Changes in the social behaviour of drafthorse ( Equus caballus) mares coincident with foaling

It has been suggested that equid mares may undergo significant changes in social behaviour coincident with foaling. To examine this, two herds of drafthorse mares were observed prior to and after foaling. One herd consisted of six Belgian and two Percheron mares; the other consisted of 15 Belgian mares. Using focal animal sampling, a variety of agonistic and affiliative behavioural patterns and spatial relationships were examined. Results indicated no changes in social dominance or agonistic behaviour. There were changes in the patterns of affiliative behaviour among adults. Mares were more likely to make changes in their adult associates after foaling than before, and they were less affiliative to other mares after foaling. Furthermore, new dams put more distance between themselves and other adults and actively socially disengaged themselves from their herd. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that new dams are less socially active post-partum to facilitate the mare-foal bond and to prevent others from interfering with that bond.