Independent Research Project

1
Independent Research Project -

• Dominance in Small Herds of Domesticated Horses

2
.

• Purpose Determine if Dominance and Aggressive
  Behavior can be Predicted for Members of a Herd

3
Three Sites and Eight Types of Horses were
Observed.

• Sites
• 34 Horse Barn
• 25 Horse Barn
• 7 Horse Barn

• Types of Horses
• Stallions
• Colts
• Geldings
• Pony
• Broodmares
• Mares
• Fillies
• Yearlings

4
Method

• 30 different horses were observed interacting.
• Their dominance and aggression were noted and
  ranked.

5
Dominance (Aggression) Ranking in Domestic Herds
6
Observations

• Stallions are not put into domestic herds due to
  aggression.
• Broodmares will be the dominant horse in a
  domestic herd.
• Geldings mentoring yearlings can also be very
  aggressive.

7
Conclusions Probable Safe Field Companions

• Mentoring gelding with young horses, 2 yr old
  fillies and yearling
• One broodmare with geldings,
• fillies, or non-dominant mares.
• Geldings, mixed.
• Non-dominant mares, mixed.