Study: Human interaction with foals a 'stessor'

[paisjpq]

I have long been against the idea of "imprinting" foals---primarily becasue most people who attempt it are backyard morons and don't know what they are doing and eventually do more harm than good, what they are really doing is interfering with the important period of bonding that needs to take place between mare and foal....but I am also VERY skeptical about the 'observation' powers of a minutes or hours old foal....they just aren't so aware that they can make some determination of humans based on how the mother is treated....the whole thing sounds preposterous. And to go furthur....foals have to have a certain amount of handling in the first hours of their life to ensure health (treating the umbilicus, giving an enema etc.) these are not very pleasant for the foal but you know what?....they get over it.