Mare and Foal Bonding and Problems.pdfVIP

Mare and Foal Bonding and Problems Elkanah H. Grogan, BS, and Sue M. McDonnell, PhD A number of specific behavioral responses have been identified in mares and foals as the presumed behavioral interactive sequences supporting bonding. With the exception of the severely physically compromised foal, most failures of the mare foal bond appear to result from inadequate behavior of the mare. Six distinct forms of maternal behavior problems include ambivalence of the mare toward her foal, fear of the foal, nursing only avoidance of the foal, extreme protectiveness of the foal that becomes problematic in domestic confine- ment, savage attack (true rejection), and stealing or adoption of an alien foal. Management of maternal behavior problem cases in which the pair cannot be salvaged include foster (or nurse mares) and hand-rearing methods. Also presented are current practical resources related to managing certain types of inadequate maternal behavior and for rearing the orphaned foal. Clin Tech Equine Pract 4:228-237 © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS Equine, bonding, behavior, mare, neonatal, foal, inadequate maternal behavior, orphan foal, nurse or foster mare 1 roblems with maternal behavior and mare–foal bonding, than 1%. Attention to the foal during and immediately after Palthough relatively rare, typically require rapid assess- delivery includes nuzzling, licking, scraping with teeth, ment and decisions regarding whether or not to attempt to