# Effects of Social Interactions and Foundational Training on Behavior, Temperament, and Hormone Levels in Weanling Horses

## TL;DR

This study shows how social interactions and training affect young horses' behavior, temperament, and stress hormones, emphasizing the role of skilled handlers in their development.

## Contribution

The study reveals how handler skill influences equine behavior and hormonal balance during early development.

## Key findings

- Affiliative behaviors decreased, while agonistic behaviors initially increased and then decreased.
- Cortisol levels declined steadily, indicating adaptation, while oxytocin levels remained stable.
- Handler proficiency significantly affected fearfulness, confidence, and hormone levels in foals.

## Abstract

Young horses undergo important physiological and behavioral changes during early development, and their social environment and training influence these processes. In this study, we monitored weaned foals for three months to examine how herd interactions and basic training affected their behavior, temperament, and hormone levels. We found that affiliative behaviors decreased, whereas agonistic behaviors initially increased and subsequently decreased. Cortisol levels steadily declined, indicating adaptation to the environment, while oxytocin levels remained stable. Cortisol was associated with affiliative behavior and with temperament traits including fearfulness and stubbornness, while oxytocin was linked to affiliative behavior and the temperament trait of friendliness. Importantly, the proficiency of the handler influenced fearfulness, stubbornness, confidence, friendliness, and cortisol levels. These findings highlight the importance of early social experiences and skilled handling in supporting the positive development of young horses.

Horses are social animals, with early life experiences playing a crucial role in their physiological and behavioral development. This study explored the influence of herd dynamics and foundational training on behavioral and hormonal changes in weaned foals. We examined 13 six-month-old Quarter Horse foals over a three-month training period, performing behavioral observations, temperament assessments, and hormone analyses at the start, midpoint, and end of the training. The results indicated that affiliative behaviors decreased significantly, while agonistic behaviors first increased and then decreased. Cortisol levels consistently declined throughout this study, whereas oxytocin levels remained stable. Linear regression analysis showed that cortisol was positively associated with affiliative behaviors and influenced by fearfulness and stubbornness. Conversely, oxytocin was positively associated with friendliness. The handlers’ proficiency significantly affected the foals’ outcomes; those managed by more skilled handlers exhibited significant improvements in confidence, friendliness, and reductions in cortisol, fearfulness, and stubbornness. These findings suggest the importance of handler skill in influencing equine behavior and hormonal balance. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the significant impacts of socialization and training on the behavioral, temperamental, and hormonal profiles of weaned foals, confirming the importance of handler expertise in fostering desirable traits in young horses.