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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(2); 225; doi: 10.3390/ani13020225

Tend and Befriend in Horses: Partner Preferences, Lateralization, and Contextualization of Allogrooming in Two Socially Stable Herds of Quarter Horse Mares.

Abstract: Studies show that horses express favoritism through shared proximity and time and demonstrate unique affiliative behaviors such as allogrooming (mutual scratching) with favorite conspecifics. Allogrooming also occurs more frequently during stress and has been observed to occur more frequently in domestic herds than feral. The role of partner preference, lateralization, and duration of allogrooming as measures of social bonding has remained unclear. The present study looked at two socially stable herds of mares (n = 85, n = 115) to determine the frequency, duration, visual field of view and partner preference during allogrooming in both pasture settings (low stress) and confined settings (higher stress). One hundred and fifty-three videos for both herds were coded for allogrooming behaviors with 6.86 h recorded in confined conditions and 31.9 h in pasture settings. Six allogrooming sessions were observed in the pasture setting with an average duration of 163.11 s. In confined settings, a total of 118 allogrooming sessions were observed with an average duration of 40.98 s. Significant (p < 0.01) differences were found between settings for duration (s), number of allogrooming pairs, and frequency of allogrooming (per min) for each herd. All observed allogrooming sessions involved pairs of favored conspecifics (one partner per horse). The current study suggests that horses may have friendships that can be observed through the demonstration of specific affiliative behaviors during times of stress with more frequent, but shorter affiliative interactions with preferred partners during times of stress. This context suggests that horses adhere to the “tend and befriend” principles of friendship in animals.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-07 PubMed ID: 36670764PubMed Central: PMC9854972DOI: 10.3390/ani13020225Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about a study that monitors the mutual grooming behaviour of horses, often called allogrooming, in relation to their social bonds, stress levels and preferential partners.

Background and Objective of the Study

This study focuses on the social behavior of horses, particularly their mutual grooming habits. The research examines these behaviors across two primary environments: pasture and confined settings. The goal is to understand how different conditions and external factors affect social bonding behaviors. The researchers are interested in how often grooming occurs, which horses choose to groom each other, and how stress levels impact these behaviors.

Methodology and Data Collection

  • The study observed two socially stable herds of mares (female horses), one of 85 and one of 115 mares.
  • Data was collected through observation and video recording of the horses in both pasture (low stress) and confined (high stress) settings.
  • A total of 153 videos were coded for grooming behavior over a period of collective 38.76 hours across both environments.
  • The researchers focused on the frequency, duration, visual field of view, and partner preference during these grooming sessions.

Key Findings

  • The study showed that allogrooming occurred more frequently, but for a shorter duration in confined, stressful settings.
  • In the pasture setting, horses engaged in longer, but less frequent grooming sessions.
  • The partner preference during these sessions was observed to be consistent. Each horse had a favored conspecific – a horse of the same species – who they chose to engage with during allogrooming.
  • The difference in duration of allogrooming sessions, number of sessions and frequency across both settings was statistically significant.

Conclusions and Implications

The research suggests that horses do have social bonds resembling friendships, displayed through allogrooming with favored partners, particularly during times of stress. Notably, the grooming frequency increases while the duration decreases in stressful environments, which supports the “tend and befriend” theory of stress response behaviours in animals. This theory explains that animals under stress respond by seeking social interaction and bonding. One practical implication of this study is to promote the welfare of domestic herds by acknowledging and facilitating these social bonds. However, follow-up studies may be needed to further explore the implications of these findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Kieson E, Goma AA, Radi M. (2023). Tend and Befriend in Horses: Partner Preferences, Lateralization, and Contextualization of Allogrooming in Two Socially Stable Herds of Quarter Horse Mares. Animals (Basel), 13(2), 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020225

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
PII: 225

Researcher Affiliations

Kieson, Emily
  • Department of Research, Equine International, Boston, MA 02120, USA.
Goma, Amira A
  • Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21944, Egypt.
Radi, Medhat
  • Department of Pest Physiology Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12311, Egypt.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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