Asa, C. S., Goldfoot, D. A., & Ginther, O. J. (1979). Sociosexual behavior and the ovulatory cycle of ponies (Equus caballus) observed in harem groups. Horm Behav, 13(1), 49–65.
Abstract: Observations of sociosexual behavior of adult ponies, made on two harem groups (each comprised of one vasectomized male and three females), were correlated with follicular development and ovulation for a total of 15 cycles (minimum of 2 cycles per female). Mean cycle length (interovulatory interval) was found to be 19.7 days, with behavioral estrus lasting 7-8 days (5.5 days preovulatory; 2.3 days postovulatory). Estrous females typically showed increased frequencies of approaching and following the stallion, urinating, presenting, clitoral winking, and tail raising. Approaching and following the stallion appeared earlier and persisted longer than other estrous responses. Deviations from the modal estrous pattern included cycles with subestrus, continual estrus, behavioral estrus in the absence of ovulation, and displays of female mounting. Dominance tests revealed that a mare's status was unaffected by the phases of the estrous cycle. The presence of more than one estrous female affected the copulatory performance of both stallions, most notably in reduced latencies to first mount, intromission, and ejaculation, in spite of differences between the stallions in sexual vigor. Each stallion usually selected the dominant mare for copulation when there were multiple estrous females present, but mounts were not displayed exclusively to one female per test. The social testing situation made apparent the importance of use of space in sociosexual communication in this species, particularly in avoidance of the stallion by diestrous mares and standing alone or in proximity to him by estrous mares.
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Conley W,. (1979). The potential for increase in horse and ass populations: A theoretical analysis. Symp Ecol and Behav of wild and feral Equids, Laramie, , 221–234.
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Denniston, R. H. (1979). The varying role of the male in feral horses. Symp Ecol and Behav of wild and feral Equids, Laramie,, , 93–98.
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Miller, R., & Denniston, R. H. (1979). Interband dominance in feral horses. Z. Tierpsychol., 51, 41–47.
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Moehlman Pdr,. (1979). Behavior and ecology of feral asses (Equus asinus) Diss Univ of Wisconsin. Nat. Geo. Soc. Res. Rep.,, , 405–411.
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Reader J,. (1979). The violent rescue of Grevy's zebra – a controversial operation.
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Ruffner Ga, C. S. (1979). Age structure, condition, and reproduction of two burro (Equus asinus) populations from Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
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Salter, R. E., & Hudson, R. J. (1979). Feeding ecology of feral horses in western Alberta. J. Range. Mgmt., 32, 221–225.
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Waring Gh,. (1979). Behavioral adaptation as a factor in management of feral equids.
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Wolfe Ml,. (1979). Feral horse demography: A preliminary report (Abstract).
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