| Historically, wild horses were one of the first animals | | | | herd. This will often happen when younger horses |
| to be domesticated by man, from as early as 3500 | | | | grow stronger and are able to take on the role as |
| BCE. While we always think of saddling up for a ride | | | | the herd leader. |
| or hitching a horse up to a cart or wagon, these | | | | The "domestic" herd |
| beautiful creatures were once wild and roamed free. | | | | Many of these herding instincts are reflected in |
| Today, you can still spot a feral herd or two in the | | | | domestic horse behaviour. Horses are best kept in |
| wild - Virginia and Maryland in US are known for their | | | | groups as they prefer to socialise with other animals, |
| annual Chincoteague pony herding where put up wild | | | | so it's best to board your own animal at a reputable |
| horses for sale to be auctioned off and "broken" by | | | | stable with other horses. To adhere to this instinctive |
| trainers. | | | | behaviour, a stable generally shouldn't keep more |
| The wild herd | | | | than one stallion in the "herd". The presence of |
| Horses are social creatures by nature and in the wild | | | | another male will cause conflict and tensions amongst |
| they band together in herds. Herds consist of one | | | | all the animals. |
| male, the stallion and pack of mares, usually 10-20 | | | | Instead of the small groups that wild horses are used |
| females to one male although many groups will be | | | | to keeping, stallion services try to optimise the |
| much smaller. | | | | number of mares that stallions have access to |
| While many of us may envision the glorious stallion | | | | increase the number of likely offspring. Some stallions |
| leading his herd, in actuality, stallions do not travel at | | | | could impregnate as many as 200 mares in one |
| the front of their herd. Instead, a lead mare takes | | | | season! |
| charge of the direction the herd travels. She is usually | | | | By understanding horse behaviour, you'll also be |
| one of the older and more mature females in the | | | | better informed when it comes to buying a horse. |
| group and takes on a matriarchal role. | | | | You should think very carefully about buying a stallion |
| Meanwhile, the stallion brings up the rear of the | | | | for sale if you're looking for a riding horse. Stallions |
| group, keeping an eye on his herd as they travel up | | | | are much more aggressive than mares and are |
| front, making sure that no mare gets left behind. The | | | | naturally territorial. Inexperienced riders will find it very |
| stallion fends off predators or other males looking to | | | | difficult to control a stallion, especially if there are |
| try and steal the mares from the herd. | | | | mares nearby. |
| Male horses will also challenge each other to control a | | | | |