Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
@equineabcs.bsky.social
Learn about wild equines and about using that knowledge to help their domestic counterparts!
Two-way communication is incredible. It might feel quite sticky at first—we've been taught horses need to tolerate everything we ask of them. But, there are plenty of places we can begin looking for communication.
March 30, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Two-way communication is incredible. It might feel quite sticky at first—we've been taught horses need to tolerate everything we ask of them. But, there are plenty of places we can begin looking for communication.
Injured or elderly wild (feral) stallions typically leave their groups. Younger stallions remain alone until they have recovered significantly enough to rejoin bachelor groups or bands. Older stallions, or those with chronic injuries, often occupy similar home ranges and may join together.
March 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Injured or elderly wild (feral) stallions typically leave their groups. Younger stallions remain alone until they have recovered significantly enough to rejoin bachelor groups or bands. Older stallions, or those with chronic injuries, often occupy similar home ranges and may join together.
Neophobic (fear of new things)? Horses are typically given this descriptor in scientific manuscripts. But, feral horses can be incredibly curious! This herd of horses followed me and my tripod for quite a ways before I pulled my phone out to capture this video.
February 28, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Neophobic (fear of new things)? Horses are typically given this descriptor in scientific manuscripts. But, feral horses can be incredibly curious! This herd of horses followed me and my tripod for quite a ways before I pulled my phone out to capture this video.
Want to learn how wild and feral equines can enhance our ability to care for our domestic horses? Recorded webinar “Wild Wisdom” hosted by @worldhorsewelfare.bsky.social available online now, for free!
www.youtube.com/live/xvc48hl...
www.youtube.com/live/xvc48hl...
Webinar: Wild Wisdom: Enhancing horse enrichment
YouTube video by World Horse Welfare Education
www.youtube.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Want to learn how wild and feral equines can enhance our ability to care for our domestic horses? Recorded webinar “Wild Wisdom” hosted by @worldhorsewelfare.bsky.social available online now, for free!
www.youtube.com/live/xvc48hl...
www.youtube.com/live/xvc48hl...
More evidence for NOT weaning early. Prolonged maternal presence in horses is correlated with better brain development in areas related to a horse’s social skills and its ability to self-regulate!
Pre-Print
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Pre-Print
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Affiliative behaviours regulate allostasis development and shape biobehavioural trajectories in horse
Social interactions shape both physiological and behavioural development of offspring and poor care/early caregiver loss are known to promote negative outcomes in adulthood in both animals and humans....
www.biorxiv.org
February 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
More evidence for NOT weaning early. Prolonged maternal presence in horses is correlated with better brain development in areas related to a horse’s social skills and its ability to self-regulate!
Pre-Print
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Pre-Print
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
It’s a Trail Cam Tuesday! Listen to this herd of horses call out towards a brand new foal!
Camera ID: The Roan
Location: Onaqui North Herd Area
January 2025
Camera ID: The Roan
Location: Onaqui North Herd Area
January 2025
January 29, 2025 at 3:39 AM
It’s a Trail Cam Tuesday! Listen to this herd of horses call out towards a brand new foal!
Camera ID: The Roan
Location: Onaqui North Herd Area
January 2025
Camera ID: The Roan
Location: Onaqui North Herd Area
January 2025
Recall is one of the earliest things I train. You never know when a horse might escape, or someone will accidentally leave a gate open. It’s also the only thing I recommend keeping strong by using a high value reinforcer (apple). Everything else I train with low value hay pellets.
January 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Recall is one of the earliest things I train. You never know when a horse might escape, or someone will accidentally leave a gate open. It’s also the only thing I recommend keeping strong by using a high value reinforcer (apple). Everything else I train with low value hay pellets.
Reposted by Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
Did you know mare-theft by stallions (abduction) is uncommon?
In mixed gender bands, males and females travel together. Males display through fights, play with foals, and court the mare. In this case, a white mare and her pinto foal are being trailed by 6 bachelors. Who do you think she’ll choose?
In mixed gender bands, males and females travel together. Males display through fights, play with foals, and court the mare. In this case, a white mare and her pinto foal are being trailed by 6 bachelors. Who do you think she’ll choose?
January 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Did you know mare-theft by stallions (abduction) is uncommon?
In mixed gender bands, males and females travel together. Males display through fights, play with foals, and court the mare. In this case, a white mare and her pinto foal are being trailed by 6 bachelors. Who do you think she’ll choose?
In mixed gender bands, males and females travel together. Males display through fights, play with foals, and court the mare. In this case, a white mare and her pinto foal are being trailed by 6 bachelors. Who do you think she’ll choose?
Reposted by Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
🧪Ooh, alert! Recent research looking at how a friendly (& long) maternal presence promotes maturation of brain territories involved in both social behaviour & physiological regulation IN HORSES, MY FRIENDS! Another paper to support rethinking premature weaning of 🐴. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
January 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
🧪Ooh, alert! Recent research looking at how a friendly (& long) maternal presence promotes maturation of brain territories involved in both social behaviour & physiological regulation IN HORSES, MY FRIENDS! Another paper to support rethinking premature weaning of 🐴. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...