Are 6-month-old foals sensitive to dam's influence?
S Henry1, S Briefer, M-A Richard-Yris
1UMR CNRS 6552 Ethologie-Evolution-Ecologie, Université de Rennes 1, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France. severine.henry@univ-rennes1.fr
Developmental Psychobiology
|June 20, 2007
Summary
Mares gently handled near their foals positively influenced foal-human interactions. However, 6-month-old foals showed high individual differences, indicating their own behaviors became more dominant.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Equine ethology
- Human-animal interactions
Background:
- Early foal-human interactions are crucial for developing relationships.
- Maternal handling influences foal social development and responses to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if 6-month-old foals remain sensitive to their dam's experience with humans.
- To assess the long-term impact of maternal handling on foal-human interactions.
Main Methods:
- 16 foal-mare dyads were used, with half of the mares receiving positive human contact in their foal's presence.
- Foals were tested 15 and 30-35 days post-handling using reaction, approach, and tolerance tests.
- Interindividual variability in foal responses was recorded.
Main Results:
- Foals whose dams received positive handling showed improved reactions to humans.
- A high degree of interindividual variability in foal responses was observed.
- Foal's individual behavioral characteristics appeared to have a greater influence at 6 months than maternal handling.
Conclusions:
- Maternal influence on foal-human relationships may decrease by 6 months of age.
- Individual foal characteristics play a significant role in their interactions with humans at this developmental stage.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of early handling and individual variability.
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