Konstanze Krüger

Konstanze Krueger ( born January 22, 1968 in Cologne as Konstanze Deubner ) is a German zoologist and ethologist. She is Professor of horses at the School of Economics and the Environment Nürtingen. She explores, among other things, the social system of the horse.

Konstanze Krueger is one of the most renowned experts on horse behavior.

Academic Career

Konstanze Krueger studied veterinary medicine at the Ludwig- Maximilians- University of Munich. After your Ph.D. in 1996, she was hired as a research assistant at the Institute of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology of the University of Munich. From 1997 to 1999 she paused due to parental leave. From April 1999 to February 2006 she led with her ​​husband Knut Krüger Equestrian Park Einthal in Oberstraubing. As of June 2004, she conducted research at the Institute Biology 1, Zoology, University of Regensburg. Research area " Social learning and social cognition of the horses ." In October 2008, she organized the first International Equine Science Meeting ( IESM ) at the University of Regensburg. On March 1st, 2012, she is the first female professor for horses in Germany at the School of Economics and the Environment Nürtingen. In March 2012, she organized the DFG-funded 2nd International Equine Science Meeting at the University of Regensburg. In June 2012, she completed her habilitation in zoology at the University of Regensburg. Since November 1, 2012 she is lecturer and senior lecturer at the University of Regensburg

Research priorities

The research focuses on social cognition and the social ecology of the horses in the years 2005 to present. Since 2009, the research on the sensory laterality was another focus. In July 2013, a new project was started that the world is to collect reports on innovative behavior of the horses at the HfWU.

Methods

There were carried out, among other things, long-term field studies with di Esperia Pony in the Italian region of Abruzzo, and Przewalski's horses in Germany. The behavioral tests were carried out mainly with domestic horses from Germany. For the evaluations, among other things, social network analysis and hierarchical calculations (ADI ), were used.

Practical application of research in the equestrian and horse husbandry

The behavior of horses in the Join-Up method was in the study Behaviour of horses in the "round pen technique" examines It is a learning behavior and not a natural "language" as written by Monty Roberts in his book, it is local. The research explains why and how this training can be transmitted through generalization to other people and other places, and thus is an important tool for training horses.

With research Horse sense: social status of horses (Equus caballus ) Affects Their likelihood of copying other horses confirms the opinion of horse professionals that it is useful to an experienced horse for training to consult to with this experienced horse demonstrate the learning content. She also explains that this is only possible with horses from a social group and which horses are suitable as a demonstrator.

That horse is predisposed side is known among horse connoisseurs. The reason for this were investigated by the research Visual laterality in the domestic horse ( Equus caballus ) interacting with humans. Horses want depending on the situation, observe things times to the left and once with the right eye. For daily practice, this means that it makes sense that the horse eg dangerous things only so long can look with the left eye until it is quiet again.

The study third- party interventions keep social partners from Exchanging affiliative interactions with others suggests that it is important for a group housing of horses that this group should be composed of horses of all ages.

Scientific significance of the research

( Baker and Crawford, 1986; Clarke et al 1996; Lindberg et al 1999 Baer et al 1983.. .. ) Because the social complexity of the horses underestimated, and the Social learning in horses, the last 30 years has been described as not representable, experimental design was not aligned to that effect. In several researches which were taken into account and shown for the first time social learning in horses. This has an impact on other species in which social learning also could not be shown. The experimental design in these species must now be reconsidered and it should be carried out new experiments in which the social aspects of these species are taken into account.

Publications

Publications in peer -reviewed journals (selection)

  • Krueger, K; Farmer, K. ( 2011) Laterality in the Horse [ laterality in the horse ] mup 4160-167.
  • Krueger, K.; Flauger, B.; Farmer, K.; Maros, K. ( 2011) Horses (Equus caballus ) use human local enhancement cues and adjust to human attention Anim. Cogn. 14187-201.
  • Krueger, K.; Heinze, J. (2008) Horse sense: social status of horses (Equus caballus ) Affects Their likelihood of copying other horses ' behavior Anim. Cogn. 11431-439.
  • Training theory for dressage horses
  • The horse in the focus of science

Papers in journals

  • The left-hand twist: Sensory -sidedness in horses in 2008, 10, pp 66-68
  • Horse behavior: How do I integrate my horse in the herd. 2008, 12, pp 64-69
  • The social system of the horse: the know -how for the daily use. 2009, 1, pp 72-76
  • The social system of the horse, Part II: leaders. 2009, 2, pp 76-80
  • Visual capabilities of horses. 2009
  • The recognition of conspecifics and humans. 2009
  • The Memory of the Horse, 2009 7
  • The bad habits of the horse, 2009, 9, pp 84-89
  • Character horses, 2009, 12

Lectures as invited speaker at conferences

  • Opening speaker 43rd International Conference Applied Ethology
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