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Emmal
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 7:30:36 PM
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Hi All,
I am looking for horses with unusual repetitive behaviours for a quick questionairre study, such behaviours can include but aren't restricted to - head nodding, head wind milling, tongue lolling, teeth grinding, sucking behaviours, chomping with the jaw, ground pawing, leg waving and unusual itching or rubbing. Any repetitve behaviour which is not classified as a traditional stable vice.
A friend of mine has said that she has met some arabs with these behaviours so I though I would ask here if anyone would be kind enough to fill out a questionairre if their horse has one of these behaviours. If you own, or know of a horse with an unusual repetitive behaviour please contact me via pm.
Many thanks,
Emma :)
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mogwai
Platinum Member
    
 England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 8:36:49 PM
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Hello Emma  Nice to see you here. Maybe we can convert you . Ros (see you on the 6th) |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
    
 England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 8:37:20 PM
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Hello Emma  Nice to see you here. Maybe we can convert you . Ros (see you on the 6th) |
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Jilly
Platinum Member
    
England
2431 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 8:40:16 PM
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I have a cob that paws if I can be of any help? |
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JESSIEMAE
Gold Member
   
England
872 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 9:13:55 PM
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Hello there
I have two pure breds and one part bred arab and they all 'paw' the ground when wanting something? Not sure is this helps you or not  
Liza |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
    
 Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 9:16:20 PM
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Does repeatedly lobbing tyre feed-dish into the hayrack and then looking REALLY smug about it while human climbs on milkcrate to retrieves it (getting jacket and hat chewed in the process) count????  Sorry - no OCD types here atm - but sounds intriguing. Unless repeated yawn-fests count when Kaz has had too many apples |
  - V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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Joto
Gold Member
   
855 Posts |
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Pop
Platinum Member
    
 England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 9:37:26 PM
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Hi I have one who does Head nodding and ground pawing – she out on loan but that probably doesn’t matter for your form.
If leaning against the electric fence enjoying the thud counts, then I’ll have two forms.
If climbing between solid wood fence rails counts, that will be three forms.
And if turning round and biting your foot while you are riding counts, best make it four forms then.
If sneaking up behind you when you are bent down poo picking and pushing you head first in it is not normal behaviour, best just send me a whole pad of forms.
Seriously thou, happy to fill in your form.
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Fee
Platinum Member
    
 2601 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2008 : 9:49:28 PM
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LOL Tricia, so you had a good time with your horses tonight? 
How about this one..? When I'm making Po's feed and if she's tied up she bends one knee slightly and repeatedly. It's very cute and looks like she's doing a little dance
I'll have a form too then I guess 
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FelicityR
Bronze Member
 
 England
121 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 07:43:14 AM
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Sky is an Anglo-arab and head nods, mainly when he first sees me after my day at work or while he is waiting for me to do his haynet, his other favorite trick is a head shove, really sly about it too, you could be talking outside his stable then bang, your afew feet away from where you were but very rarely does this to me - he knows better, loves doing it to unsuspecting kiddies on the yard...they fly further... HAppy to fill a form if it helps though. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
    
 England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 08:12:29 AM
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I wasnt going to answer this post because it has a 'lets prove Arabs are bonkers' feel to it. Lots of our horses whirl their heads and paw the ground but I think most of us feel this is because they are trying to communicate with us rather than they all have OCD or worse...This is what all the other posts have been illustrating.
Theres a kind of inference (not by you especially but in general) that all of these things are just undefined stable vices which really they are not - and we have all heard other non arab people suggesting head wringing shows some kind of mental instability(Perhaps I am being sensitive EmmaL so please feel free to contradict me!) |
    West Sussex |
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templars
Platinum Member
    
 England
1852 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 08:21:07 AM
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We have a young TB who puts her head on one side and literally blows kisses if she's been naughty (like when she tries to bite the mare next door). And if we're doing something to her that she gets fed up with (like standing still when being plaited) she makes a really odd movement with her lower lip and smacks it against her upper lip about 30 times in a row (guess that's what you might mean by chomping). You can tell that really she'd just love to tell you to "go away" but she's far too polite to do that. |
  www.eviepeel.com    |
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Fee
Platinum Member
    
 2601 Posts |
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Pop
Platinum Member
    
 England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 08:35:18 AM
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I would really like to see the results of the survey. Whats it for?
I bet FelecityR horse trick comes up allot. It seems a similar trick to pushing me in poos, sneaking up and pushing you from behind.
Fee. When you said about the knee dance, it came flooding back and I remember it perfectly :))). She is such a beautiful creature and typical that her 'behaviour' is a cute/nice one. |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
    
 England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 08:47:19 AM
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Oh, i can assure you there is no intention of "ask the bonkers arab owners", if that's the way it comes across. Emma is a well respected horse trainer, researcher and published author (as from january). I'm sure she must think i'm bonkers, but not because of my arabs . Any research that Emma does may have a direct influence on how people view stereotypies, how they are managed, how they develop and what causes them in the first place. I'm sure Emma will be on soon to correct my ramblings. Ros  |
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geegee
Platinum Member
    
 England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 08:52:58 AM
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If the repetitive behaviour is not classified as a stable vice, is it not then a displacement behaviour?
I personally think that the reason that somebody has suggested that Arabs are seen to display this behaviour more than any other breed, is because they are a highly sensitive and intelligent breed and more likely to be misunderstood. It's like Thoroughbreds, it takes a certain kind of owner to be able to cater for their needs, to keep them balanced.
Arabs are definately more in tune with their survival instinct.
Emmal - in which context is the survey? Can you give us more details, please?

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Pop
Platinum Member
    
 England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 09:19:20 AM
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Just read all the posts. I was too a bit concerned about what the information was for, hence the questions "what's it for". When I was listing the behaviours, it struck me that most of the 'behaviours' came form thoses with Arab blood. All the behaviours, in my opinion, come from intelligence, sence of humour and being full of life. The head nodding and pawing only happens when she has to wait around for others; and how many horses can flick back the bar on a slip rail and then bounce the rail with their leg till it falls off? How many horses would see the funny side of trying to push you head first into a poo? These are the current regular behaviours, when I prevent these, I have no doubt some other tricks will start.
It is so so true what Arachnid says, they are trying to communicate; and I do think the analyis of the behaviour should reflect their intelligence and not portray them as bonkers.
So it would be nice to know that the 'behaviours' will be represented properly; and not just a bunch of strange horses.
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FelicityR
Bronze Member
 
 England
121 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 10:43:16 AM
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I agree with others, Sky I believe is just so happy to see me (and food) hence the head nodding, and has a wicked sense of humour - hence the kiddies thats all, I would never try to stop these signs of communication, because this is my horse's personality and why I love him! I'm sure this applies to everyone else..who'd want a boring horse anyways!?!! |
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Esstaana
Bronze Member
 
 England
192 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 11:37:33 AM
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My friend has a thoroughbred who nods LOTS think it's because she weaves loads and has a weave bar on, so nods instead... (if anyone has an idea how to stop her that would be great) shes been doing it for... 6 months or so bless her It's really bad when she's separated from Ana, and she whinnies to her lots... separating them slowly but her owners are abit proptective over their TB... |
 Adh Esstaana Wigan, Lancashire |
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NUTTER
Platinum Member
    
 England
2452 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 1:15:23 PM
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Both my mares when called in anytime day or night to be stabled always do a instant pee first in the field.. The cob did it from her coming to us day one but now the arab mare does also, the arab gelding waits until he gets in his stable !! Heavens knows why.. A part from that they are healthy balanced equine !!! |
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KittyB
Silver Member
  
United Kingdom
295 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 1:46:21 PM
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Do apples make your horses yawn Mrs Vlacq? My yearling burps - is that normal? He also paws the ground at feeding time - but I think that is normal. |
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Esstaana
Bronze Member
 
 England
192 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 1:56:56 PM
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Mine does that to nutter, as soon as I bring her in, from field/arena or just being tied up, she'll do a poo then a wee straight after, quite annoying really as its usually on a nice, clean, fresh bed!!!  |
 Adh Esstaana Wigan, Lancashire |
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bearferret
Junior Member

 England
39 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 3:15:27 PM
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I have a mare that paws when she wants something and will wee as soon as she gets into the stable and as soon as she gets to the field. Everytime its the first thing she does. What is the survey in aid of? |
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Emmal
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 5:36:55 PM
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Hi all,
Thanks to all those who have replied or Pm'd with their horses behaviour I will contact you all asap.
This survey is not breed specific at all. There are many different breeds who have already been surveyed including cobs, sport horses, heavy horses, TB's, natives, etc. The study is simply to gain a wide range of data on repetitive behaviours to see if there are any interesting patterns or correlations.
My main area of research is stereotypic behaviour. Whilst talking to people of these behaviours I came across more and more non stereotypic repetitive behaviours. There is currently no documented information on these behaviours that I can find so I just wanted to gain some information on these behaviours. Like any good scientist I only seek to observe, I have no agenda. I simply just find these behaviours interesting and the best place to access people is the internet.
Many thanks all.  |
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Jilly
Platinum Member
    
England
2431 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 5:41:17 PM
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BTW, welcome to the forum, I see you are a newbie. |
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Roseanne
Moderator
    
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2008 : 5:55:42 PM
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All mine head-wring. It's an Arab thing. When we've had non Arabs in with them, they try to do it as well, only not all can!
I think they do it particularly when they're anticipating something, when they're frustrated, expecting food, thwarted in something they wanted to do but are stopped and loads of other circumstances. The stallion's amazing and has quite a reputation among the non-Araby neighbours for his whirling antics. |
Roseanne |
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