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Definition:
Definition:
Merriam-Webster:
Merriam-Webster:
a forceful action or procedure (such as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master
the practice of making attacks or encroachments
hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook especially when caused by frustration
What does this look like?
What does this look like?
In our daily lives, we often see humans showing aggression, from angry drivers to mass casualty events. Horses, on the other hand, show aggression in their own ways. To perform aggression, a horse will engage in various behaviors, often at the same time (1, 2). It is very important to understand the behaviors that indicate aggression and be able to break them down in order to find the cause of the aggression.
It is important to remember that a horse will only show as much aggression as the situation calls for (3, 4). This is part of a survival technique to avoid physical conflict and conserve energy. When possible, a horse will merely pin its ears to defend its space, but if the threat persists, the reaction will escalate, so it is important to understand the smaller signs of aggression before it escalates.
This horse was diagnosed with severe stomach and hind gut ulcers, which caused pain and sensitivity around his girth and flank, leading to aggression.
Why does this happen?
Why does this happen?
1. Resource-guarding:
When a horse feels insecure about the availability of resources, it may attack others who approach the desired resource (2).
Challenge: Watch the video below and list the different behaviors you observe.
2. Individual/Stall Housing
Previously singly-housed stallions showed more aggression than group-housed stallions (5).
Management in stalls has a few down sides in terms of the horse's welfare that increase aggression (5, 6, 7, 10, 15):
Gut Health: Decreased access to forage can cause digestive upset, like ulcers and colic.
Skin Health: Imbalance in the gut bacteria can cause skin sensitivity and inflammation. Research on the effects of stall versus pasture found that stalled horses had more skin wounds than pasture-housed horses.
3. Herd Relationships
The initial display of aggression helps to establish herd dynamics and decrease future aggression.
Horses generally try to conserve their energy in case they need to escape, so they will opt to use more subtle cues like ear pinning and tail swishing (3, 4, 5).
4. Self/Group-Defense from Perceived Threat (2, 8, 9)
5. Pain/Discomfort (1, 2, 7, 14)
6. Trauma (12)
How Can We Help?
How Can We Help?
GI upset and food insecurity are major causes of aggression. Limit unwanted behaviors by offering 24/7 access to forage. This will promote gut health and prevent the horse from feeling hungry.
Remember: Horses are continuous grazers. They are supposed to eat for most of the day!
Horses are herd animals, and as much as we try, humans are not enough to replace their social needs from other horses.
Maximize your horse's buddy time when possible.
Horses are meant to walk and move throughout the day. They also enjoy sniffing and investigating in pastures (2, 8, 9, 13).
Increased stalling has been linked with increased aggression and issues with handling (15).
If you cannot give 24/7 pasture access, make sure your horse gets as much time out as possible.
Aggression is a common sign that there may be something wrong "under the hood" (14)!
Once pain is ruled out, we can then move onto Behavior Modification to decrease the unwanted behaviors
Counter-conditioning and De-sensitization will be instrumental in reducing these behaviors if they are not caused by underlying pain
Sources:
Sources:
Torcivia, C., & McDonnell, S. (2021). Equine Discomfort Ethogram. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 11(2), 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020580
McDonnell, S. M. (2003). A practical guide to horse behavior: The equid ethogram. Eclipse Press.
Heitor, F., do Mar Oom, M., & Vicente, L. (2006, May 19). Social relationships in a herd of sorraia horses: Part I. correlates of social dominance and contexts of aggression. Behavioural Processes. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037663570600146X
Heitor, F., Vicente, L. Dominance relationships and patterns of aggression in a bachelor group of Sorraia horses (Equus caballus). J Ethol 28, 35–44 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0152-1
Christensen, J. W., Ladewig, J., Sandergaard, E., & Malmkvist, J. (2001, November 20). Effects of individual versus group stabling on social behaviour in domestic stallions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159101001964
Yngvesson, J., Rey Torres, J. C., Lindholm, J., Pättiniemi, A., Andersson, P., & Sassner, H. (2019). Health and Body Conditions of Riding School Horses Housed in Groups or Kept in Conventional Tie-Stall/Box Housing. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 9(3), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9030073
Mach, N., Ruet, A., Clark, A., Bars-Cortina, D., Ramayo-Caldas, Y., Crisci, E., Pennarun, S., Dhorne-Pollet, S., Foury, A., Moisan, M.-P., & Lansade, L. (2020, May 20). Priming for welfare: Gut Microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes. Nature News. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-65444-9
Ransom, J.I. & Cade, B.S., 2009. Quantifying equid behavior - A behavior ethogram for free-roaming feral horses. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 2-A9. 23 p.
Tyler SJ 1972. Behavior and social organization of the semi-feral ponies. Animal Behaviour Monograph 5.
Dierendonck, M. C. van. (2006, April 19). The importance of social relationships in horses. DSpace Home. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/8671
Berger J 1986. Wild Horses of the Great Basin; Social Competition and Population Size. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Sankey, C., Richard-Yris, M.-A., Henry, S., Fureix, C., Nassur, F., & Hausberger, M. (2010, May 21). Reinforcement as a mediator of the perception of humans by Horses (Equus caballus) - animal cognition. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-010-0326-9
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Fureix, C., Menguy, H., & Hausberger, M. (2010). Partners with bad temper: Reject or cure? A study of chronic pain and aggression in horses. PLoS ONE, 5(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012434
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