Synchronous behavior between mare and newborn foal

This thesis investigates synchrony behavior (also known as synchronous behaviors) exhibited between mares and their newborn foals in equine social dynamics. The study aims to explore the various aspects the interaction between the subjects, underlying its mechanism and significance in the development and welfare of the foal. The method selected is the instantaneous scan recording, used to observe three days video-recordings for 14 mare-foal dyads, recorded in the Didactic Veterinary Hospital of the University of Padua in 2021. The observation will interest the first 20 minutes of the hours 6, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72 after birth. The research begins with a review of existing literature on animal welfare, social dynamics and maternal-infant interactions in equines, to be able to create a suitable working-ethogram, highlighting the importance of synchronous behavior as a form of communication and bonding between the mare and foal. To examine synchronous behavior, we have combined observational studies, existing literature and behavioral analysis. This method provides insights into the specific behaviors displayed by mares and foals, including synchronous movements and reciprocal responses. The aim of this research is to observe the pattern of synchronicity showed in the first three days of life of the foal, hypothesizing an increasing rate of synchronous behaviors linked with foal development. The results pointed out that no relevant common patterns are present in horses’ synchronicity, but we can argue that the presence of this behaviors is an indicator of good welfare as proved in other species.