An analysis of the annual mobility of Polish Konik horses depending on habitat, season, and time of the day

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyse the mobility of Polish Konik horses in their natural environment. The study was conducted on a herd of 15 Polish Konik horses in 2018. The Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter was used to track the horses' movements. Two habitats (forest and meadows), four seasons (autumn, winter, spring, and summer), and four times of the day (morning, midday, evening, and night) were distinguished. Season, habitat, and time of the day as well as the interaction among them significantly (p<0.0001) affected the mobility of Polish Konik horses. The use of the GPS device enabled tracking of horses' mobility also at night, which made the results more complete compared with other similar studies.