Pasture time and socialization with other horses are vital to the well-being of your horse. Horses are social animals that need time outside with their buddies to play, eat grass, and just enjoy being a horse. But, how do you choose what horses to pair together for pasture and grazing time? It is important to…
In order to survive in the wild, horses had to evolve to care for themselves. Just as they maintain their own hooves and coats, wild horses float their teeth too. Horses evolved special characteristics to enable them to survive in the wild. When horses were domesticated, humans had to invent ways to provide care that…
Did you know…Up until, or around domestication, Equus ferus caballus (the modern domestic horse) were all bay dun horses. Every single one of them! However, we didn’t know this until researchers started looking for the gene that causes the dun color. They compared the genome of a dun horse with that of a modern equine…
Horses are very social animals who develop strong bonds with other horses, animals, and humans. Horses naturally seek leadership and establish and maintain their rank in herd pecking orders. Disrespect happens when a horse does not see humans as their leader. But what are the signs of a disrespectful horse, and what can you do…
Communication is necessary for survival in every species. Animals communicate using sound and nonverbal communication like gestures since they cannot use words. With this in mind, how do horses communicate? The sounds horses use to communicate with their herd members, other horses, and different species include whinnies, neighs, nickers, and squeals. They can also communicate…
Being able to understand equine behavior is an essential skill for anyone involved with horses. One significant aspect of horse behavior is dominance, which plays a vital role in herd dynamics. Some horses are more dominant than others, and recognizing signs of dominance in horses helps us stay safe around them. It also helps us…
Red roan, blue roan, strawberry roan, honey roan… What are these colors in the horse world? What do they look like? Are they rare horse coat colors? If so, how do you breed one, and how much would it cost to buy one? If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, read on as I…
Watching a herd of wild horses at a full gallop is a sight to behold. They communicate changes of pace and direction almost invisibly, and not one crashes into another! Wild horses form strong bonds with each other, and herd life is vital for survival. So why is it that sometimes wild horses get kicked…
Just like humans, horses can bully each other. In most cases, horses exhibit some form of dominant behavior to establish or maintain rank within a herd. But what happens when this behavior goes too far? Equine bullying can cause considerable harm to other horses, both physically and mentally. But how can you stop a horse…