EPISODE · Nov 29, 2023 · 40 MIN
A Day in the Life of a Horse
from Mad About Horses · host Mad Barn
What do horses do all day? What should they be doing all day compared to their wild counterparts? A critical topic for any horse owner or enthusiast. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator and researcher, discusses the experience of observing the behaviors of equids throughout the day. He notes the vital importance of understanding the natural behaviors of horses and other equids as it influences how they are managed, fed, and looked after. Dr. Mortensen references multiple studies comparing behavior patterns - observing time spending habits, natural behaviors, and common stress behaviors particularly when horses are in confined spaces or too densely packed. He stresses on the importance of sufficient feeding, exercise, and turnout time for the overall health and well-being of the horses. Podcast Timeline 00:01 Introduction to Equine Behavior Study 00:43 The Start of My First Behavioral Study 00:56 The Process of Recording Equine Behavior 02:25 Observations from the Behavioral Study 04:20 Introduction to the Speaker and the Topic 05:35 The Importance of Understanding Equine Behavior 06:03 The Impact of Behavior Research on Equine Management 06:45 The Natural Behavior of Horses 08:24 The Behavior of Wild Equids 10:40 The Behavior of Domestic Horses 14:55 The Importance of Turnout Time for Horses 17:40 Times of foraging for horses 24:42 The Impact of Pasture Density on Equine Behavior 29:12 The Behavior of Stalled Horses 38:15 The Importance of Proper Management for Horses 39:12 Conclusion and Call to Action Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast. --------------------------------- Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners, handlers and practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us to learn more at https://madbarn.com You can also find Mad Barn at: Instagram @madbarnequine Facebook @madbarnequine TikTok @madbarnequine YouTube @madbarn We would love to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to [email protected]
What this episode covers
What do horses do all day? What should they be doing all day compared to their wild counterparts? A critical topic for any horse owner or enthusiast. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator and researcher, discusses the experience of observing the behaviors of equids throughout the day. He notes the vital importance of understanding the natural behaviors of horses and other equids as it influences how they are managed, fed, and looked after. Dr. Mortensen references multiple studies comparing behavior patterns - observing time spending habits, natural behaviors, and common stress behaviors particularly when horses are in confined spaces or too densely packed. He stresses on the importance of sufficient feeding, exercise, and turnout time for the overall health and well-being of the horses. Podcast Timeline 00:01 Introduction to Equine Behavior Study 00:43 The Start of My First Behavioral Study 00:56 The Process of Recording Equine Behavior 02:25 Observations from the Behavioral Study 04:20 Introduction to the Speaker and the Topic 05:35 The Importance of Understanding Equine Behavior 06:03 The Impact of Behavior Research on Equine Management 06:45 The Natural Behavior of Horses 08:24 The Behavior of Wild Equids 10:40 The Behavior of Domestic Horses 14:55 The Importance of Turnout Time for Horses 17:40 Times of foraging for horses 24:42 The Impact of Pasture Density on Equine Behavior 29:12 The Behavior of Stalled Horses 38:15 The Importance of Proper Management for Horses 39:12 Conclusion and Call to Action Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast. --------------------------------- Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners, handlers and practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us to learn more at https://madbarn.com You can also find Mad Barn at: Instagram @madbarnequine Facebook @madbarnequine TikTok @madbarnequine YouTube @madbarn We would love to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to [email protected]
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A Day in the Life of a Horse
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