Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
I've found one of Sassy's favorite spots and am giving her a good rub.
Pecking Order
Just because horses desperately want to be with other members of the band doesn't mean
all horses get along well. Particularly when there is limited food or space, personality con-
flicts will appear. Battles may be fought with teeth and hooves or merely with threatening
gestures. Once the clash is over, a pecking order or dominance hierarchy emerges. This so-
cial rank makes future aggression unnecessary unless a particular horse is not thoroughly
convinced of his status and continually tests the horses immediately above him. The most
assertive horse generally earns his choice of feed, water, and personal space.
In planning facilities, therefore, you should avoid introducing acute angles and tight
spaces, especially around feeders and waterers, and places where horses could get cornered
and hurt. Assume that horses will fight at feeding time, and plan either to feed every horse
separately or to feed groups of horses in a large space using more hay piles or feeders than
there are horses.
Because of the potentially violent behavior associated with the establishment of status in
a pecking order, new horses must be carefully added to an already established group. It is
best if the new horse can spend a few days in close proximity to but not in direct contact
with the band. Putting a new horse across the fence from an established group is not a good
way for them to become acquainted; it will almost certainly result in injury. If possible, al-
low the new horse to settle in for a few days in a pen near the other horses but where they
can't reach each other. After a few days, turn out the new horse with a few of the neutral
members of the herd; each day add a few more horses until the group is complete.
