Herd dynamics... What is it?  Communication key to herd survival is within the shared leadership roles of the lead horses; this is possible without conflict because Nature employs two different leadership styles that act as a cohesive unit at the top levels: Individual Herd Dynamic and Group Herd Dynamics. The Mare dynamic is more focused on that of nurturing the group in space and motion; thus the female herd dynamic is geared more toward a Group Herd Dynamic. The Stallion has a more individualized propensity owing to the protective of herd and space roles that Stallions play in the family group. This more targeted type of focus (targeting threats as well as stragglers) is identified as being Individual Herd Dynamic. Stallions can become very overprotective of their space because of their IHD.

 

The body of the herd is generally made up of five layers and each communicates with the other in a chain-of-command structure which allows for optimum efficiency and survival. Emerging members of the herd jostle for position almost daily in sometimes subtle, sometimes lavish displays of body language and infractions of space. A family herd generally is made up of 4 to 7 members at any given moment but circumstances of course dictate actual numbers.

 

The core or base of the herd is comprised of the lowest standing members at any given moment along with the young. The next layer are those mid-level horses who are themselves always at risk to challenges of position from the base members and thus can be flip-flopped at any given moment and any number of times; 80% of horses fall into these two categories behaviorally. The next level horse is the key member of the herd between the underlings and the herd leadership, the adjunct, or better stated, the team captain. Because of this horse’s position and unique ability to communicate fluently with intent & body language, it is the most commonly but falsely recognized herd leader. The job of the adjunct is to act as liaison between the lead horses and the rest of the herd members especially during motion. In this manner the highest level horses can communicate their demands to the herd without themselves being discovered by predators. In such a way Nature has done well to hide her true leaders so that the survival of the herd is secure. (Adjunct horses rarely seek or desire to move up).

 

Above the adjunct and just below the actual herd leaders are high level herd members who have only one role; waiting. They play little or no part in herd motion unless challenging the in-place Stallion or Mare for top position. If this position is untenable they will eventually either be pushed out of their Vice-Presidency to start their own herd or move into bachelor herds, or lay in waiting for an older or infirm leader to eventually give way. Thus a leadership structure is never wont. Leaderless herds are not in nature’s design.

 

Thomas Herding Technique: Discovering the Communicated Equine by Kerry M. Thomas