Sue McDonnell, PhD, Certified AAB
Sue M. McDonnell, PhD, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, is the founding head of the Equine Behavior Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. McDonnell is the author of Understanding Horse Behavior, published by The Blood-Horse Inc., which is available at www.exclusivelyequine.com or by calling 800/582-5604.
Articles by Sue McDonnell
Spinning and Twirling Behavior
June 19, 2013
Could a horse who loves spinning things be autistic? Read More
Common Senior Horse Behavior Problems
June 12, 2013
What is the most common behavior problem or case you see in aging horses? Read More
Older Creature Comforts
June 06, 2013
I'm concerned about my senior horse's mental happiness. How can I keep him comfortable and happy? Read More
Safe Horse Handling for Vet Visits
May 09, 2013
What's the best way to handle a horse so he remains calm and well-behaved during vet and farrier visits? Read More
Castrated and Confused
April 04, 2013
Is it normal to have a gelding burro, not just mount, but actually try to mate with a jenny? Read More
Stall Walking
March 28, 2013
I just bought a mare only to find out she is a stall walker. Is there a fix for stall walkers? Read More
Lonely Filly
March 21, 2013
My filly lives in a pasture alone because the older horses try to hurt her. Does this hurt her social skills? Read More
Overprotective Mother
March 14, 2013
How can I check on a foal to make sure he's thriving without being in danger with the protective mare? Read More
Are Humans Threatening During Foaling?
March 07, 2013
How does the presence of humans affect the mare just prior to giving birth? Read More
Water Site Marking
February 07, 2013
My mare poops in her automatic waterer when she's stalled. What can we do? Read More
Shaping Orphan Behavior
January 01, 2013
What sort of behavior problems would an orphan foal develop? Read More
First-Time Traveler
December 06, 2012
How do you keep a spooky horse calm during long-distance transportation? Read More
Gelding Aggression
December 03, 2012
Are there behavior modifications we could try or training methods to deal with our gelding's aggression? Read More
Incessant Licking
October 01, 2012
I have a very athletic 10-year-old, 17-hand Warmblood gelding who is very well-behaved. He doesn't bite, doesn Read More
So, You Want to be an Equine Behaviorist
October 01, 2012
I am extremely interested in becoming an equine behaviorist. I want to know more about how to go about pursuin Read More
Mouthy Mystery
October 01, 2012
When my friend rides her Thoroughbred gelding in the arena, after doing several side passes over and over agai Read More
Stall Rest Suggestions
September 01, 2012
I have a horse that is on stall rest while recovering from a fractured humeru Read More
On Stall Rest and Low Spirits
September 01, 2012
What can I do to keep my horse's spirits up while he's on stall rest? Rather than becoming agitated, he seems Read More
Signs of Equine Dementia
July 01, 2012
Old horses might suffer from some of the age-related structural brain changes that occur in other species. Read More
Soothing Painful Equine Patients
July 01, 2012
What would you recommend for a horse with burns so severe the skin is sloughi Read More
Equine Intermale Play
July 01, 2012
We have two males living together for the first time in the same pasture. One Read More
Stall Kicking Solutions
June 01, 2012
Dr. Sue McDonnell helps a reader whose horse has developed a stall kicking problem. Read More
Training for Tight Spaces
April 01, 2012
Behavior question about getting horses used to standing in tight spaces. Read More
Stallionlike Communication
April 01, 2012
My husband and I trail ride frequently, and we both ride geldings. When my horse defecates his horse will walk Read More
Is Cribbing A Disease?
April 01, 2012
I have a horse that is a cribber. To make both our lives easier, I've deci Read More
