The Havemeyer Equine Behavior Lab at New Bolton Center

Our Equine Behavior Program and Laboratory at New Bolton Center has grown from within the Section of Reproductive Studies.  Since the early 1980’s the program, has had research as its core activity.  The program has included involvement in related clinical and teaching in the veterinary school and continuing education programs nationally and internationally.  The initial research focus of the laboratory was on stallion reproductive physiology and behavior.  Early research concentrated on the physiology and pharmacology of libido, erection, and ejaculation, with immediate application to clinical problems in breeding stallions and with relevance to the understanding of human sexual dysfunction.  Another long-standing research interest of our laboratory has been the effects of experience on sexual function.  In the 1990’s our research and clinical work expanded beyond stallions to include reproductive and general behavior problems of horses.

The Behavior Lab is housed in The Havemeyer Barn at The Georgia and Philip Hofmann Center for Animal Reproduction.  The Havemeyer Barn is a 19^th Century Pennsylvania Bank Barn that was renovated by The Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation specifically to house behavior and physiology research program.  It includes a stable for housing ponies, a breeding shed, semen and blood collection laboratory, a behavior library, conference room, offices, and flexibly designed facilities suitable for a variety of equine behavior studies.  Our semi-feral pony herd is housed on approximately 50 acres with a catch pen and animal handling facilities.