Horse herd leaders

Science continues to inform us about the nature of horses and old accepted ideas of herd leader (alpha stallion and mare) have been reconsidered. This is not a scientific stroll but a practical chatty episode about horses exhibiting behaviours that might be considered as 'leadership' qualities or dominance along with the assumption that there is a 'pecking order' in horse herds.  Thanks to Jo and her enquiring mind for the great question. Equitation Science position statement on misuse of leadership and dominance in training