Small sample size, elective surgery only, lack of cortisol validation (future study should pair behavior with salivary cortisol). Owner presence effect not controlled.
Horses are large, powerful prey animals. Their first response to fear is flight. If flight is impossible, they may fight. A veterinarian who understands equid ethology will approach a horse at the shoulder (not the head), use a calm, low voice, and avoid sudden movements. They know that a twitching tail is not annoyance—it is an early warning sign of escalating stress. Ignoring that sign can lead to a kick that kills. zoofiliahomemcomendobezerracachorra13 hot
(e.g., a cat scratching furniture to mark territory). Small sample size, elective surgery only, lack of