Interplay Between Environmental and Genetic Factors in Temperament/Personality Traits in Horses (Equus caballus )

The aim of the present study was to broach the question of the relative influence of different genetic and environmental factors on different temperament/personality traits of horses ( Equus caballus ). The researchers submitted 702 horses to standardized experimental tests and investigated 9 factors, either genetic or environmental. Genetic factors, such as sire or breed, seemed to influence more neophobic reactions, whereas environmental factors, such as the type of work, seemed to play a more dominant role in reactions to social separation or learning abilities. Additive effects were evident, showing how environmental factors may modulate behavioral traits. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding the relative weights of genetic factors and how the environment may intervene in determining individual behavioral characteristics.