Anytime I have heard people talking about imprinting foals, I only hear good things. Like how it will better prepare the foal for later positive human interaction. According to a new study done in France, imprinting may actually cause negative effects for the foal.
A team of behavioral biologists took two groups of foals, one that they chose to imprint and one to use as a control. The results actually showed that imprinting really isn't all that effective. The research actually showed that foals that had been handled soon after birth actually stayed closer to their dams and were more cautious about their surroundings. The handled foals were also less prone to play and interact with the other foals and didn't separate from their mothers well compared to the group of control foals.
This study shows that foals seem to remember for the long term what happens very soon after the birth. Whatever your stand is on this issue it is important to know that whether or not you choose to imprint your foals, positive contact with the mother is a great way to indirectly show the foal a positive horse-human interaction. No intervention can ever replace the natural post birth events between mother and foal.
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