Assignment 1
Task 2: Equine Behaviour Portfolio
Introduction
This equine behaviour portfolio covers the wide range of various equine behaviours and
communication methods horses and ponies use to communicate with each other and humans within
domesticated and feral equines. A practical behavioural observation was undergone and has been
included in the evidence of normal horse behaviour and further evaluated. Horses use their body
language of which their mood can be interpreted by humans, giving a clear indication on how the
individual is feeling and what their potential next actions will result in.
Ethograms and Observation Records
Horse ethogram:
Type Of Behaviour Behaviour Code Description Of
Behaviour
Solitary Relaxed/Idle RI Droopy lower lip, ears
adjacent to the side,
relaxed nostrils,
dropped tail, rear-hind
leg shifting
weight/relaxed limb,
relaxed top-line, poll
held low positioned
below the withers, at
a halt
Sleep S Horse assumes
standing up position
locking knee joints for
sleep, stays in one
place, closed eyes,
droopy lower lip, and
is not alert to
environmental
changes
, Maintenance M Horse urinates or
defecates whilst lifting
tail
Self-grooming SG Horse curls neck
round to hind leg,
hind leg extends
forward and uses
muzzle and tongue to
sooth its own fur
Movement Walk W Four-beat gait in
sequential diagonal
movement in a
forward direction
Trot T Forward two-beat
gait, legs synchronized
diagonally in a
forward direction
Canter C Forward three-beat
gait asymmetrically in
a forward direction
Rearing R Weight is shifted onto
hind legs in contact
with the ground whilst
top line maintains
tension, neck and
head is lifted
preparing for upwards
motion. Both fore legs
are lifted off the
ground and curled
towards the chest
before quickly
extending one leg in a
forward motion, then
balancing the landing.
, Backing up BU Four-beat gait in
sequential diagonal
movement in a
backwards direction
Food Related Foraging F Horses poll positioned
below the withers,
muzzle in-contact with
the ground, nostrils
occasionally flaring,
slow swishing of the
tail, ears flicker and
change position
multiple times, slowly
traveling from place to
place
Eat E Horse uses muzzle to
accommodate grass,
uses muzzle and front
teeth to pull grass up
from ground and
chews with molars
side to side consuming
food.
Social interaction Play P Horse engages in
interactions with
other herd member
that involves
locomotion, that show
a relationship
between two or more
interacting horses
Groom Others GO Horse engages in
soothing the fur of
another horse in the
herd or environment
Contact CO Horse encounters
another horse in the
herd whilst engaging
in solitary behaviour
Aggressive Fight FI Horse engages in
threatening body
language (ears pinned
back, tense top line,
Task 2: Equine Behaviour Portfolio
Introduction
This equine behaviour portfolio covers the wide range of various equine behaviours and
communication methods horses and ponies use to communicate with each other and humans within
domesticated and feral equines. A practical behavioural observation was undergone and has been
included in the evidence of normal horse behaviour and further evaluated. Horses use their body
language of which their mood can be interpreted by humans, giving a clear indication on how the
individual is feeling and what their potential next actions will result in.
Ethograms and Observation Records
Horse ethogram:
Type Of Behaviour Behaviour Code Description Of
Behaviour
Solitary Relaxed/Idle RI Droopy lower lip, ears
adjacent to the side,
relaxed nostrils,
dropped tail, rear-hind
leg shifting
weight/relaxed limb,
relaxed top-line, poll
held low positioned
below the withers, at
a halt
Sleep S Horse assumes
standing up position
locking knee joints for
sleep, stays in one
place, closed eyes,
droopy lower lip, and
is not alert to
environmental
changes
, Maintenance M Horse urinates or
defecates whilst lifting
tail
Self-grooming SG Horse curls neck
round to hind leg,
hind leg extends
forward and uses
muzzle and tongue to
sooth its own fur
Movement Walk W Four-beat gait in
sequential diagonal
movement in a
forward direction
Trot T Forward two-beat
gait, legs synchronized
diagonally in a
forward direction
Canter C Forward three-beat
gait asymmetrically in
a forward direction
Rearing R Weight is shifted onto
hind legs in contact
with the ground whilst
top line maintains
tension, neck and
head is lifted
preparing for upwards
motion. Both fore legs
are lifted off the
ground and curled
towards the chest
before quickly
extending one leg in a
forward motion, then
balancing the landing.
, Backing up BU Four-beat gait in
sequential diagonal
movement in a
backwards direction
Food Related Foraging F Horses poll positioned
below the withers,
muzzle in-contact with
the ground, nostrils
occasionally flaring,
slow swishing of the
tail, ears flicker and
change position
multiple times, slowly
traveling from place to
place
Eat E Horse uses muzzle to
accommodate grass,
uses muzzle and front
teeth to pull grass up
from ground and
chews with molars
side to side consuming
food.
Social interaction Play P Horse engages in
interactions with
other herd member
that involves
locomotion, that show
a relationship
between two or more
interacting horses
Groom Others GO Horse engages in
soothing the fur of
another horse in the
herd or environment
Contact CO Horse encounters
another horse in the
herd whilst engaging
in solitary behaviour
Aggressive Fight FI Horse engages in
threatening body
language (ears pinned
back, tense top line,
