A foal is the name for a young horse from birth up to one year of age (when they become a yearling). A foal is either a colt (male) or filly (female). A mare carries her foal for a pregnancy period of around 11 months. Foals are typically weaned from their dam (mother) at between six months and a year after birth.
A foal’s initial food source will be to drink milk from its dam. The first milk or colostrum is extremely important as it contains vital antibodies to help to foal thrive. Foals will typically drink from their mothers for at least four months, after which time the mare’s milk becomes a less importance nutrition source as the foal becomes able to digest grass, forage and supplementary hard food.
If a foal is rejected by its dam, or loses its dam through illness or injury, then they can be hand-raised by providing milk via a bottle or bucket. However, hand-reared foals can struggle from a lack of equine ‘instruction’ as their dam teaches them what is acceptable behaviour and and how to interact with other equines. Foals that miss out on these lessons have to carefully managed to ensure this does not have a negative impact as they grow up.
Small horses that measure under 148cm to the top of the shoulder when they have reached maturity are called ponies. Foals are horse or ponies of any size aged from birth to one year.
Welcoming a filly had been “extra special”, and the foal is the farm’s first for seven years. The farm has five Suffolk mares and is embarking on a breeding programme in the hope of boosting the rare breed’s numbers
“He nearly collapsed several times as he was so weak — goodness knows how long this poor little mite had been roaming without a mother, and with nowhere to turn”
The colt was welcomed at 9pm on 17 April
A dairy cow has stepped in as the foster mother for an orphaned thoroughbred foal, who lost his dam at eight days old
Here is our initial selection of the class of 2021, fluffy-eared, long-legged equines to help brighten your day...
“Having the mare and foal here has brought a whole new group of people through our gates”
The jenny was pregnant when she was taken in by the charity
Check out these gorgeous new-born foal pictures
“It was really upsetting for everyone involved in the rescue – we are all horse lovers and hope to save every one we possibly can”
“This was a sad case with a tragic outcome resulting in the death of three ponies”
“She wanted to live, at no point did I ever get the feeling she had had enough so I made the decision to go on the journey and see where we ended up, taking one day at a time”
The group were part of a multi-agency operation to remove more than 130 horses from a site at the M25
“The new owners had bought Humphrey unseen and admitted they didn’t realise what looking after a horse fully entailed”
Buttons joined thoroughbred breeders Hillwood Stud aged hours old for specialist care and has gone from strength to strenght, delighting the Vigors family and her fans across the world with her bonny charachter
We recently asked you to submit your newborn foal photos, and you did not disappoint. Which is your favourite?
The Highland mare, who was diagnosed with grass sickness in 2016, overcame losing a filly in 2017
Sit back, relax and enjoy these 13 newborns to help brighten your day...
The 11hh skewbald mare, who was found in poor condition last year, is described as ‘very caring and an amazing mum’
‘With it being Captain Tom’s birthday it was a no-brainer what we could call the colt’
