The Domestic Horse: The Origins, Development and Management of Its Behaviour

D. S. Mills, S. M. McDonnell

Cambridge University Press, Mar 10, 2005 - Nature - 249 pages

Humans have had a profound influence on the horse since its domestication in the late Neolithic period. Used for transport, labour, food and recreation, horses have become important in many facets of our society. Daniel Mills and Sue McDonnell have produced an exceptional account of our current knowledge of the development and management of the behaviour of the horse, from its wild roots. The Domestic Horse, first published in 2005, brings together, for the first time, an unrivalled collection of international scientific authors to write on the latest findings concerning the behaviour and welfare of this beautiful animal. Illustrated throughout, The Domestic Horse will appeal to animal scientists, those working with horses in a professional capacity and the owner/enthusiast. It also provides sound complementary reading for animal/equine science courses and veterinary students.

Contents

• Domestication and early history of the horse: 5
• The horse in human society: 23
• Individual differences in the domestic horse origins development and stability: 33
• Behavioural ecology of feral horses: 55
• Relationships and communication in socially natural horse herds: 83
• Maintenance behaviours: 94
• Sexual behaviour: 110
• Maternal behaviour and marefoal interaction: 126
• Ontogeny preparing the young horse for its adult life: 139
• Equine play behaviour: 150
• The riderhorse relationship: 161
• Learning abilities in the horse: 169
• Horse Training: 184
• Behavioural problems with the ridden horse: 196
• Repetitive movement problems in the horse: 212
• Equine behaviour and welfare: 228
• Index: 239

About the author

Daniel S. Mills is principal lecturer in behavioural studies and animal welfare and director of the animal behaviour referral clinic at the University of Lincoln. He is the first specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine to be formally recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and has published widely on behaviour problems in the domestic horse and is co-author of Equine Behaviour, Principles and Practice. Sue M. McDonnell is an associate professor and founding head of the Havemeyer Equine Behavior Programme at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center. She has published widely on stallion sexual behaviour and dysfunction and is author of The Equid Ethogram, A Practical Field Guide to Horse Behavior.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Domestic Horse: The Origins, Development and Management of Its Behaviour
• Editors: D. S. Mills, S. M. McDonnell
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2005
• ISBN: 0521891132, 9780521891134
• Length: 249 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Animals / Horses; Pets / Horses; Science / Life Sciences / Evolution; Science / Life Sciences / Zoology / General; Science / Life Sciences / Zoology / Mammals; Technology & Engineering / Agriculture / Animal Husbandry