Behavior Genetics of the Horse (Equus caballus) - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 244

pasture with other mares and foals. Half of the mares at each site were
brushed and fed by hand for the first 5 days of their foals' lives. The rest of
the mares were not handled, and served as the control group. Gently brushing
and hand-feeding mares for approximately 1 hour for 5 days following the
birth of her foal positively influenced the foal's behavior towards humans.
Foals spent longer periods close to the experimenter and initiated more sniff-
ing, and licking contacts, whereas control foals appeared more fearful.
In this study, Henry et al. (2005) also observed the influence of mare
behavior—protective or not protective—on the foal's behavior towards
humans. Protective mares were described as nervous and exhibited behaviors
such as always looking at their foals or positioning themselves between their
foals and the human. Non-protective mares were less nervous and did not try
to block access to their foals. Foal behavior was recorded during tests con-
ducted at 15, 30, and 35 days old. These observations were followed by an
approach-stroking test performed by familiar and unfamiliar persons at 11
and 13 months old. At all ages, the approach-stroking tests revealed that
foals of protective mares remained further from the experimenter than foals
from calm mares. Foals from calm mares also remained closer to the experi-
menter compared to controls and engaged in more sniffing and licking of the
experimenter. In addition, foals of brushed and hand-fed mares exhibited
reduced avoidance, reduced flight responses, and faster acceptance of saddle
pads on their backs. Finally, handling of mares had effects on foals that were
still measurable one year later. Both familiar people (experimenters) and
unfamiliar people could rapidly approach and stroke the foals from the han-
dled mares. The results strongly suggest that a mare's behavior can influence
their foal's behavior toward humans. In this study, Henry et al. (2005) also
found an interaction of breed and experience on human

mare relationships
and the behavior of their foals toward humans. French Saddlebreds and
Trotters were kept on site one, and Arab and Anglo-Arabs on site number
two. On site one, French Saddlebreds and Trotter mares and foals were
exposed to early handling. The foals were assisted to their feet following
birth and moved to the mare to assist first suckling. (This is a common prac-
tice on breeding farms around the world.) In addition, their stable boxes
were near the riding horses, and the mares and foals were involved in many
visual contacts with humans. On site two, the Arabian and Anglo-Arab mares
and foals received only minimal early contact by caretakers and were housed
far from the riding horses. Overall contact with humans was very limited.
Interestingly, breed differences in foal behavior were observed between the
two sites. Arab and Anglo-Arab foals at site two were generally calmer and
allowed human contact more readily than the foals at site one. This is
another genetic

environment interaction. The more reactive Arab and
Anglo-Arab foals benefited more from a lack of early and later human con-
tact. Brushing and feeding mares by hand has a significant effect on foals'
behavior towards humans. Henry et al. (2005) concluded that “this procedure