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Discussion on Foal Brains
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Member:
aannk
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 8:10 am:
I have read many times that horses are born with fully developed brains. I was just thinking while driving home last night, and came to a question. If they are born with fully developed brains, why is their attention span so short? I guess my question is, is it really true that their brains are fully developed, or is it just the part that allows them to perform physical functions.
I know even in adult horses it takes many repetitions for them to remember things, but the main difference I see in young and mature horses when they are learning is that a young horse can only pay attention for a few minutes.
Any insight into this?
Alicia
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 9:13 am:
I have left this post in my email box interested in how some may reply but I would guess foals are just more easily distracted and really do not know what this means with concerns about brain development.
DrO
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 9:59 am:
A response from Dr. O, interesting. I left this one alone because I don't know what "fully developed" means exactly. I have never yet cracked open a foal's skull (though I was tempted once). I don't know what, if anything, is in there!
What I do know is that the horse-- attitude and capabilities-- is not fully developed at birth. Dr. O's recent posting on the influence of "nurture" in their response to stimuli is a good example.
I'm not sure whether any horse really has a long attention span. I think they learn to prioritize human stimuli, so they are continually redirecting their attention to us, which makes it seem like unbroken focus. But if you watch even a highly trained horse, he is very aware of his environment, just not driven by it.
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Member:
aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 2:13 pm:
I don't know what fully developed means either. But, many times, on discovery programs, in articles, etc, they mention that they are born with fully developed brains so they can get up and go without being eaten. They also show that since humans are protected, we are born without the ability to take care of ourselves.
No matter what their brains are like at that age, we all know they "act" as though they have no focus except on mom and food.
Just wanted to spur discussion, no big deal 
Alicia
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Member:
leilani
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Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 3:21 pm:
Alicia,
I believe the term is precocious. Leilani
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 2:08 pm:
Perhaps "fully developed" means they have all instincts at birth. That does not mean they have experience, learning, or maturity.
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