Horses are social herd animals. They are meant to move in a group for approximately 16-18 hours a day, looking for forage. Horses were domesticated 6000 years ago. They have evolved from being just useful for humans to becoming companions. Additionally, horses are used in many activities and disciplines either on a hobby-level or in high level competitions. Even though a lot has changed when compared to the beginning of domestication, there are some factors, that are still essential to the horse’s wellbeing and health. The importance of maintaining their social relationships is one of them.
The practice of keeping horses in stalls or individual paddocks has become more common, especially among competitive horses, and the effects of this on horse behavior have not been extensively considered until recent years. People have started to pay attention to the mental well-being of horses and the importance of social relationships for their overall welfare. Various factors influencing these aspects have begun to be researched, and efforts are made to create optimal conditions for horses’ well-being.
How Do Social Relationships Impact Horses?
Being part of a herd and maintaining social relationships have a positive impact on a horse’s well-being and behavior. The absence of social relationships can significantly affect a horse’s behavior, and horses kept in a herd typically display fewer stereotypical behaviors such as cribbing or weaving. Moreover, they tend to be more psychologically balanced, less reactive, and better learners.
Moving in a herd and understanding herd dynamics are natural needs for horses, making it essential for their physical and mental well-being. Horses are social animals that form strong bonds with their conspecifics. Providing opportunities for social interactions is crucial for foals as well. The normal development of their social skills requires the presence of same-aged and older conspecifics. A denial of opportunities for social behavior can lead to disruptions and later aggression when they reach adulthood.
In the light of current research, it is known that denying horses their basic behavioral needs, can cause changes in their brain chemistry in a way that horses feel the negative effects of the denial, even if they don’t show their pain. Not getting enough social interactions and not having the possibility for free movement with conspecifics, can truly be harmful to the horse. Additionally, the lack of social relationships causes a chronic state of stress in the horse’s body.
Why Are Horses Kept Alone?
Nevertheless, keeping horses alone is quite common nowadays. Horse owners often fear that there is an increased risk of injury when horses are kept together due to increased movement and play within a herd. However, a study conducted by Jørgensen et al. in 2009 indicated that the rate of injuries does not increase when herd dynamics are healthy, and horses are content within the group. Additionally, horses tend to avoid aggression towards each other, as a harmonious herd dynamic is essential for survival.
In practice, establishing harmonious herd dynamics can be challenging, particularly when horses have limited space or too many horses are dependent on the same feeding area. Aggressive behavior can escalate if horses are denied access to food or water. Individualized feeding and monitoring of food and water consumption are often cited reasons for keeping horses alone. Additionally, it can facilitate the treatment of illnesses and rapid response to health issues when horses are not part of a herd.
Also, if a horse has been isolated most of its life, it hasn’t learned the social etiquette. These horses don’t usually do well in a heard, at least initially, because they don’t know how to interact with other horses. They don’t recognize subtle signs of other horses, which then leads to more aggressive behavior. The lack of social interaction can also be a cause of a rebound effect. This means, that horses who have been isolated for a long time, have built up the need for social behavior. When they then find a way to release the buildup, they tend to perform more actively at the beginning, before settling for a “normal” amount of behavior.
It is essential, however, to consider what conditions would be best for horses and whether a combination of different options could create a situation that satisfies all parties involved. For example, competition horses may not necessarily need to be on pasture 24/7; daily turnout in a paddock with a companion might be sufficient to create positive effects on the horse’s well-being. Research results also suggest that horses sleep and recover best when they have daytime turnout with herd mates but spend nights in the stable. The goal is to ensure that humans have healthy, well-adjusted, and safe partners for both recreational and competitive horse activities.
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