The Correct Answer to this Month's Behavior of the Month

Elimination Marking Behavior

          Stallions exhibit a highly stylized behavior sequence in response to feces or to the voided urine of their harem mares.  All stallions tend to defecate in communal sites, know as stud piles. This includes both the harem stallions that are guarding their breeding family unit, and the bachelor stallions that do not have a breeding harem, Stud piles are the site of the ritualized posturing and aggressive interactions typical of intermale interactions.  These behaviors are also seen in a play form in foals and immature yearlings.

          Similar elimination marking behavior is not normally seen in mares.  Should it occur, it is a sign of exposure to abnormally high levels of androgens or estrogens that induce male-type behavior.

          A classic descriptive study of  elimination marking behavior can be found in Turner JW, Perkins A, Kirkpatrick JF 1981. Elimination marking behavior in feral horses. Canadian Journal of Zoology 59: 1561-1566.