Reports from the world of equine science
Related topics
Equine Science Update
© Equine Science Update 2001 -
Not only do horses like a choice of forage; it appears that they prefer to find their food in different places. Results of a recent study suggests that providing multiple and single forages in several places may benefit the horses behaviour.
Most stabled horses are provided with hay in only one place. This limits their natural patch grazing behaviour. How would they behave if they had a choice of locations?
Dr Debbie Goodwin and colleagues conducted a small series of trials to evaluate the behavioural responses of stabled horses given the opportunity to choose between two locations providing either single or multiple forages.
Most stabled horses are provided with hay in only one place. This limits their natural patch grazing behaviour. How would they behave if they had a choice of locations?
Dr Debbie Goodwin and colleagues conducted a small series of trials to evaluate the behavioural responses of stabled horses given the opportunity to choose between two locations providing either single or multiple forages.
Horses choose multiple forages
in different locations
Report by Mark Andrews.
Two stables facing each other across a common gangway were used for the study. One stable contained a single forage, (initially the meadow hay that was usually fed on the yard.) The other stable contained six different forages.
Horses were given the opportunity to choose between the stables containing the single or multiple forages. They were introduced for five minutes each of the two stables.
The horses were then released into the gangway between the stables and given five minutes to choose between the two stables.
Horses were given the opportunity to choose between the stables containing the single or multiple forages. They were introduced for five minutes each of the two stables.
The horses were then released into the gangway between the stables and given five minutes to choose between the two stables.
Most horses first entered the stable nearest to where they were released. However, if the stable they first entered contained only one forage, most horses moved to the other stable with the multiple forages. Overall, they tended to spend more time in the stable with the multiple forages. Some horses moved between the stables several times.
The trial was repeated, this time using the horses’ preferred forage as the single forage. Even though their favourite forage was available, horses still moved from one stable to the other.
The researchers suggest that this may indicate that horses are motivated to move between foraging locations regardless of the palatability of the forage. So, it may be beneficial for the horses’ behaviour to provide them with multiple and single forages in different places.
For more details see: Responses of horses offered a choice between stables containing single or multiple forages.
D Goodwin, HPB Davidson, P Harris.
The trial was repeated, this time using the horses’ preferred forage as the single forage. Even though their favourite forage was available, horses still moved from one stable to the other.
The researchers suggest that this may indicate that horses are motivated to move between foraging locations regardless of the palatability of the forage. So, it may be beneficial for the horses’ behaviour to provide them with multiple and single forages in different places.
For more details see: Responses of horses offered a choice between stables containing single or multiple forages.
D Goodwin, HPB Davidson, P Harris.
Vet Record (2007) 160, 548 - 551
Photo courtesy Dr Debbie Goodwin