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 timefor 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]