The most persevering competitor will win! This is true, not only for human beings, but also for horses. So proved by a recently published study.

Rivaling stallions can tell by the duration of the opponent’s neigh what chances they have in the competition for the mares. This is the result of the observation of wild horses on an island off the coast of North Carolina.

Focus Khemali von Ruminaja Ali

During the breeding-season the wild stallions defend their mares, whereby conflicts between rivals arise again and again. Provided that the weaker horse does not run away in the first place, these encounters take place according to a strict ritual: The stallions sniff at each other before they begin with their loud neighing. The cry of dominating stallions begins with a high-pitched sound and remains powerful and energetic for the duration. The higher ranking stallion’s neigh lasts about 20 per cent longer than the lower ranking ones, who also lack the high beginning sound.

Stallions of domesticated breeds also display this „competitive neighing" behaviour. The stud stallion will start it when he is presented to his younger rival. The message is clear: „I am still the boss, understand!"

Only in one out of five quarrels the struggle with the voice doesn’t seem to suffice in order to determine the order of precedence: A violentdual on the hindlegs becomes inevitable. Similarities in the behaviour of the same sex of the human species are, of course, purely coincidental...

Phillip Hollerbusch, Photo: van Lent