Abstract: Some of the techniques that may be used to study social, reproductive, and ingestive behavior in horses are described in this paper. One of the aspects of equine social behavior is the dominance hierarchy or patterns of agonistic behavior. Paired or group feeding from a single food source may be used to determine dominance hierarchies quickly. Focal animal studies of undisturbed groups of horses may also be used; this method takes longer, but may reveal affiliative as well as agonistic relationships among the horses. Reproductive behavior includes flehmen, the functional significance of which can be determined using combinations of field observations of harem groups and laboratory studies of stallions exposed to female urine or feces in the absence of the donor mare. Ingestive behavior may include food, salt, or water intake. Direct and indirect measurements of intake can be made and used to answer questions regarding the ability of horses to control their energy intake when the diet is diluted, the effect of feral equids on the ecology of an area, and the abilities of horses to compensate for dehydration and hypovolemia.

Abstract: Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) are believed to be extinct in the wild; the current known population of 797 animals exists wholly in zoos. The Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is proposing to reintroduce this endangered species into its former Mongogian habitat within the next decade. Knowledge of the behavior of harem-forming equids in general and of Przewalski's horses in particular, is of great importance to the captive propagation and eventual reintroduction of this species. Horses are rarely solitary by nature. Solitary captive animals are prone to pacing. Juvenile male feral horses (Equus caballus) form bachelor herds upon dispersal from their natal band. Zoos can set up bachelor herds as a way of managing surplus males. The older, more dominant feral horse bachelors are the first to acquire mares. Bachelors do not generally obtain females until they are 4 or 5 years of age. The first females acquired are usually 1- and 2-year-old fillies dispersing from their natal band. Because of the age differential, the stallions are generally dominant to their mares. Behavioral impotence may result if captive stallions are given a harem at too young an age, especially if the harem contains older, more dominant, females. Typical harem sizes in the wild are 3-5 mares. Captive stallions with too large a harem may become either apathetic or aggressive toward their mares. Wild horses spend 60-70% of their time foraging. Captive animals may quickly consume their limited amounts of food and develop vices out of boredom. Provision of hay ad libitum reduces the amount of pacing seen in captive animals, and virtually eliminates coprophagy.