Behavior Genetics of the Horse (Equus caballus) - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 249

first, then farther and farther away as time passes. The foal should not be
expected to stand alone for any extended periods. Having a mare that calmly
accepts handling and being tied also helps the foal accept handling.

More Factors that Affecting Bonding with Humans
As we discussed previously, Henry et al. (2005) found that mares can influ-
ence the behavior of their foals toward humans. A second hypothesis offered
by Henry et al. (2005) is that foals can also influence the behavior of their
mares toward humans. A person forcibly catching a foal and holding it while
it struggles can upset the mare. The non-intrusive approach to foal handling
practiced by the first author prevents the mare from becoming upset by seeing
her foal in danger. As Henry et al. (2005) suggests, social facilitation is
involved in the human

foal relationship. To demonstrate this princi-
ple, Henry et al. (2006) used three procedures to study early handling and
human

mare

foal relationships. In the first, foals were restrained and stroked all
over their body. In the second, foals were restrained and taken to the dam's
teat (first suckling assists). In the third, foals were exposed to a motionless
person. The results found that the first two procedures had no effect on the
later human

foal relationship, and the third slightly enhanced the foals' reac-
tions to humans. Foals that were assisted during their first suckling avoided
human approach and physical contact at 2 weeks of age, and at 1 month of
age. This research supports the procedure practiced by the first author. His
procedure begins with a human foal bond

(only after the foal initiates first contact). The relationship is subsequently
enhanced through social facilitation. To quote Henry et al. (2007) , “It may be
important that the young individual is an actor in the establishment of the rela-
tion, rather than a passive receiver of stimulations.” In any event, foals' per-
ceptions of humans develop from a very early stage. Whether a non-intrusive
approach such as that practiced by the first author is used or not, several
authors agree that gentle handling, stroking, halter fitting, and picking up the
feet of young foals have more positive effects, at least in the short term, than
forcibly rubbing the foals' bodies ( Heird et al., 1986; Jezierski et al., 1998 ;
Mal and McCall, 1996 ; and discussed in Henry et al., 2006 ). But the question
of when to begin handling foals remains unanswered. Several authors argue
the existence of a “sensitive” or “critical period” for learning to occur, and
suggest that the weaning period may be similar to those found in other animals
at early ages. Lansade et al. (2004) addressed this by handling foals at two
different life stages: immediately following weaning, and 21 days later. The
results of this experiment found that haltering, petting, picking up feet, and
leading foals immediately following weaning lowered their reactivity and
made them easier to handle compared to non-handled controls. The responses
were also stronger in the early handled foals compared to the foals handled
21 days after weaning. Bateson (1979) suggested that stress induced by

mare bond, followed by a human