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Alternative defenses
This is the 4th in a series of articles by R.M. Miller, DVM. Dr. Miller is a recognized authority on horse behavior and the author of "Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal," as well as other books and articles.
ALTERNATIVE DEFENSES Although each species of animal has primary defense behavior related to its anatomy, that doesn't mean that it is limited to that behavior when it thinks that its survival is threatened. Cattle have horns and instinctively know how to use them, but when threatened, they may choose to run or kick. Dogs have teeth and powerful jaws, and use them instinctively in a crisis situation, but a dog may prefer to flee, or perhaps to freeze and try to blend with the background so as not to be seen. Similarly, horses may use other methods to survive than running away. If a horse is cornered, or trapped, or otherwise unable to resort to flight, it may decide to fight. Sometimes, as in the case of a mare who thinks her foal is in danger, or a stallion who thinks his turf is threatened, a horse may choose to fight even when flight is possible. Because the horse is anatomically designed to rely upon flight as its primary survival behavior, it is a physically strong animal. It is, after all, a sprinter. It has fast twitch muscle fibers that enable it to move explosively, accelerating rapidly to high speed. Its legs are long and powerfully constructed. Its hooves are hard and heavy. Its adrenal glands are capable of instantly pouring adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline is
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flight-oriented animal like the horse, in order to remain alive in the wild, must have a strong adrenaline response. The adrenaline "rush" helps the horse to sprint away from predators. When the threatened horse does not run, the adrenaline is equally effective in preparing the horse to fight, and horses can fight. They can kick with their hind feet, and they can strike with their forefeet. Because their limbs are so long, they are capable of great leverage. Encased in a solid wall of hoof, their feet, therefore, upon impact, can deliver a surprising amount of energy. The force of a kick or strike can splinter boards. A full-strength kick by one horse to the heavy musculature of another horse' s rump can split the flesh, leaving a wound that looks as if it were caused by an ax. Think what such a kick can do to the human body. A wellaimed kick by a zebra can discourage an attack by a lion or a hyena. Most horses are bigger and stronger than a zebra. With their front feet, horses can strike with even greater accuracy than they can kick with their hind feet. They can see what they strike, better than they can kick behind them. If there is less power in a forelimb strike than there is with a hind limb kick, there is still sufficient power to inflict serious injury, especially to the human head. Horses can bite, too. Ruminant (cud-chewing) animals, such as cattle, have no upper incisor teeth. They graze by using their tongue to twist grass from the ground. Their lower incisor teeth are loose in their sockets. Horses, by contrast, have large, strong incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. They graze by nipping off the grass.
effectively use their horns. Horses extend their noses, and elevate the head in a fight. They can and do bite effectively. Male horses, in addition, have well-developed lushes, or canine teeth, which are long and sharp and can inflict a severe wound. The teeth of a horse can sever a human finger as if it were chomping off a piece of carrot. Once, at a University of Arizona rodeo, I saw a saddle bronc, when the chute door swung open, reach around to bite the rider's leg. The horse bit through the man' s high top boots, right down to the tibia bone, causing a deep crushing wound. Horses can bite. Look what they can do to a plank fence.
JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
ALTERNATIVE DEFENSES Although each species of animal has primary defense behavior related to its anatomy, that doesn't mean that it is limited to that behavior when it thinks that its survival is threatened. Cattle have horns and instinctively know how to use them, but when threatened, they may choose to run or kick. Dogs have teeth and powerful jaws, and use them instinctively in a crisis situation, but a dog may prefer to flee, or perhaps to freeze and try to blend with the background so as not to be seen. Similarly, horses may use other methods to survive than running away. If a horse is cornered, or trapped, or otherwise unable to resort to flight, it may decide to fight. Sometimes, as in the case of a mare who thinks her foal is in danger, or a stallion who thinks his turf is threatened, a horse may choose to fight even when flight is possible. Because the horse is anatomically designed to rely upon flight as its primary survival behavior, it is a physically strong animal. It is, after all, a sprinter. It has fast twitch muscle fibers that enable it to move explosively, accelerating rapidly to high speed. Its legs are long and powerfully constructed. Its hooves are hard and heavy. Its adrenal glands are capable of instantly pouring adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline is
412
flight-oriented animal like the horse, in order to remain alive in the wild, must have a strong adrenaline response. The adrenaline "rush" helps the horse to sprint away from predators. When the threatened horse does not run, the adrenaline is equally effective in preparing the horse to fight, and horses can fight. They can kick with their hind feet, and they can strike with their forefeet. Because their limbs are so long, they are capable of great leverage. Encased in a solid wall of hoof, their feet, therefore, upon impact, can deliver a surprising amount of energy. The force of a kick or strike can splinter boards. A full-strength kick by one horse to the heavy musculature of another horse' s rump can split the flesh, leaving a wound that looks as if it were caused by an ax. Think what such a kick can do to the human body. A wellaimed kick by a zebra can discourage an attack by a lion or a hyena. Most horses are bigger and stronger than a zebra. With their front feet, horses can strike with even greater accuracy than they can kick with their hind feet. They can see what they strike, better than they can kick behind them. If there is less power in a forelimb strike than there is with a hind limb kick, there is still sufficient power to inflict serious injury, especially to the human head. Horses can bite, too. Ruminant (cud-chewing) animals, such as cattle, have no upper incisor teeth. They graze by using their tongue to twist grass from the ground. Their lower incisor teeth are loose in their sockets. Horses, by contrast, have large, strong incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. They graze by nipping off the grass.
effectively use their horns. Horses extend their noses, and elevate the head in a fight. They can and do bite effectively. Male horses, in addition, have well-developed lushes, or canine teeth, which are long and sharp and can inflict a severe wound. The teeth of a horse can sever a human finger as if it were chomping off a piece of carrot. Once, at a University of Arizona rodeo, I saw a saddle bronc, when the chute door swung open, reach around to bite the rider's leg. The horse bit through the man' s high top boots, right down to the tibia bone, causing a deep crushing wound. Horses can bite. Look what they can do to a plank fence.
JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE