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
Reactions to Other Species
February 01, 2002
This might be a bit off the wall, but I hope you can help. We have had horses here at our farm off and on over the years. Since all of the kids moved out and took their horses a couple of years ago, our barn has been empty. Just recently we Read More
Abnormal Responses to Handling
February 01, 2002
I have a 9-month-old Thoroughbred filly we got when she was three months old. The breeder told us that she had been orphaned and was bottle- and bucket-fed. They warned me that she was a bit over-friendly, and that I should stand my ground Read More
How Smart is He? The Thinking Horse
December 01, 2001
I am writing a paper in my agricultural ethics class on the treatment of horses, and one of my discussions deals with the equality of horses to humans. My roommate and I were debating if horses have the Read More
Foaling Location
November 05, 2001
I swear our mare is trying to drive us nuts. She is a 10-year-old Connemara that we have had since she was four. She is due to have a foal--actually, overdue. She has all the signs, and each night for the last week, just about dusk, she Read More
Stallion Sexual Behavior: When Is He Mature?
November 01, 2001
How young is too young to breed a colt? We have a coming 2-year-old who acts like he is ready to breed. We don't have any horses to breed to him, but the question came up for discussion last night among a group of guys. This colt was out Read More
More on Panic Attacks
October 01, 2001
Readers Respond
August's Behavior column (article #914) sparked heated debate about euthanasia for horses with incurable panic attacks. This month we feature two readers' responses and the author's comments.
It was a Read More
Retraining a Rebellious Colt
September 01, 2001
We recently had a foal who is now one month old. His mother has always been easy to handle in the cross ties or harness (she is a 20-year-old retired Standardbred), but is not a horse which can be caught easily in the pasture, and she isn't Read More
Unpredictable Fear
August 01, 2001
I have inherited a mare that no one wants because every once in a while she spooks and bolts, big time, without warning. No one has ever been able to figure out for sure what sets her off. But she can go from normal one second to a serious Read More
Physical or Psychological?
June 01, 2001
A little over two years ago, we acquired a lovely Irish Draught mare, Colleen, from neighbors who were retiring and selling their place. This mare had been their family pleasure horse for many years. After their kids outgrew her, Colleen Read More
Enjoying Veterinary Visits
June 01, 2001
In our referral equine behavior practice, we frequently rehabilitate horses perceived to be uncooperative with one or more veterinary procedures such as injections, nasogastric tubing, genital examination, etc. We have found that straightforward Read More
Rushing Out of Trailers
June 01, 2001
One of our horses has a problem with unloading from a trailer. He bolts out of the back as soon as we start to open the back gate, often before we can undo the butt bar. He has done this since we got him over a year ago. He loads and rides Read More
Naughty Or Natural?
June 01, 2001
I have a little problem with my horse. My uncle is a veterinarian. He knows the behavior happens in other horses, too. He suggested that I tell you about the problem and see if you have ever seen such a rude habit and if you know whether it Read More
One-Horse Property?
June 01, 2001
I am in the process of relocating from Indiana to Pennsylvania. I planned to move my retired 21-year-old Quarter Horse gelding as soon as I could find a property with enough space to keep him at home. I was shocked to hear my realtor in Read More
Happy And Unhappy Horses at Home
June 01, 2001
A couple of "horsy" friends and I were trying to figure out why some of the facilities where we have boarded seem to really be upsetting to our horses. Has any research been done regarding the "likes and dislikes" of horses regarding their Read More
Mare Savages Foal
June 01, 2001
Mares which unpredictably savage a foal in this manner typically savage again if given the opportunity, either with a surviving target foal or with subsequent foals. Read More
Managing Mouthiness
April 01, 2001
My gelding Trenton is about 12 years old, and I have owned him for only a month. The first time I met him, he bit my arm very badly. I have stopped this behavior, but he continually mouths me -- my head, my clothes, Read More
Stallion Libido
March 01, 2001
I have a breeding problem with my 13-year-old Quarter Horse stallion. He has tremendous bloodlines. He has four or five foals on the ground, so I know that he is not infertile. But recently I leased him to a friend out of state to use. He Read More
Water Temperature and Drinking Behavior
February 01, 2001
A few years ago I read an article describing research done at New Bolton Center on drinking behavior. It said that the research showed that in winter, horses prefer to drink warm water rather than ice cold water, and as a result veterinarian Read More
Bizarre Behavior
January 01, 2001
We have a new problem with our old family pony. Pokey is a Shetland gelding that we have had since our first of five daughters was five years old. We figured he was about 10 years old in 1978 when we got him, so he is now just over 30. Pokey Read More
Foal Eats Manure
January 01, 2001
One quick question. What about our foals that eat manure? Why do they do it? I find it completely disgusting. My little filly paws and chows down mouthfuls of fresh, warm poop.
Terry
Read More
Till Death Do Us Part
January 01, 2001
My mare Gabriella has lived in the same pasture for about seven years with an old gelding named Bear. We took Bear specifically as a babysitter for Gabby when she came to us as a weanling. Bear and Gabby hit it off immediately and have been Read More
Rolling Along
January 01, 2001
Dear Dr. McDonnell,
Almost every time I let my horses out of the stalls after feeding them, they roll in the dirt, dust, o Read More
Ground Work
January 01, 2001
Dear Dr. McDonnell,
I am a 12-year-old girl who recently got a 14-year-old Quarter Horse. She is a doll, but there is just Read More
Teeth Grinding
January 01, 2001
What does teeth grinding mean? I think there is a horse in our barn that does it sometimes. Read More
Horse Play
January 01, 2001
I have a report to do for science class on animal behavior (middle school, fifth grade). My teacher, Mr. Brennan, said to pick a favorite animal species and a favorite type of behavior. My favorite animals are wild horses, and my Read More
