Equine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists

by Paul McGreevy

Equine A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists is written for all those who really want to know what makes horses tick. Behavioral problems in the stable and under saddle are of concern to equine veterinarians worldwide because they lead to welfare issues, abuse and ultimately wastage. Equine veterinarians, trainers and handlers must be aware of each horse’s behavior as a first step in detection of problems, whether they are clinical maladies or training issues. As they constantly study their horses’ responses to their environments they are all, in effect, students of horse behavior. Drawing on over 1,000 references, Equine Behavior explores the subject from first principles by considering the behavior of free-ranging horses and considering ways in which management and training influences the responses of domestic horses. All too often veterinarians feel that management of the mental health of equine patients is beyond their expertise. This book addresses many important gaps to enable practitioners to understand how horses can learn to perform unwelcome behaviors and how to change those behaviors where appropriate. The new edition builds on the success of its pioneering predecessor and presents a thorough revision of all chapters to reflect the latest developments in this dynamic field. The chapter on equitation science has been expanded and there have been major revisions to the sections on stereotypic behavior, cognition studies, nutrition and housing. The book remains a must-have purchase for all veterinarians who deal with horses, for equine scientists, trainers and everybody with an interest in the subject.

Genres: Horses

378 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[J Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and scientific without going too far into exhaustive explanations, this is a great book for anyone looking for a better understanding of the "what" and "why" of horse behavior.

Facts and figures are listed in here, but so are neat tables, complete with charts and explanatory photographs. Not only are the pictures great examples of concepts elaborated upon in the text, they help spice things up for readers like me, who tend to space out when faced with page after page of text only.

I found this book to actually be pretty exciting nerd alert and very easy to get through. Yes, it took me a while, but all books that require actual analysis for a thorough understanding (compared to the fiction books I normally rip through) do.

If you have a slightly science-y background (a must in order to understand a number of subjects contained within this book) and an interest in horses (why would you read this review if you're not? For that matter, why would you even look at this book? It's in the title, sis!), I highly recommend this. I think it, although older, this is a great starting point to better understand equine behavior and be able to approach horses in a way that will help facilitate learning and understanding between our two species, leading to a streamlined ability to care for and work with them.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for veterinarians and scientists, I found the reading slow (which is why it took so long to finish - 9 years must be my record!) but valuable. Even a laywoman such as myself could find lots of information that is helpful to understanding my horse. I also found a lot to be thankful for that my horse does not do! I had no idea of all the behaviors one could experience in the horse world. Between Clinton Anderson's training methods and this book, any horse person can be comfortable there, and that is a must. Horses pick up on their owner's behaviors, insecurities, and uncertainties, so it is best to have some knowledge of how a horse works and how to relax around them.

[sparrowcrazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Incredibly informative, it really makes you see horse ownsership and horse behavious in general in a whole new way.

It made me question a lot of the things we as horseowners do with our horses; what right do we have to force such restrictions on an animal that has such vastly different needs than what we usually can provide.

I'd recommend this to anyone who works with horses, even if it's just a hobby. I should in fact recommend it as obligatory literature for riding schools, maybe it would make people a bit more aware and respectful.

[Jenny P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly suggest reading this to anyone with a more advanced interest in equine behavior. There's a lot in here that you wouldn't be able to find from your average book on horses.

[Brittany]

Recommended in animals make us human

[Holly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be positioned as more of a text book but frankly I was riveted reading straight through it. If you want state of the art science behind your understanding of equine behavior it is really the only book around. McGreevy demystifies (and occasionally debunks) what would be horse whisperers and magical thinking equine communicators say they do. In particular, he demonstrates the many different ways that misinterpreting or anthropomorphizing horses is a form of cruelty because so much punishment is handed out for behavior that may look deliberately stubborn or mean-- but actually arises from entirely different motivation. If you think learning theory is boring hang on through those chapters because he’ll show why a working knowledge of classical and operant conditioning (and all the variations) is so essential for teaching. Equine Behavior (crammed as it is with data) is a great resource for figuring out why some training techniques succeed and others don’t. I have much more respect for my own horse and the exceptional trainers who help him flourish after reading this book

[Primrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading for school Equine sciences tudies.This is why my recreational reading has fallen behind.