Proceedings

Introductory presentation
Thoughts on the first of the ISES FIRST PRINCIPLE:
train according to the horse’s ethology and cognition
S. McDonnell
Head, Havemeyer Equine Behavior Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
suemcd@vet.upenn.edu
From its very start, ISES has promoted a set of fundamental principles of horse training and
management, known as FIRST PRINCIPLES.(1) ISES considers these to be “non-negotiable
obligations for trainers to maintain optimal welfare in trained horses as well as optimal training
efficiency.“ The first of these 10 FIRST PRINCIPLES is to train according to the horse’s
ethology and cognition. This presentation will review this 1st and overriding principle, with
examples given by ISES Council members and Founders, who were recently asked to cite their
own personal favourites. Ethology is the scientific study of the natural behaviour and related
biology of animals. For any given domestic species, certain biological and behavioural
characteristics, such as social organization, reproductive strategies, foraging patterns,
perceptual capacities and other cognitive abilities along with related physiology that favoured
survival to reproduce over many thousands of generations before domestication, linger as core
innate characteristics. Applied ethology is the application of this species-specific knowledge to
the management, handling and training, of domestic animals. There remain enormous
opportunities for managers and trainers of domestic animals to apply what is known about the
ethology of animals to enhance the overall quality of the human-animal relationship, including
health and welfare, training and management efficiency, human and animal safety, and
productivity. This is certainly the case for horses.
Equine ethology in general
The favourite examples provided by ISES Founders and Council members for training according
to the horse’s ethology and cognition all relate to the fact that horses evolved as primarily an
open-plains grazing prey herd species. For prey species that must spend most of the time
foraging out in the open, the “safety in numbers” rule is paramount. These animals seek the
company of others, particularly their own species, and act instantaneously in concert particularly
when threatened. This results in individuals within a band and bands within a herd forming long
lasting strong relationships. They appear to gain comfort from proximity to trusted cohorts, and
appear stressed when separated. Complex dominance relationships support harmony within and
between sub-groups of large herds. In wide open environments, distance is the primary indictor
of submission. This all requires clear and efficient ongoing communication of presence or
absence of threats. Communication signals tend to be quiet and subtle, with instantaneous
reaction to threats. In addition to communication among a herd, prey species are particularly
perceptive and reactive to communication signals and emotional states, both negative and
positive, of other species in the environment. Any activities that may reduce vigilance and/or
increase risk of predation, such as breeding, parturition, or rest, all tend to be relatively brief,
quiet, and buried within the herd as opposed to off alone, and so relatively inconspicuous to
predators. When resting, band members conspicuously alternate shifts of one or more
individuals remaining more alert as a sentinel for the less vigilant of the group who are dozing
while standing or recumbent. These are all reasons why stable and compatible equine
companionship is considered a basic need for horses.
There are dozens of other opportunities to accommodate and take best advantage of these
characteristics to improve the welfare and efficiency of management and training domestic
animals that evolved as open-plains grazing prey herd species. Husbandry that supports the
natural trickle feeding and natural continuous movement while foraging has obvious benefits for
most horses, in terms of physical and mental health that directly affect training as well.
Incorporating trusted social support during training in the form of an already-trained, relaxed
stable companion can be quite beneficial, especially in the early phases of training or in new
© International Society for Equitation Science 2016
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