Test your knowledge of Equine Behavior Based on the Previous FAQ's!

1. With regard to breeding a shy breeder, which of the following is NOT a course of action?
a) Perform a Breeding Soundness Examination to rule out any major physical or medical problem
b) Keep stallion away from all exposure to mares to maximize his libido
c) Take a  Stallion Handling Course and/or Breeding Course to get the latest, greatest tips on handling quiet stallions (like the one offered at the Equine Behavior Lab at the University of Pennsylvania {Hint})
d) All of the above are possible courses of actions

2. Which of the following are ways to distinguish submissive behavior and estrous behavior in a mare?
a) True estrus involves leaning toward the stallion while submissive cowering involves leaning away from the stallion or any threat.
b) The tail action of a submissive behavior involves a relaxed movement and lifting of the tail while estrous behavior involves a wringing and active swishing of the tail.
c) In the estrous behavior, urination can be elicited by any threatening situation, while with submissive cowering, posture and urination are more pronounced is response to a stallion.
d) With regards to an approaching stallion, with estrous behavior the mare looks like she is trying to escape and if she is cornered, she might fall down or run over the stallion, while the submissive mare will linger and "break down" into a wide, squatting stance with a flexed foreleg and turned head to gaze at the stallion.

3. What is a possible reason for a healthy foal eating manure (coprophagia)?
a) The foal is attracted to the color of the feces.
b) The foal is attracted to the smell of the feces.. 
c) Eating the feces of an adult herd mate might effectively populate the gut of the young with the "good" microorganisms that aid in digestion .
d) Parasite eggs in the feces ingested depress the young immune system to protect the foal against his or her own immune system.

4. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the sexual maturity of a stallion?
a) A 2-year-old colt will most likely have more sexual endurance and confidence than a 3- or 4- year colt.
b) The maturation of sperm production and sexual behavior of stallion always coincide  with each other.
c) It is rare for a colt to show normal sexual behavior (teasing, marking, flehman response, erection etc) in the first week of life and also rare for a colt to mount mom during foal heat
d) All of the above are false responses. 

5. Which of the following are good recommendations for getting a horse to stop biting?
a) Continuous punishment for at least five minutes after the first bite with a lot of yelling to discourage the action ever again.
b) Not rewarding the biting and discouraging any mouth contact with a judicious, immediate punishment and rewarding alternative behavior. 
c) Only punish the biting behavior but ignore the mouthing, non-biting behavior as it is cute like puppy-kisses.
d) None of the above

6. Which of the following approaches is NOT the way to help a mare overcome her fears of narrow doors?
a) Seek gradual improvement under non-threatening and relaxed situations starting with a doorway that is mildly problematic.
b) Use only positive enticement, like grain, and reinforcement to help reassure the mare to get through the doorway. 
c) Make sure you always have access to something like a whip in case after the first time she doesn't go though, you can use the whip as punishment for not listening.
d) A good time to help train the mare to overcome her fear of doorways would be feeding time as her grain meal is a good enticer and reward for her to go through the doorway.

 

 

 

 

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