Humane Horse Handling Spring 2020 Webinars
Humane Horse Handling is excited to announce that when you become a supporter, you get a password to view all the recordings of our Spring 2020 webinar series available below! Join Humane Horse Handling's Sue McDonnell PhD and Sarah Low DVM for a fun and educational 8 episode webinar series focusing on behavior and welfare of wild and feral horses. Topics include natural behavior, population control, gathering techniques and training of formerly free-roaming equids when in private care. Each episode is just over 30 minutes. All your donations support Humane Horse Handling’s ongoing research into low-stress gather and handling methods for wild and domestic horses. After you become a supporter, you will receive an email within a few days of your donation with a password to view the recordings, and you will be able to watch them over and over. Please consider making a recurring monthly donation. Bring your curiosity and check out the weekly line up below!
Gentling Mustangs Using Positive Reinforcement and Protected Contact
Recorded May 1st, 2020
Dr. Low shares a photo and video exploration of the use of zoo and marine mammal handling and training techniques to gentle two mustangs acquired at a Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption in Virginia. Gentling and training topics presented include approach, haltering, leading, recall, preparing for the first ride and training for veterinary medical procedures such as jugular blood draw and oral medication. This webinar is adapted from a presentation given by Dr. Low at the Smithsonian National Zoo in the fall of 2019.
Wild Horse Social Organization 101
Recorded May 8th, 2020
Free-roaming horses revert to the complex social organization and behavior of their truly wild ancestors. Dr. McDonnell discusses some of the amazing features of wild horse behavior and why many of the strategies proposed to control wild horse and burro populations could very likely affect behavior in ways that may impact welfare.
Foal Behavior and Development Under Natural Free-Roaming Conditions
Recorded May 15th, 2020
Dr. McDonnell talks about some of the very cool aspects of the typical birth and development of foals and yearlings under natural herd conditions. Topics include play, weaning, becoming independent and eventually leaving the natal band, as well as other developmental landmarks along the way.
Trapping Feral Horses In Hawaii
Recorded May 22nd, 2020
Dr. Low shares her experiences gathering, handling and managing a population of approximately 200 free-roaming feral horses on a 23,000 acre ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii. Dr. Low shares with you how she used field observations, rudimentary knowledge of learning theory and a basic understanding of equine behavior as building blocks for the development of methods to trap, gentle and manage feral horses.
When Wild Horses Must Be Gathered: Creative Alternatives
Recorded May 29th, 2020
Dr. McDonnell outlines some of the challenges of gathering wild horses, whether for removal from the range or for application of fertility control. She introduces some of the more creative strategies that are under study as alternatives to the traditional helicopter driving technique. Thumbnail photo credit: Wild horses in temporary corrals; https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/why-do-we-gather-wild-horses#stream/0
Wild Horse and Burro Facts and Figures
Recorded June 5th, 2020
Dr. Low summarizes the most up to date state of the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse And Burro Program (as of June 5th, 2020) including on- and off-range population data and growth rates as well as gather and adoption information. She covers highlights of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program 2020 report to congress. She also mentions and briefly discuss other free-roaming horse populations that are not protected by the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
Introduction to Appalachian Mine Horses
Recorded June 12th, 2020
You have probably heard of mustangs and the wild horses of the American West, but do you know there are free-roaming horses in Appalachia too? Join Dr. Low for an informational discussion (with lots of pictures) of free-roaming and feral horses living on reclaimed and still active coal mines throughout Appalachia.
Wild Horse Population Control
Recorded July 10th, 2020
Dr. McDonnell outlines and take questions on techniques under development for population management of free-roaming horses around the world. Thumbnail photo credit: Darting wild horses with PZP; http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_f2911a44-ffa2-11e2-adaf-001a4bcf887a.html