Longitudinal study on human-related behaviour in horses-Can horses (Equus caballus) be de-domesticated?

The time to raise the fore legs was not different between groups at both tested ages, however FB foals slightly decreased their performance with time (P < 0.01). They also performed less well than SBs in a hand-leading task at 12 months old (P < 0.01) while they improved their performance when older (P < 0.01). SB foals when older were easier than FB horses to halt (P < 0.05). When tested at 12 and 18 months old FB foals were physiologically more aroused than SB foals (greater mean HR, P < 0.01, HRmax, P < 0.01 and lower RMSSD P < 0.01). Extensively handled foals presented greater HR than the control group (P < 0.05). However, FB and SB groups did not differ in overall fearfulness, since they reacted similarly to a startling novel object, but, when frightened stable foals showed better manageability to calm down when older. It is concluded that de-domestication is very easy to induce in horses only by the relaxation of every-day contact with humans. This suggests that Konik horses underwent little genetic selection for fearfulness, but like their wild ancestors, adapt relatively easy to man-made conditions and are capable of being domesticated.