ABSTRACT
Starting immediately after birth, horses are relatively independent and very capable of learning (Table 2). For this reason, the newborn foal is known as the prototype of the truly precocious animal. Imprinting on the dam, a special learning process, begins at birth and is often successfully completed within a few hours. Furthermore, a foal, independent of breed, learns to rise and lie down in a coordinated manner shortly after birth (10), and to find the udder more or less accurately. From day one, healthy foals are able to follow their dam and the group for relatively long distances and at all gaits.
