Abnormal behaviour of horses in relation to different keeping conditions

Abstract

Within the Order of Perissodacytla Horses form the Genus Equidae. Horses are gregarious and flight animals which spend their time in nature on free-roaming and pasture- grazing [Werhahn et al. 2011]. Horses kept in natural environment have to adapt to environmental conditions and have to fight for their survival. Due to the increased demand for equitation the behaviour patterns of Horses have been changed due to differences of keeping systems [Visser et al. 2008]. According to a study from 2001 and 2002 about 1.24 million people participate regularly in equestrian sport. Further the study figured out that 870.000 people would like to ride. According to extrapolations approximately 1.1 million Horses live in Germany which means that the Horse population has quadrupled in the last 40 years. Around 60 million Horses are counted worldwide [Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung].