Goodwin D
Anthrozoology Institute, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton S016 7PX, UK.
Equine Vet J Suppl. 1999 Apr(28):15-9. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05150.x.
Domestication has provided the horse with food, shelter, veterinary care and protection, allowing individuals an increased chance of survival. However, the restriction of movement, limited breeding opportunities and a requirement to expend energy, for the benefit of another species, conflict with the evolutionary processes which shaped the behaviour of its predecessors. The behaviour of the horse is defined by its niche as a social prey species but many of the traits which ensured the survival of its ancestors are difficult to accommodate in the domestic environment. There has been a long association between horses and man and many features of equine behaviour suggest a predisposition to interspecific cooperation. However, the importance of dominance in human understanding of social systems has tended to overemphasize its importance in the human-horse relationship. The evolving horse-human relationship from predation to companionship, has resulted in serial conflicts of interest for equine and human participants. Only by understanding the nature and origin of these conflicts can ethologists encourage equine management practices which minimise deleterious effects on the behaviour of the horse.
驯化给马提供了食物、住所、兽医护理和保护，增加了个体的生存几率。然而，为了另一个物种的利益而限制行动、减少繁殖机会以及需要消耗能量，这与塑造其祖先行为的进化过程相冲突。马作为一种群居猎物物种，其行为由其生态位决定，但许多确保其祖先生存的特征在家庭环境中难以适应。马与人类有着长期的联系，马的许多行为特征表明它倾向于种间合作。然而，在人类对社会系统的理解中，支配地位的重要性往往过度强调了其在人马关系中的重要性。从捕食到陪伴的马与人类关系的演变，导致了马和人类参与者之间一系列的利益冲突。只有了解这些冲突的本质和根源，动物行为学家才能鼓励采取马的管理措施，将对马行为的有害影响降至最低。
