When writing articles I always seem to end up referring to
the activities of the horse in the wild. This is because, over the
centuries, the domestication of the horse has taken it further and
further away from its natural behavioural patterns. The lives of
nomadic tribesman do not interfere with the way a horse fulfils his
grazing behaviour, but increasingly the ranging of the horse has
been curtailed - even those at grass.
But does this matter? After all we supply plenty of food
of the correct nutritional quality and our horses live far
longer than they do in the wild. That certainly is a major plus for
domestication. In the wild most animals have a short, dangerous
life in a state of near starvation. But it is these adverse
conditions that have shaped the behaviour of animals. Millions of
years of behavioural development cannot be switched off with a few
centuries of domestication.
More than any other domestic animal the horse has a modern
lifestyle furthest away from its wild antecedents. We tend to keep
a herd animal, from a matriarchal hierarchy, as an individual - or
a small group - and have curtailed its wide ranging activities to
regular periods of activity, the remainder of the time keeping it
stabled or in small areas for grazing.
It may not seem to matter. We provide good quality grass or hay,
supplements calculated to meet the additional requirements of a
"modern" lifestyle, and treats, medication and a whole range of
extras - some effective and some not. We would be justified in
thinking that we have covered all the angles, and feeding is all
sorted.
Nutritionally it is, but behaviourally? The answer is
surprising.
The ranging horse has three distinct activities associated
with feeding. The first is Foraging, or eating, and is self
explanatory; the third is Remaining, when the horse has eaten its
fill. In between is a phase called Searching.
Searching is what we have taken away from the horse.
Unlike many herd herbivores the horse has strong organoleptic
drives. Taste, smell and texture all play a role in the horse's
choice of feed, and it will eat the top shoots and leaves of long
grass by preference (Incidentally, this avoids the fructan rich
areas and so reduces the chance of laminitis). Although the
majority of food taken is grass, the horse will seek out and eat
many other plant species. Presumably, for the wild animal, this is
a way of supplementing nutrient deficiencies. However, when we take
away this activity - even though replacing it with adequate
nutrition ,we interfere with a prime driving force. Horses grazing
on good quality, carefully maintained grass, grub around hedgerows
and verges on the other side of the fence Searching for variety.
Those that are stabled show displacement activity - weaving, crib
biting, flightiness etc. Although it has been said that these are
symptoms of boredom the complete opposite is true. Boredom is an
unenviable state for most animals; all their needs are met and the
animal is in repose, actually Remaining. Antisocial behaviour in
the horse is based on a need to Search. Without Searching the other
two phases are compromised. Intake may suffer (although with high
quality feed ingredients this may not be a problem) and Remaining
becomes reduced, adding stress.
How then can we re-introduce Searching into the domestic
horse's life? Even when grazing grass, management has reduced the
variation of other green feeds and although this reduces the danger
of toxic weeds, it reduces the ability to Search. One of the
techniques employed, and not only in horses, is the use of toys
that dispense food treats when investigated. These are a worthwhile
activity but the correct choice of treat is advisable. In addition
to the organoleptic drive in feeding, rate of passage through the
gut also plays a role in feeding behaviour. If the wrong treat is
placed in toys the horse may well spend all its time Searching and
reduce its time Foraging. The safest course would be to provide a
treat that fulfils the role in terms of taste, smell and texture
and also is nutritionally complementary to the main
diet.
Fibre-Beet is such a product. Its fibre profile is an
excellent alternative, or complement, to grass and it is extremely
palatable. The shape and texture of the lozenges are attractive to
the horse, and its consumption will not affect Foraging. With a
little imagination Searching can be restored to the daily activity
of the horse.
It is not necessary to employ toys. One of the best features of
such items is that the horse is investigating and feeding at ground
level. Ideally the horse should spend its Foraging time at ground
level. Trials have shown that intake of short cropped grass is
higher than long forage in nets at head height. Although horses do
eat at this level (both when stabled and in ranging) the actual
mechanism of feeding is best with the head at ground
level.
However, with or without toys, put small handfuls of Fibre-Beet
around the floor of the stable, the yard or the pasture. Try other
products but keep to fibrous material, preferably pellets for the
convenience of clearing up or monitoring intake. Although
Fibre-Beet contains Speedi-Beet it is not necessary to soak with
such small quantities, although soaked product will be just as
acceptable. Leave a few handfuls around at night and those long
dark evenings will just fly past - well for your horse at
least.