Early socialisation of foals to humans and other species is fundamental to their lifetime welfare, as poor handling in the first weeks creates fear responses that persist for life.
Early socialisation of foals is a critical welfare investment. Foals not habituated to human handling before weaning experience the combined stress of social separation and frightening human contact simultaneously. Fear responses established in early life are deeply persistent and underlie many adult horse welfare problems including loading difficulties and veterinary procedure fear. The welfare benefit of appropriate early handling compounds across the animal's entire lifetime.