Behaviour & Hierarchy

Welcome to our wild horse behaviour and hierarchy research, we will go through some outsourced facts and some of our own research regarding wild horses. We have a full page listed of sources for factual or outsourced information we have used in addition to our own research please view our sources page for all links.

Let's start out with wild horse hierarchy. The herd, harem and band structures, what are common standards, and a few rare exceptions in the wild horses hierarchy.

A herd or harem typically consists of 2-20 horses, in our research for the alberta wild horses we have found that average to be 5-7 per band(harem) out of the 131 bands we have documented so far, we will update these numbers are we uncover and release more data. So please check in periodically for any changes or subscribe for our monthly newsletter where we personally send out new data and research found by us within that month.

●Stallions: Most bands consist of 1 stallion, (where some have 2-3 stallions per band and a few rare cases have no stallion) with the rest of the harem consisting of mares and offspring.

Let's first look at the standard (1 stallion per harem of mares and offspring) in these instances, the lead stallions role is simple. Protect the band from threats (predators and other stallions) , procreate, and move the harem away from any threat, done in the form of snaking, while also fighting or challenging whatever threat the harem deems there to be.

Much to the suprise of many, stallions do not typically control or direct where the harem goes, and they reserve this method of snaking for dire circumstances, typically being a stallion threat, or predator threat. For the rest of the time the stallion listens, watches and protects the herd usually at a distance, while staying within eye sight, or ear shot of his harem.

Next we will look at bands with multiple stallions and how that affects the social structure and rolls within the band.

We have 2 specific harem we have decided to use for this study on multi stallion harem hierarchies and behaviours.

Band 1 (3 stallions) #1 Ernie, #2 Ayashe and #7 Phillip

Band 19 (2 stallions) #140 Maverick #141 Nevada

Please see our files page or YouTube for photos and videos on these bands, for now we will just talk about their main herd behaviours and hierarchy as colic stallion bands

Band 19 stallion study We will first discuss the most peacefully of the 2 harems, band 19. Our of these 2 study groups #140 Maverick and #141 Nevada have the most structured dynamic, resulting in the most peaceful behaviours. This quite simply, is due to #141 Nevada being such a submissive and useful addition to the harem. Due to # 141 Nevada respecting his lower status, this results in minimal stallion disputs between #140 maverick and #141 Nevada. This dynamic is a little different than most however. #141 (Nevada) typically takes the lead into new and unfamiliar areas, if you see him in this state, you would assume him to be a lone stallion. He will sniff and do a walk around and then when he feels the area is safe, he alerts the band. This is when you will see the harem appear. #141 keeps his distance from the herd, his purpose is to check out new zones, and alert the harem to threats or danger. He (#141 Nevada) always ensures a respectable distance is maintained between him and the harem mares, either following far behind, or far ahead. #140 Maverick maintains, by far, the most peaceful co stallion structure around. Due to #141s submissive and passive behaviour. Now this can change at any due time, but for the last year they have kept a relatively peaceful harem worth studying.

Band 1: stallion #1 Ernie and stallion #2 Ayashe

Band #1 stallion study This band started our research journey off. Although they were not the first wild horses we seen, they were the first wild horses we officially started documenting and researching. Which is why their individual numbers are #1 and #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 and #7 to make up this band in our research file.

This band has brought about a lot of questions and theories in the wild horse country, like who's the lead stallion and who is the sire of the three most recent offspring? Lets get into this herds structure shall we?

First lets talk about the 3 offspring born looking seal/liver bay makes this case a bit confusing. If the 3 foals stay liver bay, it entirely rules out stallions #1 and #2 as being the sire. As a liver bay gene is not passable through a dun and chesnut combo. However if they grow into a grullo then it would likely be stallion #1 or#2 being the sire. If the foals remain liver/seal bay the only genetically possible sire would be stallion #7. All we can do is uodate what colours they grow into, the young colt #4 cavas has grown into a silver dun to grullo colour, being stallion #1 was not with the band at this time, means stallion #2 Ayashe was likely the sire in his case. Stay tuned for updates on the following 2 colts #5 and #6.

Now let’s look at the behavior and hierarchy between these three stallions. It is our belief that stallion #1 Ernie is the lead stallion, this may not have always been the case, at one point stallion #2 Ayashe was the lead, but roles change over time, and stallion #1 hold the lead now.

Things you may notice with lead stallions, they typically do not partake in much fighting or dominance challenges. This is reserved for the second stallion, in this case it’s #2 Ayashe. While stallion #2 ayashe challenges any threat, lead stallion #1 ernie gets the harem away from that danger or threat. The lead stallions typically reserve their fighting, challenging and dominance battles for breeding season which can start as early as February and end as late as November, however the average wild mare in albertas seem to foal between (April-aug). If you want to see a lead stallion in action this is the time to do so. While maintaining a peaceful appearance for the majority of the year, breeding season brings the strongest, most dominant and fiercest stallions to battle, this is often when you see the co-stallions working together, showing all why they have teamed up together.

For the remainder of the year, the second in command stallion takes the brunt of the battles, threats and challenges while the lead stallion keeps his peace relaxing with his mares and offspring. The secondary stallion sometimes takes the name of scout stallion, lieutenant stallion or soldier stallion.

In the case with band #1, we have three stallions so what is the role of the third stallion? In this case the third stallion #7 Phillip, sticks close to the band mare file #3 april , and is the most peaceful and submissive of the 3 stallions, not doing much unless his assistance is required by stallions one or two. Third stallions are to be the most submissive, but sometimes offer the most challenges within their own harem to try and up their ranks.

In every harem each wild horse has a specific job or duty associated with their status rank within the harem structures. So lets look at the lead mares role next.

A lead mare has the most respected role within the harem structure. While she submits to the authority of the lead stallion and moves according to his snaking , this is typically when a threat or danger is present or near. For the remainder of the time, it is the lead mares duty to lead the harem, to pick where they graze, to pick where they go for water, and to decide where to migrate. This mare is usually the most knowledgeable and exerienced horse within the harem, earning her place and respect through time and wisdom. The lead mares role should never be over looked as they play such a crucial role, by having full responsible for maintaining peace and balance within the harem. If a younger horse is out of line she will step in regardless of what mare the foal belongs to. If there is a stallion disput she will calm and confidently direct the harm away from the danger and the stallion will catch up after. A lead mare is never a dull moment to watch.

An interesting fact about lead mares, is their foals get put first, and the lead mares leadership and rank bubbles over unto her foal. this leadership role gets instated on her offspring giving them the best chance of success within the family band, all mares in the harem will have a high altitude of respect for the lead mares foal. Lead mares are also typically the first mare to foal every year, (but not always). The lead stallion will put his lead mare above the other mares and typically forms the strongest inter harem emotion bond with this mare.

Next we will look at off spring and their role within the harem. The majority of offspring leave the family band between 2 and 3 years of age, there are some exceptions to this as well though. Some are kicked out by age 1 others stay till age 5 or 6, and some never leave the family harem at all. So lets talk about it.

First let us look at why a foal leaves the harem to begin with, many assume wild horses do not have the brains to know what or who is their baby, this just simply is not true. Wild horses have such keep smells, senses, and memories that they know everytime they see their foal or a previous foal. So when a young mare reaches breeding age between 1-2 the stallion (her sire/father) will remover her from the band, or allow an opposing stallion to take her, this is done in foaling season. A season we have come to call drop and swap. And young colts face the same outcome, they are no longer welcome in the band and the lead stallion makes this abundantly clear by snaking him away, kicking, biting and chasing, until the young foal realizes this and begins off on his own journey, this may take a few days to a few weeks of this young foal following far behind and lingering near to the band, the message is usually recieved within a few days and the foal will stop trying to re enter the harem, and will look for a new place and new band. You do not often, ever really, see young mares alone or without a band. Young mares are quickly swooped up by stallions who want a new addition to their herd, the same is not true for young colts though.

Young colts have a hard time finding a place to call home when they leave their family band, they are often times too young and inexperienced to know how to take mares or challenge a stallion for his, his best hope is to find a young mare also kicked out the same year before some older stronger stallion takes her. If the young colt has no luck in finding mares, he will quickly realize there is safety in numbers, and will then find a group of other young stallions to join up with. This is what we call a bachelor band, a group of young stallions who choose to have safety in numbers rather than be alone.

So what about the exceptions? In the event a foal is kicked out around 1 theres a few possible reasons for it, either this foal is causing a disruption or disturbance within the bands peaceful social structure or the foal has began challenging others for leadership or dominance. In both of these instances the lead mare or lead stallion may push put this young foal early to re-establish peace within the harem hierarchy. We watched this happen with band 1s young colt #4 cavas, by age one and a half he began having disputes with the lead stallion, disrupting peace and soon he was out on his own, only for a couple days, recreated and then shortly thereafter was back on his own.

In other cases we have horses that never leave the band, for this to happen the sire (father stallion) usually has his band stolen or taken form him by another stallion, and if this other stallion has no relation to the young foal this foal (usually a young mare) may be granted a chance to stay with the band due to having no relation to the new stallion. And young stallions may stay as long as they do not challenge or threaten the lead stallions hierarchy.

If you would like to dive further research into this topic with us, going through other band studies, other behaviour traits we see like sparring and clicking, please join us over on our blog where we do a new in depth research study monthly.