Recent News for Behavior & Handling
Article
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
Article
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
Article
AI Training For Stallions
February 01, 2001
Given the choice, a stallion wouldn't choose to mate with man-made devices. His instincts drive him to breed a mare; yet he can learn to transfer his sexual focus to a "phantom" mare and an artificial vagina (AV). In order to train a stallion fo... Read More
Article
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
Article
Imprinting Foals
January 01, 2001
Editor's Note: Nothing is without controversy, especially in the equine world. Some equine behaviorists question certain aspects of Dr. Miller's theories and practices, and their opinions regarding foal "imprint training" appear below.... Read More
Article
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 <P... Read More
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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
Article
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
Article
Pasture Feeding Aggression
January 01, 2001
My yearling colt came from a place where he was kept with a group of yearlings. All were fed their grain in buckets along a fence line, with the buckets hung on posts. I now have him in with one other yearling, a filly which I got at the sam... Read More
Article
Biter Gone Bad
January 01, 2001
We've been raising a Welsh pony for the kids. At about nine months of age, he started with constant nipping at your arm and the lead shank, kind of playing with you. We read on the Internet that this biting is a "colt thing," and that it... Read More
Article
Education: Human and Horse
January 01, 2001
The amazing versatility of horses can sometimes leave you in awe. A recent trip overseas brought that point home. In some places if the horse doesn’t work, the family doesn’t eat; in others horses cope with Molotov cocktails, terrorists, and... Read More
Article
Research: Mirrors Help Reduce Stress and Social Isolation
January 01, 2001
A research team at The Lincolnshire School of Agriculture, located near the town of Grantham in the English county of Lincolnshire, recently released the results of a study showing that horses are more content and relaxed if acrylic mirrors are... Read More
Article
Playful Rearing
December 01, 2000
We recently received an orphaned colt from a very reputable breeder friend who had neither the time nor facilities to raise the baby. We picked him up when he was five hours old, and he is now three weeks old. Health-wise he is doing fine. H... Read More
Article
Terrible or Tolerant? Training Horses for Vet Procedures
December 01, 2000
One of the most frustrating scenarios for horse owners and veterinarians is the horse that's hard to treat.... Read More
Article
Separation Anxiety In Horses
November 01, 2000
We have two riding mares and an older gelding that are together, either in the pasture or up in the shed, almost all of the time. We use the two mares just for occasional weekend pleasure riding. The gelding is aged and has a stifle problem. He... Read More
Article
Overcoming Obstacles Your Horse Fears
August 01, 2000
I have been enjoying a new horse for a couple of years. He is just great about everything, except crossing railroad tracks. It's so frustrating. He just will not cross. I have tried getting off and leading him across, even bribing him with... Read More
Article
MSPCA Prevention, And More
August 01, 2000
One goal of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for all animals in need. The group also is in the business of educating owners, and they specifically are working t... Read More
Article
Problem Behaviors in Pastures
June 01, 2000
I recently purchased a 4-year-old gelding. He is extremely aggressive toward my other gelding in the pasture, and I'm unable to turn them out together. I am able to turn the horse out with my pony mare and pony gelding, but he... Read More
Article
Calming Influences
May 01, 2000
Calming a Mustang Stud Last fall I adopted a wild mustang stud. It is my first horse. Should this guy be fixed? Will it calm his wild and spooky attitude? Can you tell me how you do it? I want to start training him this... Read More
Article
Mare Madness
April 01, 2000
I hear it all the time: "My mare is impossible whenever she is in heat, and, in fact, she's in heat most of the time!" or "Every time I want to do something with my mare, she's in heat; in fact, she was in heat for every single show last year!"... Read More
Article
Foal Handling And Restraint
March 01, 2000
This scenario is all too familiar to veterinarians; it seems like I hear it at least once a year: "I decided today would be a good day to teach my foal how to lead. We had just weaned her a few days ago, so we led her out of the stall, and she... Read More
Article
Equine Self Mutilation
March 01, 2000
It's a beautiful winter weekend, and finally you have a full morning to spend at the barn. You're happily grooming your horse when you notice a cluster of patches of wet hair on his side. Peculiar pattern to the wet hairs -- all are lying forwar... Read More
