Social Behaviour of Horses in Response to Vocalisations of Predators

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that social defensive responses to the vocalisation of a predator still exist in horses. The recordings of a grey wolf, an Arabian leopard and a golden jackal were played to 20 Konik polski and Arabian mares. Durations of grazing, standing still, standing alert and the number of steps in walk and trot/canter were measured. In one-minute scans, the distances of the focal horse from the reference horse (DIST-RH) and from the nearest loudspeaker (DIST-LS) were approximated. The vocalisation of a leopard aroused the Arabians more than the Koniks (less grazing, stand-still and walk, more stand-alert and trotting/cantering). Koniks showed more relaxed behaviours to the leopard vocalisation (more grazing, stand-still and walk), but high alertness to the wolf playback (stand-alert, trotting/cantering). Spatial formation of the herd of Koniks showed tight grouping (lower DIST-RH) and maintaining distance from the potential threat (DIST-LS) in response to the wolf howling, while the Arabians approached the loudspeakers in linear herd formation when the leopard growls were played. Adult horses responded to potential predation by changing spatial group formations. This ability to apply a social strategy may be one of the explanations for the least number of horses among all hunted farm animal species.

Female horses are more socially dependent than geldings kept in riding clubs

“…It was also found that semi-feral and domestic mares form stable herds in the absence of stallions (Sigurjónsdóttir et al 2003;Jaworska et al 2020). Furthermore, the mares in familiar groups were observed to display specific social defence behaviour (spatial group formation) in response to the vocalisation of predators (Janczarek et al 2020).…”

Wolf contact in horses at permanent pasture in Germany

“…To the presentation of wolf urine [ 27 ] and wolf howl [ 29 ], horses responded with only remote increases in heart rate [ 27 , 29 ] and glucocorticoid rates as well as decreases in heart rate variability [ 29 ], which indicates that they experienced fear but not panic [ 27 , 29 ]. Furthermore, anti-predator responses differed between horse breeds [ 29 , 30 ]. Generally, the strength of horse reactions and attentiveness to predator cues increased with the percentage of thoroughbred ancestry [ 30 ].…”

“…Furthermore, anti-predator responses differed between horse breeds [ 29 , 30 ]. Generally, the strength of horse reactions and attentiveness to predator cues increased with the percentage of thoroughbred ancestry [ 30 ].…”

Can Sound Alone Act as a Virtual Barrier for Horses? A Preliminary Study

“…Although predators are generally silent while hunting, many species respond to their vocalisation, as it directly indicates the presence of a predator [ 22 , 24 ]. Studies on predator recognition in domestic ungulates show they still exhibit antipredator behaviour when exposed to predators’ odours, sounds or visual signs [ 25 , 26 , 27 ] and thus, these cues may have some potential to modify the grazing activity of prey [ 28 ]. Aflitto and DeGomez [ 29 ] suggest that acoustic stimuli may act as repellents if they are biologically relevant.…”