Behavior Genetics of the Horse (Equus caballus) - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 241

A Non-Intrusive Neonatal Handling Method
Over the last 20 years, the first author, Mark J. Deesing, has practiced a self-
developed, non-intrusive neonatal handling procedure on his foals with some
positive results. Immediately following birth and before the foal stands up,
he applies an antiseptic to its umbilical stump. This is the only handling that
the foal receives in the first few postnatal days. No more attention is given
to the foal—instead, he concentrates his attention on the mare and shows the
foal indifference. All of these procedures are conducted either on pasture or
in a large paddock where the mare and foal are housed, and not confined in
a stall. Each day following the birth of the foal, he spends a short period of
time grooming the mare and feeding her carrots, but only if the mare
approaches him willingly. As he cares for the mare, the foal becomes inter-
ested in the attention given to its mother, and walks around and watches
from one side of the mare to the other. At first, the foal is hesitant to get too
close, but usually within a day or two it moves closer and closer. Before
long, the foal begins to sniff, then nuzzles him while he attends to the mare.
When this happens, he continues to behave as if the foal is not there, show-
ing complete indifference until he feels the foal is completely comfortable in
his presence. After the foal approaches him several times and stands close by
while he cares for the mare, he reaches out and touches the foal for the first
time. The first touch is very brief. He gauges the reaction of the foal, and
then walks away. If the foal reacts to his touch, he knows not to touch it
again until the foal has spent more time standing close by and investigating
him. If the foal shows no reaction to his first touch, he knows that he can
touch it more the next time. He learned the importance of not hurrying the
first touch, and if the procedure is practiced this way, each day the foal
allows more frequent and direct touching. Any forced contact results in a
foal that avoids subsequent contact. Evidence for this is supported in a study
by Henry et al. (2006) . They found that forced stroking and handling of foals
early in life did not improve the foal

human relationship. In a previous
study, Henry, et al. (2005) also found that softly brushing and feeding mares
by hand had positive effects on foal behavior.
The first author practices his procedure in the same way on all his foals.
Even so, differences are apparent in the time that it takes for the foals to
touch him, or accept being touched by him. Some foals are fearful and take
several days to get close and touch him, while others touch, smell, and nuz-
zle him on the very first day. In the beginning, he avoids touching them on
the head or face. They seem to be more protective of their heads than other
parts of their bodies. This is especially evident in reactive foals. In order to
prevent any negative reactions, he is careful not to try to touch the head or
face too quickly. Habituation to being touched on all parts of the body,
including the head, takes more time in the reactive/high-fear foals, compared
to the low-reactive/low-fear foals.