The influence of handling during different ages on a halter training test in foals

Ten foals were used to determine effects of handling during different ages on their ability to perform a halter training test. Early-handled (EH) foals (n = 5) were handled in 10 min sessions 5 days weekly from 24 h after birth until 42 days of age, then were not handled from 43 to 84 days of age. Later-handled (LH) foals (n = 5) were not handled from birth to 42 days of age, then were handled in 10-min sessions 5 days weekly from 43 to 84 days of age. At 85 days of age, each foal was subjected to a 10-min halter training test for 5 consecutive days. The test consisted of an unfamiliar handler placing a halter on each foal and attempting to make the foal walk forward for 20 m. Data recorded during each day of the halter training were duration of initial struggle, number of lunges into the air, time to first forward step, time to five consecutive forward steps, and time to travel 20 m. At the end of the 5 day halter training test, the handler assigned a subjective test rating score to each foal based on ease of training. Split-plot analysis indicated that EH foals took less time (P < 0.05) to take one step forward, five consecutive steps forward, and to travel 20 m than LH foals. One-way ANOVA indicated that EH foals had a lower (more desirable) test ratings than LH foals (P < 0.01). Results indicate that handling throughout the first 42 days of life increased foal performance on this halter training task compared to handling from 43 to 84 days of age. These results may imply the existence of a critical handling period during the first 42 days of age or a phenomenon similar to learned helplessness.