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Horse
Behavior - Innate vs
Learned
So
what
horse behavior is a foal born knowing? What
do
other horses teach a foal? What
does the foal learn from humans?
...From
an unusual and rather interesting email recently, asking for
information on the innate vs learnt behaviour of a young
horse. A
great topic to investigate!
After
a
dig around, this is what I have compiled for you:
Innate
behaviours are the things an animal can do or has the urge to do
without being taught. Behaviour that is hardwired in from
birth. But
you knew that bit. In horses that means; suckling, standing,
running,
neighing and possibly 'mouth clapping' (a strategy for appeasing older
horses) are all innate. Please note that although the drive
to do
these is innate, the actual behaviour is perfected with
practice.
A
foal cannot stand perfectly first try!
The
fact
that a
foal has to learn how to do many innate behaviours well seems to cause
a lot of confusion as to what is innate and what is learned.
Beyond
these it is all learning. Learning basically covers
communication,
discipline and safety. Horses learn to communicate with each other, to
interact as a member of the herd, to play to be social, to play
dominance games, to read horse body language, to avoid predators, what
is acceptable horse behaviour, what is safe to eat, what to be afraid
of and mutual grooming. Biting seems to be a learned
behaviour. It is
an extension of the suckling reflex.
Foals
need other horses to
teach them these behaviours, and there appears to be much anecdotal
evidence that foals weaned too abruptly or too young result in
mal-adjusted adults. Or in plain English, if a foal is
traumatised by
being weaned to young it may be more likely to have bad
habits.
And if
a foal is not taught by other horses how it can be behave, it may grow
up to be a thug!
And
so
foals also need to be taught (in
baby sized, regular lessons) how they may behave around
humans. A
foal's reaction to people is ALL learned. Whether mother
taught
the
foal or we did. They are a blank canvas for people at birth.
The
best strategy for teaching a foal is to behave as it's mother
would.
Guide good behaviour and discipline antisocial and dangerous
behaviour. And as a bonus tip, where you can, mimic the way
horses
communicate and interact with each other. That's the real
secret
of
the 'horse whisperers'.
