The horse-human dyad: can we align horse training and handling activities with the equid social ethogram?
Abstract: This article examines the recently completed equid ethogram and shows how analogues of social interactions between horses may occur in various human-horse interactions. It discusses how some specific horse-horse interactions have a corresponding horse-human interaction - some of which may be directly beneficial for the horse while others may be unusual or even abnormal. It also shows how correspondent behaviours sometimes become inappropriate because of their duration, consistency or context. One analogue is unlikely to hold true for all horse-human contexts, so when applying any model from horse-horse interactions to human-horse interactions, the limitations of the model may eclipse the intended outcome of the intervention. These limitations are especially likely when the horse is being ridden. Such analyses may help to determine the validity of extrapolating intra-specific interactions to the inter-specific setting, as is advocated by some popular horse-training methods, and highlight the subsequent limitations where humans play the role of the 'alpha mare' or leader in horse handling and training. This examination provides a constructive framework for further informed debate and empirical investigation of the critical features of successful intra-specific interactions.
Publication Date: 2009-04-17 PubMed ID: 19375965DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores the similarities and differences between horse-horse interactions and human-horse interactions and elaborates on the limitations of applying the social behavior model of equids to human-horse relationships, especially during riding.
Research Scope
The research focuses on examining:
- The equid ethogram – a catalogue of all the known behaviours exhibited by horses in their natural environments and during social interactions.
- Analogues of social interactions between horses and how they may take place in human-horse relationships.
- The beneficial, unusual, or abnormal effects of specific horse-human interactions that mirror natural horse-horse interactions.
Major Findings
The major findings of the research include:
- Some horse-horse interactions have a corresponding horse-human interaction.
- However, not all interactions are beneficial for the horse; some might be unusual or abnormal.
- Some corresponding behaviours might even become inappropriate in human-horse interactions due to their duration, consistency or context.
- The limitations of applying any model from horse-horse interactions to human-horse interactions can sometimes overshadow the intended result of the intervention, particularly when the horse is being ridden.
Potential Impact
The information from the research can:
- Aid to examine the validity of extrapolating intra-specific interactions to the inter-specific setting – a popular approach in horse training methods.
- Shed light on the shortcomings of human playing the ‘alpha mare’ or leader role in horse handling and training.
- Provide a productive framework for further debates and empirical research into the essential aspects of successful intra-specific interactions.
Conclusion
The study, thus, emphasizes on careful application of equid social behaviour models in horse-human interactions. The limitations, especially during riding, significantly impact the outcome. Further study is needed to better understand the dynamics of such interactions and to improve horse handling and training methods.
Cite This Article
APA
McGreevy PD, Oddie C, Burton FL, McLean AN.
(2009).
The horse-human dyad: can we align horse training and handling activities with the equid social ethogram?
Vet J, 181(1), 12-18.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. paulm@vetsci.usyd.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Cues
- Horses / psychology
- Human-Animal Bond
- Humans
- Learning
- Models, Psychological
- Teaching / methods
Citations
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