Humane Cattle Pens, Custom Designs and Behavior Consulting
When I met Temple Grandin in 1993, she was trying to figure me out and what I learned from studying hair whorls and the behavior associated with the different hair whorl patterns. The language I used was not scientific because I was not a scientist yet. She was patient in her attempts to disseminate the […]
If a renowned expert on dog behavior suggested you kick your dog every time it misbehaved, would you? The expert advising this has a reputation and a considerable following; they should know what’s good for your dog even though your intuition says otherwise. Right? Suppose your intuitions override the advice offered, and you get criticized […]
“For crying out loud” This term is a euphemism for “For Christ’s Sake” [Colloquial; early 1900s], an exclamation of anger or frustration. Forgive my use of this colloquialism. Playing with words is my twisted sense of humor that helps me cope with frustration. Temple Grandin used to go cross-eyed when my twisted sense of humor […]
Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Research has found that seeing the glass is half full makes people happier, healthier, and wealthier. The optimist sees the glass as half full, while the pessimist sees the glass as half empty. Cognitive bias is the term used by researchers studying the brain processes that determine whether a […]
Part I Before I continue with Part 3 “HORSE WELFARE, LATERALITY, AND HAIR WHORLS & COGNITIVE BIAS, I want to get this out of the way. Several people have asked me about the confusing behavior of horses with abnormal whorls. As I wrote in a previous post, “HAIR WHORL POSITION AND LATERALITY (side preference) DEFINED,” […]
Note: Part I of this series, posted on August 12, 2023, under the title ABNORMAL HAIR WHORLS, is an introduction to this extended series. In the early 1990s, I got an invitation to meet with an animal behaviorist at Utah State University while seeking academic support for my ideas. I won’t name the scientist who […]
There are countless examples in the scientific literature of animals with genetic defects through inbreeding, exposure to environmental toxins, or many other factors causing brain abnormalities that affect behavior. In livestock animals, inbreeding, or what most people call purebred animals, have some of the worst defects. This effect is well-known in cattle, dogs, horses, pigs, […]
For those of you like me that grew up in the 1960s, you’ll remember the hilarious TV sitcom “Mister Ed” about a sober and sarcastic talking horse who only talked to his owner, a genial but somewhat klutzy architect named Wilbur Post, thus causing a variety of opportunities and frustrations for Mr.Post. I never missed […]
In part 3 of this series, I spelled out the Horse Behaviorist UT mantra— “first experiences are critical to forming future responses.” In this post, you’ll learn there’s no comparison to the contemporary practice of halter training between what I do and every trainer I know or have read about. Anyone with experience or who […]
The neonatal handling procedure I use can help reduce stress in foals at the weaning time by developing a robust human-foal relationship. As I discussed in part 4, the process begins very early and continues throughout the time the foal is with its dam. I handle the foal twice or more times a week in […]
