| Agonistic aggressive |
Threats to bite, bite |
Threat to bite: laying back of the ears, the horse displays a head swing with slightly opened mouth, or it consists of a nipping motion toward an opponent using an extended head as well as neck. Physical contact is attempted while biting
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| Threats to kick, kick |
Threat to kick: laying back of the ears, the horse shifts the hindquarters toward the opponent. Vigorous tail switching and even slight hopping motions with the hindquarters may occur prior to kick threats. Physical contact is attempted while kicking
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| Chase |
One horse pursuits another, usually at a gallop in an apparent attempt to overtake, change the movement of or catch up with another horse |
| Agonistic defensive |
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The horse maintains or increases the distance between self and a threatening opponent: avoiding by moving a part of the body away, moving away by walking or fleeing by trotting or cantering |
| Affiliative |
Approach |
The horse reduces the distance between self and (the) other horse(s), ears forward |
| Olfactory investigation |
The horse displays nasal investigation at the other’s body (e.g. naso-nasal, flank region) |
| Mutual grooming |
The two partners usually face each other, standing so that one shoulder is close to the corresponding shoulder of the partner. After introductory sniffing, the grooming activity usually begins along the crest of the neck; it may then proceed to the withers, the shoulder or along the back to the croup and base of the tail |
| Head-body contact |
The horse places its head on the other horses’ body (e.g. back, croup) |
