Science News
MRI scans show weaning horses at 6 months (the standard practice) significantly alters the foals' brains 🧠. A longer connection to moms 🐴 leads to healthier brains and better eating habits 🍽️. Read Full Article #HorseHealth #FoalDevelopment #WeaningResearch…
🐴 New study reveals that weaning foals at the industry standard of six months may be cruel, negatively impacting their brain development and emotional regulation.
🧠 Advanced MRI technology used on 24 Welsh foals by INRAE researchers in France showed that foals allowed to stay with their mothers until around one year old exhibited better maturation in critical brain regions like the amygdala and hypothalamus, and developed a more robust Default Mode Network (DMN).
⚖️ Separated foals, despite eating more, gained less weight due to higher cortisol levels (stress hormone), while mother-raised foals had more energy for growth and brain development, evidenced by higher levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
💡 The mother's presence acts as a crucial tool for allostasis, allowing the foal's brain to build predictive models and signaling safety, whereas early separation forces the young brain into survival mode.
#EquineHealth #AnimalWelfare #ScienceNews
🧠 Advanced MRI technology used on 24 Welsh foals by INRAE researchers in France showed that foals allowed to stay with their mothers until around one year old exhibited better maturation in critical brain regions like the amygdala and hypothalamus, and developed a more robust Default Mode Network (DMN).
⚖️ Separated foals, despite eating more, gained less weight due to higher cortisol levels (stress hormone), while mother-raised foals had more energy for growth and brain development, evidenced by higher levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
💡 The mother's presence acts as a crucial tool for allostasis, allowing the foal's brain to build predictive models and signaling safety, whereas early separation forces the young brain into survival mode.
#EquineHealth #AnimalWelfare #ScienceNews
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Science News
Horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age, or breed but also systematically linked to how they are housed, ridden, and cared for, and to the quality of the horse–owner relationship. Findings underscore the importance of everyday management decisions…
🐴 Study shows horse personality is shaped by housing, care, and owner relationships, not just genetics.
🐴 Daily management decisions like social housing and quality time with owners significantly influence a horse's personality and well-being.
🐴 Horses with long-term owners (10+ years) and those ridden frequently (4-7 times/week) exhibit higher sociability and calmness.
🐴 Solitary housing is linked to lower Horse Sociability scores, highlighting the importance of social environments for horses.
#HorseWelfare #EquineHealth #AnimalBehavior
🐴 Daily management decisions like social housing and quality time with owners significantly influence a horse's personality and well-being.
🐴 Horses with long-term owners (10+ years) and those ridden frequently (4-7 times/week) exhibit higher sociability and calmness.
🐴 Solitary housing is linked to lower Horse Sociability scores, highlighting the importance of social environments for horses.
#HorseWelfare #EquineHealth #AnimalBehavior
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