The Science of Hair Whorls and Laterality Part 4, The Nature Side of Nature/Nurture Early Experience, A Non-Intrusive Neonatal Handling Method

Over twenty years, I developed and practiced a non-intrusive neonatal handling procedure on my foals with positive results. This summary is reprinted from Chapter 7, “Genetics and Horse Behavior (Equus caballus)” in “Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals” (2014) Editors Temple Grandin and Mark J. Deesing.

A non-intrusive neonatal handling procedure

Immediately following birth and before the foal stands up, I apply an antiseptic to its umbilical stump. Application of the antiseptic is the only handling the foal receives in the first few postnatal days. The foal gets no more attention or handling—instead, I concentrate my daily attention on the mare and show the foal complete indifference, including no eye contact. These procedures are conducted on pasture or in a large paddock where the mare and foal are housed and not confined in a stall. Each day following the foal’s birth, I spend a few minutes grooming the mare and feeding her carrots, but only when the mare approaches me willingly. As I care for the mare, the foal becomes interested in the attention given to its mother, walks around, and watches me from one side of the mare to the other. At first, the foal is hesitant to get too close, but usually, within a day or two, it moves closer and closer. Before long, the foal begins to sniff, then nuzzles me while I attend to the mare. When this happens, I continue to behave as if the foal is not there, showing complete indifference until I feel the foal is completely comfortable in my presence. After the foal approaches me several times over several days and stands close by while I care for the mare, I reach out and touch the foal for the first time. The first touch on the neck or back is brief. I gauge the reaction of the foal and then walk away. If the foal reacts to my touch and moves away, I know not to touch it again until it has spent more time standing close by and investigating me. If the foal does not react to my first touch, I know I can touch it more next time. I learned the importance of not hurrying the first touch. When the first touch is done this way, the foal allows more frequent and direct touching each day and in subsequent days. At this early stage, any forced contact results in a foal that avoids subsequent contact. I also use the position of the hair whorl as a preliminary guide toward assessing when to touch and which side (left or right) to attempt the first touch. If the hair whorl is on the left side of the face, I make the first touch on the right side., and visa versa. If the horse has double hair whorls (side by side), one whorl is usually higher, so I touch on the lower whorl side.

Supporting evidence is provided in a study by Severine Henry et al. (2006). They found that forced stroking and handling of foals early in life did not improve the foal-human relationship (Outlined in the previous section of this series). In an earlier study, Severine Henry, et al. (2005) also found that softly brushing and feeding mares by hand positively affected foal behavior. (I began to develop my procedure starting in 1998).

I practice my procedure similarly on all his foals. Even so, differences are apparent in the time it takes for the foals to touch or accept being touched by him. Some foals are fearful and take several days to get close enough to touch, while others touch, smell, and nuzzle him on the very first day. The hair whorl position accurately predicts first contact time. In the beginning, he avoids touching them on the head or face. Foals and horses are more protective of their heads than other parts of their bodies. Protection of the head is especially evident in reactive foals. To prevent negative reactions, I’m careful not to touch the head or face too quickly. Habituation to being touched on all body parts, including the head, takes more time in the reactive/high-fear foals compared to the low-reactive/low-fear foals.

After the foal allows me to touch different parts of its body, I scratch and rub it on the belly and around the top of the tail. In my experience, foals find this rewarding and particularly like to be stroked and scratched on these areas of the body. However, too much stroking and scratching may cause some foals to become pushy and begin to seek more and more of this attention. Attention-seeking occurs sooner in less reactive foals and later in more reactive foals. However, when a foal starts to push on me, seeking attention, I gently push them away or walk away. This step is similar to how some mares behave toward their foal if the mare is busy grazing and doesn’t want the foal to nurse. If foals get too rowdy or demanding, she might swish her tail, threaten, or walk away. I have found that handling foals this way teaches them to respect my space, and they also learn that seeking too much attention is unacceptable. As tempting as it is to love on the foals and shower them with attention, this can negatively affect behavior as they age. The bond that forms is based on trust and respect.

Simple Summary

The foal MUST initiate first contact. Applying an antiseptic to the navel stump must be done immediately after birth and before the foal stands and begins to nurse. In my experience, foals take 10 to 30 minutes to stand and gain their balance. (No scientific evidence shows precisely when the foal has fully developed sensory capacity or can experience the emotion of fear). After 30 minutes, the foal can stand with coordination and run if the mare feels threatened. If I miss the birthing process and cannot dip the navel stump with antiseptic while the foal is lying on the ground before standing, I forgo the antiseptic dip. I may get criticized for this, but the risk of any forced handling after the foal stands overrides my concern about an infection occurring to the navel stump. In case I miss the birth, as a preventative measure, I always ensure the birthing stall is clean and fresh straw is changed daily before the expected delivery date. I also visually inspect the naval stump for signs of infection for the first few days and intervene by forcefully catching the foal for treatment if necessary. Besides, mares have been delivering foals without medical interventions for millions of years; seeking a clean environment for this process is something the mare may do on her own under natural conditions.

In Chapter 7, subsequent sections focus on Factors Affecting Attachment to Humans, Mare Behavior and Human Behavior Influence Foal Behavior, Serotonin Genes and Maternal Behavior, Training Foals to Accept Handling, Wearing a Halter and Hoof Handling, and Subtle Individual Differences, and More Factors Affecting Bonding with Humans. I offer a digital version of Chapter 7 for a nominal handling fee. Contact by e-mail: ontheranch1@msn.com for details.