Self Isolation and Choice
Self Isolation. This is something that many of us will now face. The reality of it is that many of us will now have to remain inside without any or with only limited social contact. If you don't have a garden then limited exercise and fresh air as well. It is likely we will all have to be careful how we use our food shopping as nipping to the shops wont be so easy. So what do we do? How do we stay sane during this time? I am sure many will be looking into online courses and resources to keep our brains busy. Isolation is hard. It is hard on us as we are social creatures and we live in a community. We choose our friends from our social groupings and spend time with them if we choose too. Choice is an important part of our every day life. The choice to stay in or go out. The choice to eat what we have in or get something fresh from the shops. The choice to socialise and go to a new area. The choice to stay in or go out for a run when it is raining or snowing. The reduction of choice is what many will struggle with. Choice is important to us, having choice is linked to positive behavioural outcomes, we are more likely to be happier, healthier and persevere longer when we have choice. We are making choices all the time, what cereal to have in the morning, if we want to see or speak to people or what to wear each day.
Our horses also benefit from choice. Wild living equids choose many different types of plants and grasses whilst grazing they forage from hedgerows and trees. They choose if they are stood with natural shelter from wind and rain or if they move to higher ground away from biting insects. Studies have shown that wild living Przewalskis in Chenobyl choose to utilise abandoned buildings more in the summer to escape biting flies than in the winter to avoid the extreme weather. I have myself followed Przewalskis in Mongolia move from the water source in the valley to the higher steppe mountains during the day to avoid the flies.
So what about our horses choice? What choices do we give our horses and how can we protect their well being by providing more choice? We must not forget that many horses in our society experience forced isolation every day for prolonged periods. Our horses social contact is decided by us and by our circumstances. The weather can affect if they have access to social interaction or the choice to be inside or outside. For whatever reason our horses still have to cope with social isolation and limited movement and choice frequently. It has become the social norm. But is it right and should we all be making changes to introduce choice to our horses life to protect their well being.
More and more horse owners are starting to provide enrichment for their horses to provide choice and encourage normal behaviour. We need to ensure that enrichment is provided to all of our equids. Enrichment should be frequently changed and satisfy their needs in a variety of ways. Has their paddock got an interesting environment for them with opportunity to forage from hedges and socialise with others at will? Can we as owners ever provide what our horses need environmentally ?
What does their facial expression show?
As you look at the image I have shared take note of the facial expressions of both horses, tense muzzles with a half closed eye. These horses have known each other for several months but the coloured cob does not often allow him into her personal space. They are in a 9 acre field and have choice to interact or not and this choice has led to her allowing him close enough for a tense sniff. A moment later she had put her ears back and he moved away he has other horses to socialise with and is often seen mutual grooming with another gelding. The social grouping is not their choice but they always have the choice to move away. This is choice but it is limited choice, they also have the choice of grazing a variety of grass species or foraging in hedges with several varieties of trees and I observed one eating roots of nettles. All these foraged plants have different nutrients, textures, tastes and are found in varying ways and in varying places with variable work required to get the forage. Animals will choose to work for food when they have the choice studies show several species that prefer to work for their food rather than just have it delivered to them.
As social isolation really hits us we are all going to be making hard choices concerning out horses, these choices may cause us stress but we hope not undue stress. All competitions are closed we are encouraged not to put ourselves at undue risk so we don’t put more strain on our health service. Maybe now is the time to take a look at your horses choices, your horses living arrangements and spend some time enriching it. Plant them a hedge of herbs, create some enrichment you can refresh for them and turn them out.