Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses
We explore how herd composition and management factors correlate with frequencies of social interactions in horse groups. Since the welfare of horses correlates with low aggression levels and social contact opportunities, information of this kind is important. The data are a collection of records of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/14 |
| _version_ | 1818137335709040640 |
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| author | Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir Hans Haraldsson |
| author_facet | Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir Hans Haraldsson |
| author_sort | Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We explore how herd composition and management factors correlate with frequencies of social interactions in horse groups. Since the welfare of horses correlates with low aggression levels and social contact opportunities, information of this kind is important. The data are a collection of records of social interactions of 426 Icelandic horses in 20 groups of at least eight horses. The complexities and limitations of the data prohibit useful statistical modelling so the results are presented descriptively. Interesting and informative patterns emerge which can be of use both in management and in future studies. Of special interest are the low levels of agonistic behaviours in breeding groups where one stallion was present. The horses were less agonistic when in groups with young foals and where group membership was stable. Unfamiliar yearlings in peer groups were especially aggressive. Allogrooming was most frequent in groups with relatively more young horses and in unstable and small groups. Interestingly, the horses allogroomed more if they had few preferred allogrooming partners. The findings show that composition (age/sex) and stability of groups are of great importance with respect to aggression levels and opportunities for establishing bonds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:54:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71f039b5e2dc47659ef2117476533018 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:54:40Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-71f039b5e2dc47659ef21174765330182022-12-22T01:12:18ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-01-01911410.3390/ani9010014ani9010014Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured HorsesHrefna Sigurjónsdóttir0Hans Haraldsson1Faculty of Subject Teacher Education, School of Education, University of Iceland, Stakkahlíð, R105 Reykjavík, IcelandEducational Research Institute, School of Education, University of Iceland, Stakkahlíð, R105 Reykjavík, IcelandWe explore how herd composition and management factors correlate with frequencies of social interactions in horse groups. Since the welfare of horses correlates with low aggression levels and social contact opportunities, information of this kind is important. The data are a collection of records of social interactions of 426 Icelandic horses in 20 groups of at least eight horses. The complexities and limitations of the data prohibit useful statistical modelling so the results are presented descriptively. Interesting and informative patterns emerge which can be of use both in management and in future studies. Of special interest are the low levels of agonistic behaviours in breeding groups where one stallion was present. The horses were less agonistic when in groups with young foals and where group membership was stable. Unfamiliar yearlings in peer groups were especially aggressive. Allogrooming was most frequent in groups with relatively more young horses and in unstable and small groups. Interestingly, the horses allogroomed more if they had few preferred allogrooming partners. The findings show that composition (age/sex) and stability of groups are of great importance with respect to aggression levels and opportunities for establishing bonds.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/14horse welfareaggressionallogroomingpastured horsesIcelandic horse |
| spellingShingle | Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir Hans Haraldsson Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses Animals horse welfare aggression allogrooming pastured horses Icelandic horse |
| title | Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses |
| title_full | Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses |
| title_fullStr | Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses |
| title_short | Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses |
| title_sort | significance of group composition for the welfare of pastured horses |
| topic | horse welfare aggression allogrooming pastured horses Icelandic horse |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hrefnasigurjonsdottir significanceofgroupcompositionforthewelfareofpasturedhorses AT hansharaldsson significanceofgroupcompositionforthewelfareofpasturedhorses |