IS SOCIAL RANK

A foal inherits many attributes from his dam, but high social rank does not appear to be one of them, according to a new study from the Czech Republic.

Over two foaling seasons at the National Stud Farm, Kladruby nad Labem, researchers observed 59 native Kladruby broodmares, who lived in several small, stable herds numbering from eight to 14 horses. Interactions were recorded in the mare-foal groups, and the researchers documented the hierarchy of each herd, identifying the most dominant members.

During the observation period, 79 foals were born to the study mares. The youngsters were weaned when they were 4 to 7 months old, then moved to herds at another facility. When the offspring turned 3, the researchers returned to analyze the hierarchies of the different herds and determine which members were most dominant.

At the outset of the