And again zoos have been kind of the leaders in this field.
In trying to you know, eliminate some of
these abnormal behaviors in this captive wild population.
So enrichment is a big part of that where daily they are introducing
new things to keep the animals engaged, and not bored or stressed out.
So that's starting to carry over in the horse industry.
And things like, you know, putting novel objects in their pens that they kind of,
whoa, and then they kind of explore and play with it and, and have fun with it.
That's always a good way to do it.
Another thing that I'm seeing some research now
on, is, is putting hay in hay bags.
And, depending on the diameter of the wire,
or, or, you know, how tight that wire is.
You know, it takes a while for that horse to, to
get at that forage and pull it out and eat it.
And it's keeping them engaged and it's going to slow 'em down at mealtime.
So, you know I've already said it in a
previous couple lectures on the, on the typical normal behaviors.
But, we'll get to it especially with the nutrition behaviors.
You know, small meals all day so if you do something like this you know, it's
going to drag out that forage time to where they are not getting it all at once.
So that's another great idea that, that's starting to catch, catch on.
With horse owners.
Now the other thing you have to do is evaluate their social environment.
And it's been said a, a solitary horse is, is in poor company.
Because these are very social animals and, and they're
you know, their desire is to be around other types.
Other types of equids I guess.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a horse with a horse.
Or a donkey with a donkey.
A lot of time we see horses and mini's and donkeys together.
You can even put zebra's in with horses.
And they become buddies.
And you can even put goats in with horses and they become buddies.
So they're social animals, and, and they tend
to want to be other, around other animals.
Now I will say this, with intact males, so
stallions and jacks, generally it's okay that they're by themselves.
Because they, in the wild they lead
solitary existence, generally lead a solitary existence.