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17
EQUINE MATTERS
BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS
Veterinary Surgeon
Julia James
XLEquine Practice
Larkmead Veterinary
Group
Behavioural
Problems
in Horses
Julia James VetMB MA MRCVS,
Larkmead Veterinary Group
Horses are not usually aggressive animals.
Herds stay together because they get
along well. When a horse shows
aggression, it is generally as a result of
a threat from either the environment in
which the horse is placed or from within
the animal itself, (for example an animal in
pain). Aggressive behaviour can manifest
in a number of ways the most common
being kicking and biting.
Behavioural problems in horses can be very complex and very stressful for owners
to deal with. Any approach to a behavioural problem should always start with
consulting your vet. As well as taking a thorough history of the problem, they will
also be able to do a careful, clinical examination of your horse to check for any
underlying physical problems that may be causing pain.
Aggression
Why do horses become aggressive?
l
Survival
- fighting may occur if
resources such as food, water or shelter
are limited especially in domestic
situations.
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Frustration
- when an animal is
single-mindedly set on doing something
and cannot due to circumstances it
becomes agitated and so frustrated
often leading to aggression.
l
Pain and Fear
- both states of emotion
are often closely linked and stem from
a physiological response. The hormone
adrenaline is produced increasing heart
rate, increasing blood glucose levels
and flow of blood to muscles. Often
there is a switch from fear to aggression
when an animal cannot follow its fear
programme and escape so it turns to
attack instead as a form of defence.
l
Hormonal influences
l
Instinct
- a mare with a newborn foal
may be aggressive to other horses or
humans when trying to protect her foal.