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.
When Belgian showjumper and breeder Anne-Liza Makkinga’s foaling alarm went off one day in May, she was unaware her mare Cacharelle’s birth would quickly turned into a “terrifying” ordeal
‘I chose mares as far genetically removed as I could get. Each of my mares is a different line and they went to a different stallion’
‘I always described Maddison as a Land Rover Defender, and her foal is more like a Range Rover Sport’
‘It was like she wondered where the second foal had come from but she took to them straight away’
When you think about the offspring of the legendary black dressage stallion Totilas, what sort of foal comes to mind? Something sleek and shiny, probably black — and almost certainly not spotty...
‘It was heartbreaking, in my head it didn’t make sense – I thought ‘why can’t you love this baby’ but they just know it’s not theirs’
‘I’d heard of goats feeding foals but never seen it done – you’ll try anything when you’re desperate’
Time is of the essence when things go wrong and this book will be a valuable guide to anyone involved in breeding horses, whether professionally or for pleasure
The foal’s mother died shortly after she was born
Check out these gorgeous new-born foal pictures
Goat Sheshe is doing an excellent job of babysitting the orphaned foal and the pair have formed a close bond
The two-month-old Weidyfleur II embryo was by far the top lot at the AES & Brightwells Elite Foal Auction
The colt’s devastated owner wants others to be aware of the damage loose dogs can cause
Check out 12 champion foals who look like they could be future stars...
Watch a video of the new arrival exploring his surroundings
The top-priced foal was purchased by the owner of many top grand prix horses
What are the prospects for a foal raised without his dam? Emma Houghton MRCVS outlines the challenges
The conservation centre has welcomed four new Przewalski’s horse foals this year
‘He is growing up to be a loving and adorable young chap who everyone – two and four-legged – can’t help but fall in love with’
