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Intensive Gentling with Single Session vs
Multiple Session
For previously
semi-feral foals and yearlings, a single 1 or 1.5 hour gentling session
was as effective as multiple sessions in reaching 21 specific compliance
goals. In a semi-feral situation, and proably in a farm situation, a
single session is much more efficient than multiple sessions for
gentling of foals and yearlings.
Equine Appeasing Pheromone Studies
We have
been evaluating the effectiveness of equine appeasing pheromone in a
series of controlled studies, involving several models of fear-related
behavior problems or challenges. These have included standard gentling
of previously unhandled foals and yearlings; introduction of semi-feral
animal weanlings, yearlings, and adults to domestic environment and
procedures; and domestic horses and ponies with known procedure
aversions or fear related behavior problems. In each of these models
with investigators and handlers blind to treatment, and quantitative
measure of performance, no benefit of Equine Appeasing Pheromone
treatment has been found.
Characterization of Immune Function in
Semi-feral Herd Using the PHA Skin Test
We are attempting to use the phytohemoglutanin skin test
to compare immune function among animals in our semi-feral herd. A
preliminary round of tests of all adults in the herd (16 stallions, 15
mares) indicate that stallions and mares respond differently. This
difference has not been previously noted in the literature. It may be
of significance to clinicians using this test to evaluate immune
function in horses. Response did not vary with age (2 –16 years).
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