Horse Welfare, Laterality, Hair Whorls & Cognitive Bias-Early Experience: Wearing a Halter Hoof Handling

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 the mare’s presence and only for a few moments each time, gradually touching and rubbing all body areas, including the legs and feet, and the underside of the belly, under the dock of the tail, around the anus, the sides of the vulva in fillies, and the testicles and sheath area covering the penis in colts, head, ears, lips, and nose. It only takes a few seconds in these areas, and I repeat it periodically for the first month and throughout adolescence. By doing this, I usually find each animal’s “secret” spot they respond to most positively with signs of pleasure, quivering lips, and head rotations. The most common “secret” spot is just under the tail dock. It’s soft as silk, and the foal (or horse) only allows people to caress the area if they completely trust you. (Everyone understands the importance of cleaning the sheath in male horses, but no one ever mentions the same for the vulva and vagina in females. Bacterial overloads challenge the immune system and divert resources from other essential bodily functions, such as weight gain, reproduction, digestion, skin, hair coat, etc., contributing to poor health and welfare. Combine this with psychological stress, i.e., fear, especially in the young foal, makes the weaning process more stressful and delays the transition into the post-weaning phase.) Cleaning the private parts of a horse comes with a price, though, stinky fingers. Make sure to have clean hands or gloves to prevent introducing novel bacteria into these sensitive areas. I usually went commando and never noticed any difference, but the choice is yours.

The mares lick this area in foals, and puppies get the same treatment from bitch dogs by nature/instinct for sanitary reasons but usually stop after the foal starts to consume roughage and the consistency of the stool firms. For the foal, it may feel like diaper rash, and the foal may interpret the relief provided by mom as an expression of affection that may transfer to and strengthen the human/foal bond.

By never using force and allowing the foal to initiate contact, the foal perceives all handling positively and rewardingly. I teach the foal to accept a halter beginning during this time, but long before haltering the foal for the first time. As part of his weekly handling, each time, I put my arm over the foal’s neck for a moment and gently pull it against his body in a “hug-like” position. If the foal resists, I let it go. Each time I do this, the foal is more likely to accept it because no force was used. I use a calm, soothing voice and firm but gentle pressure to hold the foal when I hold them. During the hug, I put my free hand on the bridge of the nose, moving it up and down the face. I also place my free hand around and behind the ears. These movements simulate the movements of fitting a halter. I hold the foal longer after several short hugs over a few days. Soon, the foal completely accepts gentle restraint (hugs) without showing any signs of fear. Fear is evident if the foal suddenly raises its head, tightens its muscles, or widens its eyes. However, the foal may try to pull away at some point, not because of fear but because it wants to do something else. When this happens, I hold more firmly, for only a few seconds at first and then for a few minutes. If I see any signs of fear, I let go. Providing a situation that allows the foal to predict what is happening gives it a feeling that it has some control over the situation. A loss of control provokes fear. Habituation to gentle restraint can occur rapidly when fear inhibition is not initiated.

After the foal accepts being touched all over and held in the hug position for haltering, it is time to introduce the halter. I approach the foal in the same manner as before, but I carry a halter tucked into my belt behind me so the foal doesn’t see me carrying a novel object, which may cause fear. With the halter tucked into my belt, I get the foal into the hug position, then I slowly pull the halter from my belt using my free hand and gently slide it up the foal’s nose. If the foal resists and pulls away, I let go, remembering never to use force when introducing anything new. If the foal does not resist, I slowly slide the halter up and down the nose a few times until the foal begins to show indifference. I then bring the halter up the nose and simulate the movements to buckle it before buckling it for the first time. After the foal accepts this, I buckle the halter, have the foal wear it for a few minutes, and then take it off. Whenever I handle the foal, I follow the same pattern: hugging with an arm over the neck, then sliding the halter on. The foal usually takes only a few minutes each day to accept wearing a halter. It doesn’t matter how often the handling is done weekly; consistency is more important. Always do it the same way so the foal learns to predict what is happening.

The next step is to teach the foal to lead with a halter and lead rope. Once the foal is habituated to handling and will accept a halter, I clip a lead rope onto the halter. The foal must see and associate the lead rope with the halter, but learning to lead comes later. Holding the lead rope loosely, I stand next to the foal and teach it to accept having its legs and feet handled. Starting with a front leg, I slide a hand down the leg and try to get the foal to flex the knee. If the foal refuses and pulls away, I let it. When the foal settles down, I approach the front leg again, slide a hand down the leg and try to flex the knee again. By not using force the first time, the foal does not associate having the leg handled as something to be afraid of and subsequently avoid. Once the leg is flexed and held momentarily, I move on to the next. Each leg is handled the same way, never using force. (I always start leg and hoof handling on the opposite side of the hair whorl.) The foal wears the halter with the lead rope attached throughout this process as I hold it with one hand. Slowly, I pull the foal’s head slightly toward the side of the body where I stand, using the halter and lead rope to get the foal to watch as I run my hand down the leg. The first pressure the foal feels from the halter and lead rope is simply turning its head as I hold a foot. When picking the feet up for the first time, the foal must be standing square with its feet squarely under its body in a balanced position not to throw it off balance when lifting a single leg off the ground.

The pictures are my “abnormal whorl” colt Jim. He was the most peculiar horse I ever owned! Before and after.

Next time, leading lessons. Don’t forget to FOLLOW.