Birth Trauma in Foals and Potential Impacts on Behavior and Performance
We would like to thank all the people who attended this interesting webinar on Birth Trauma in Foals and potential impacts on behavior and performance. This webinar has been well-received and gathered representatives from more than 15 countries.
We hope this webinar will encourage further observation, discussion and collaboration around foal wellbeing and long-term equine welfare!
Birth Trauma in Foals
In this webinar, Beth Shaw and Robyn Butterworth explored how birth-related trauma in foals may have long-term effects on posture, movement, performance and sensitivity in horses. Research presented during the webinar highlighted that many of these injuries can remain unnoticed in young foals, only becoming visible later in life through asymmetry or performance limitations.
The Equine Concertina concept was also presented to illustrate how tension patterns travel throughout the horse’s body, highlighting the importance of observing foals and mare-foal interactions during the first weeks after birth. Early, gentle intervention and careful observation may help support healthier long-term development.
