Progress 02/01/01 to 12/31/05
Outputs
A review of the scientific literature addressing early intensive handling of foals was completed this year. In the studies published largely during the preceding four years there have been no profound differences between foals that have a regimented early handling procedure and those maintained under routine management in subsequent response to handling, reactivity, and novel stimuli. In fact, the control subjects in these various systematic studies provide evidence of the ability of foals and young horses to show minimal reactivity to handling following a broad range of routine, minimal positive interactions with humans. This study at Penn State has corroborated most of the findings in these recently published reports on early intensive handling of foals. The work performed at Penn State is unique from most of the other studies in that 1) treated and control foals were full sibling pairs, 2) the intensive handling procedure was performed within minutes following the
foals birth and prior to its standing to nurse, 3) the only intensive handling the foals received was immediately at birth, and 4) foals were followed through their 2 year old year. No other studies were as rigorous in addressing the question of a handling effect during a true, brief, perinatal imprinting period.
Impacts
The early intensive handling procedure used in this study has been heavily marketed to the horse owning public, with a small body of scientific literature that examines the academic and practical basis for its claims. This study at Penn State as well as other published papers have so far provided information to show 1) there appears to be no harm to the mare-foal bond nor to the foals physical well being when the procedure is performed judiciously and 2) the time and effort involved in the early handling procedure does not definitively result in improved compliance with later handling and training.
Publications
- Diehl, N.K. 2005. A Review of Research on Effectiveness of Early Intensive Handling of Foals. Proc Am Assoc Eq Pract 51st Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, December 3-7. Accepted for Publication.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
This study compared 8 full sibling pairs of foals born in 2001 and 2002. One of each pair was randomly assigned to the treatment group for early, intensive handling and the other was a control, receiving minimal early handling. Following a strict handling regimen performed on the treatment group foals at birth, intended to habituate them to various stimuli, we quantified specific behavior responses at discrete times from the neonatal period to training as 2-year-olds. The data on post-parturient mare and neonatal foal behavior have been previously reported. An initial analysis of foal behavior during routine haltering procedures at 1 month of age showed there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the intensive handling and control group foals as assessed by 3 blinded observers, ranking all treatment and control subjects on overall compliance. A parallel assessment on compliance of foals with specific handling procedures completed at 3-months of age also
showed no significant difference (p<0.05) between the handled and control subjects. Correlation of the rankings between the observers of the foals at haltering was higher than the correlation of the rankings between the observers of the foals at 3-month handling (different observers for each procedure). This suggests either poorer validity of the endpoints used to determine rank by the latter group of observers or an inherent greater difficulty in assessing behavior during multiple and more complex handling procedures. Data analysis on the specific behaviors observed during haltering, 3-month handling, and 2-year-old routine training is in progress. Analysis of the data from specific developmental behavior observations of foals from 4-8 weeks of age is likewise in progress.The foals at haltering, 3-month handling, and 2-year-old training were subjectively assessed by the single, blinded, experienced horseperson who performed the majority of these post-treatment procedures. In only 3
out of 8 opportunities handling the foals the handler correctly (greater than chance) named the foals as being early handled or control subjects. Thus there was no clear, subjective evidence that early handling increased compliance with later handling and training as would be assessed by the average experienced horseperson. The foals from both years were also subjects, as late yearlings, in a study looking at behavior during group concentrate feeding. There were significant differences in agonistic behaviors associated with the type of concentrate feeding system provided (3 treatments). In addition, sex and dam had a significant effect on frequency of agonistic behaviors performed. Comparing the results from the early handling study and this feeding behavior study, it is reasonable to believe that sex and genetics can as readily influence temperament and subsequent behavior during handling as can possibly a single exercise in intensive handling performed during a presumptive critical
period in learning.
Impacts
The early intensive handling procedure used in this study has been heavily marketed to the horse owning public, with a body of scientific literature now slowly evolving to examine the academic and practical basis for its claims. This study has provided information that 1) addresses ethological questions regarding early learning by the neonate and 2) informs scientific and lay audiences of the long-term outcomes in compliance with handling and training of early handled foals. Though some of the data is yet to be analyzed, results thus far indicate that the time and effort involved in the early handling procedure does not definitively result in improved compliance with later handling and training. Early handling may be misleading if reliance is placed on this procedure alone to increase the projected value of the foal either based on economics or improved welfare. Future work should be conducted to discover what, if any, true critical periods for learning may exist in
the neonate and young foal and determine best management and handling practices to improve rate, strength, and quality of learning over time.
Publications
- Kress, S., Diehl, N.K., Harpster, H., Varga, G. and Ralston, S. 2004. "Yearling Horse Ingestive Behavior and Social Interactions in Three Different Concentrate Feeding Systems." International Society for Applied Ethology 2004 Congress, August 3-7, Helsinki, Finland. p.79
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Our group has completed most of the live animal work in this study comparing a group of early intensively handled foals (treatment group) with full-sibling, non-intensively handled foals (control group). Following a strict regimen performed on the treatment group foals at birth meant to habituate them to various human handling procedures, or minimal handling for control group foals, we are quantifying specific behavior responses at discrete times from the neonatal period to training as two year olds. The 2001 and 2002 foaling seasons resulted in 8 pairs of full sibling foals in which parturition was observed. All 16 subjects have completed the post-foaling Intensive Handling or Control procedures, 1-month halter breaking, 3-4 month handling protocol, and field observations of developmental behavior. The 2001 foals have completed their 2-year-old training sessions and the 2002 foals will complete this final portion of the study during spring of 2004. The data on
post-parturient mare and neonatal foal behavior have been previously reported. This portion of the study showed that although several specific endpoints differed between the Control and Intensive Handling group mares and foals there were no apparent clinical effects on recognition between the mare and foal and viability of the foal with regards to progression towards nursing. With regards to foal behavior during routine haltering procedures at 1 month of age, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the Intensive Handling and Control group foals in a test of blinded observers' rankings of the foals' compliance. Complete behavior recording and analysis on the compliance of foals with haltering and 3-month handling procedures is in progress. Complete behavior recording and analysis of specific developmental behaviors of foals from 4-8 weeks of age is likewise in progress. Data for the 2-year-olds' compliance with training procedures will be completed after the 2002 foals
have finished that portion of the study in spring 2004. An additional study on late gestation mares was completed in support of this project. During the 2002 foaling season the mares were monitored for normal anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics during their last 15 days of gestation. In summary, the following significant characteristics were observed in these late gestation mares delivering normal, term foals: 1) Mares changed their behavioral state between standing and walking more frequently in the last 1-2 days of gestation. 2) Maternal heart rate increased during late gestation from 54 beats per minute 15 days prior to parturition to 63 beats per minute on the day before parturition. 3) Mammary gland parenchymal tissue thickness increased 34 to 40% (depending upon the location of measurement) over the last 15 days of gestation. 4) Normal mares exposed to normal exercise schedules developed ventral edema without evidence of clinical problems.
Impacts
The early intensive handling procedure used in this study has been heavily marketed to the horse owning public, with a body of scientific literature now slowly evolving to examine the academic and practical basis for its claims. This study will provide information that addresses the ethological question of early learning by the neonate as well as inform the scientific and lay audience of potential animal welfare benefits or concerns. The data yet to be completed on foal compliance with handling procedures will allow us to determine if the early intensive handling results in a long term training benefit. The data and reference ranges for the changes observed over the last 15 days of gestation in mares delivering normal, term foals fill a void in the scientific literature surrounding the health of late gestation mares. Such a biophysical profile can be used by academic, professional, and lay members of the horse industry to assess the health of the mare and the
viability of the fetus as well as aid in the early detection of "at risk" pregnancies.
Publications
- Egan, B.A., Diehl, N.K., Bryan, K.A., Swinker, A.M., O'Connor, M.L. 2003. Behavioral, anatomical, and physiological changes in the late gestation mare. M. S. Thesis. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 75 pp.
- Egan, B.A., Diehl, N.K., Bryan, K.A., Swinker, A.M., Tozer, P.R., O'Connor, M.L. 2003. Behavioral, anatomical, and physiological changes in the late gestation mare. Proceedings of the 18th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium, East Lansing, MI. June 4-7, pp 61-62.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
The 2001 and 2002 foaling seasons resulted in 8 pairs of full sibling foals in which parturition was observed. These 16 subjects have completed the post-foaling Intensive Handling or Control procedures, 1-month halter breaking, 3-4 month handling protocol, and field observations of developmental behavior. The behavior endpoints associated with immediate post-foaling foal behavior and mare-foal interactions have been analyzed. There were no apparent adverse health effects of the intensive handling procedure. The duration to complete the intensive handling procedure was from 38 to 66 minutes. The mares, unrestrained while the foals were handled, did not interfere with the completion of the procedure. All mares licked and sniffed their foals and vocalized apparently towards their foals. Most mares investigated fetal membranes or fluids on the floor of the stall. Only one mare showed aggression towards the handler or towards the horse in the adjacent stall. Aggression by
the mare towards the foal was infrequent, of low intensity, and was not observed in every mare. Overt mare avoidance of the foal without aggression was low. Attention paid to the handler by mares or foals was not seen in all subjects but was more frequent in the Intensive Handling group likely due to increased opportunity as a function of the design of the study. All foals vocalized. Most foals exhibited teat-seeking behavior directed at the wall, the air, and themselves prior to approaching the mare. The Intensive Handling group mares spent a significantly (p<0.05) decreased time eating and drinking and a significantly greater time sniffing their foals compared to the Control group mares. The Intensive Handling group foals had a significantly longer latency to first stand, however there was no significant difference between the two groups in the latency to first nurse. This portion of the study showed that although several specific endpoints differed between the Control and Intensive
Handling group mares and foals there were no apparent clinical effects on recognition between the mare and foal and viability of the foal with regards to progression towards nursing. Individual variation in the normal range of behaviors of mares and foals as well as the robust nature of certain behaviors regardless of moderate levels of intervention could both account for a failure to find greater differences between the groups. Preliminary results have been determined for the foals' compliance with the halter breaking procedure completed at 1 month of age. Three blinded observers independently ranked all of the foals in the study on compliance using videotaped recordings of the procedure. A Wilcoxon Rank Sum test showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in compliance between the Intensive Handling and Control group foals based upon the observers' rankings. During spring of 2003, the foals born in 2001 will be evaluated as 2-year-olds for compliance with routine training
procedures.
Impacts
The early intensive handling procedure used in this study has been heavily marketed to the horse owning public. This study is a comprehensive evaluation of the potential effects of this handling procedure on important elements of normal behavior of foals and their later compliance with training procedures. Several other studies have been published on early intensive handling but they have not carried out the procedure immediately after delivery, prior to the foal nursing. The timing of this procedure and requisite restraint of the foal raise many questions: academic questions regarding the type of learning undergone by the foal at this time and practical concerns regarding the potential for health risks to the foal, particularly due to delay in nursing. This study did not show a problematic slowing of the foal's normal progression toward standing, nursing, and ingestion of colostral antibodies. However, the handler, experienced with foals, found subjectively that the
foals showed strong resistance to the procedure, which often appeared non-specific and more in response to restraint rather than to specific elements of the handling process. Horse owners, particularly those inexperienced with foals, should be aware of the potential high level of resistance they will encounter and continue to be vigilant that the foal makes normal progress toward standing and nursing. Continued analysis of the data from observations of the foals during later handling procedures will allow us to determine if the early intensive handling results in a longer-term training benefit.
Publications
- Diehl, N.K., Egan, B. and Tozer, P. 2002. Intensive, Early Handling of Neonatal Foals: Mare-Foal Interactions. Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Workshop on Horse Behavior and Welfare, June 13-16, Holar Agricultural College, Holar, Iceland. pp. 40-46.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
We are in the midst of a multi-year study, comparing a group of early intensively handled foals (treatment group) with full-sibling, non-intensively handled foals (control group). Following either intensive desensitization and sensitization procedures performed on the treatment group foals at birth, or minimal handling for control group foals, we are quantifying specific behavior responses at discrete times from the neonatal period to training as two year olds. Data have been completed on nine foals born in 2001, including measures of blood IgG concentrations, mare-foal interactions, compliance with halter-breaking, compliance with specific handling procedures, and social/developmental behavior with herd-mates. Like data from foals born in 2002 will be added to the 2001 data for statistical analysis. In Spring 2003 we will begin making observations on the 2001 foals on compliance with specific training procedures.
Impacts
Intensive early handling techniques are part of a trend towards seeking the most humane ways to handle horses. This study will be part of a slowly growing body of work to critically evaluate intensive early handling in the foal, address some basic questions regarding developmental behavior of the foal, and in addition will have a broader impact on people in the breeding industry, helping them make a more informed decision regarding institution of this procedure.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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