The effect of early handling of foals on their reaction to handling, humans and novelty, and the foal–mare relationship

The natural behaviour of horses in response to danger is to take flight, and consequently human handlers can be injured. Reducing the flight response and general reactivity of horses is therefore likely to reduce the incidence of injuries to handlers. In this experiment we investigated the effect of handling foals in the first 2 days after birth on their subsequent response to handling, humans and novelty, and the foal–mare relationship. Standardbred foals were assigned to one of two groups, handled (H) (N=22, 12 colts, 10 fillies) and control (C) (N=22, 11 colts, 11 fillies). Handling took place 3 times/day on days 1 and 2 after birth for 10min/session. Individual foals were gently restrained and stroked all over their body using bare hands and then a plastic bag and each leg was lifted once. C foals received no handling.