Temporal dynamic of the mother-young bond in horses living in (semi) natural conditions

Abstract

In mammals, the mother-young relationship is a particular bond established from birth and evolves with time. In domestic horses (Equus caballus), this bond is disturbed after an abrupt separation between mares and foals is realized under artificial weaning at around six months of age. Few kinds of research have been done on the temporal dynamics of the mother-young bond after the first six-month of the foal’s age. In this study, an overview of the relationship between mares and foals under natural conditions was described from the bond’s creation until the separation between the two dyad members. A comparison between natural and artificial weaning will be discussed, and the consequences of realizing precocious weaning will be presented in this thesis. Then, the natural evolution of this bond between mares and foals from seven to ten months of age, and the impact of weaning on the dyad will be described in a study made in 2017 in Iceland. This study on Icelandic horses focused on the evolution of the spatial and social relationships of mares and foals and the progress of suckling episodes and associated behaviors. The results have shown slight variation in the mother-young behaviors and indicate that weaning realized under natural conditions does not affect this bond. Despite weaning, mare foals’ bond subsists and stays strong over time.