Selected factors influencing the behavior of horses outside the stable during different seasons

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Abstract Horse behavior is highly diverse and influenced by multiple factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of selected factors on the frequency of social and comfort behavior in horses residing in a sandy paddock and pasture during different seasons. The study included a herd of 20 horses – 14 geldings and six mares. The youngest was three years old, the oldest was 21 years old, and the rest of the horses were in the 4 to 19 age range. The research involved observing the behavior of horses outside the stable, on the pasture and in a sandy paddock during four seasons. An ethogram was created to document specific social and comfort behavior. Weather conditions data for each day were collected using an anemometer. Statistically significant differences were observed in the occurrence of specific behavior between mares and geldings. The age of the horses did not affect the occurrence of specific behavior. Statistically significant correlations were found between weather conditions during the four seasons and the occurrence of social and comfort behavior. The research demonstrated that gender and weather conditions influence the occurrence of social and comfort behavior in horses.