and Kathryn Nankervis BSC (Hons), MSc is a Lecturer in Equine Physiology at De Montfort University, Lincoln. She is also the founder of the Equi-Tutor Learning Programme.