Behavior Genetics of the Horse (Equus caballus) - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 242

After the foal allows the second author to touch different parts of its
body, he scratches and rubs it on the belly and the area around the top of the
tail ( Figure 7.1 ) In his experience, foals seem to find this rewarding, and par-
ticularly like to be rubbed and scratched on these areas of the body.
However, it may cause some foals to become pushy and begin to seek more
and more of this attention. Attention seeking occurs sooner in less reactive
foals, and eventually occurs in more reactive foals. In any event, the moment
a foal begins to push on him seeking attention, he gently pushes them away,
or walks away. This is similar to the way some mares behave toward their
foal if she is busy grazing, or doesn't want the foal to nurse. If foals get too
rambunctious or demanding, she might swish her tail, threaten, or walk
away. The first author has found that handling foals this way teaches them to
respect his space, and they also learn that seeking too much attention is
unacceptable. The bond that forms is based on trust and respect.

Factors Affecting Attachment to Humans
A recent study conducted by Sankey et al. (2011) suggests that food is
important in the human

foal attachment process, and that tactile contact is
insufficient for bonding to occur. We disagree with this conclusion. The foals
handled using the procedure developed by the first author actively seek tac-
tile contact, which is not associated with another primary reinforcement such
as food. No food reinforcement is used during the initial bonding process
with the foal. In the Sankey et al. (2011) study, two groups of horses were
reared either “under conventional domestic conditions,” or in a forest
reserve. No specific information was provided as to the horses' early contact
with humans, or the early handling procedures used to habituate the horses
to wearing halters. The forest-reared horses were “caught” and put with the

FIGURE 7.1 Initial handling is performed while the mare and foal are not restrained or
confined in a stall.