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If you have decided to get a young horse, or if your horses are used for breeding and your horse has given birth to a foal, then you should keep some things in mind to ensure the foals grow up healthy and happy.

There are several things to remember when caring for a foal, and once you learn these, you can be sure your foal will become a valuable member of the herd.

It is important the foal is checked over as soon after birth as possible to ensure it is in the best possible health.

You will have to be careful when doing this of course as the mare will be very protective and may resent you touching the foal. You should make ensure both the mare and the foal are clean and comfortable after the mother has given birth. 

Unfortunately some mares reject their foal after it has been born, you need to observe the interaction they have and if the mare is not interested in removing the cord, you will either need to iodize or cut off the umbilical cord soon after his birth.

You will also need to monitor the amount of milk the foal is receiving from his mother. If he has been abandoned or if the mother does not provide enough milk, you will probably need to supplement with bottled feed using warm milk containing the right nutrients.

When the foal is old enough, it will need to have its shots. (Just like human babies).  There are specific shots foals should receive in their first year to make sure that they will grow fit and healthy and not succumb to disease.

For example, they will need a worming shot; this helps them digest their food properly.

You will also need to ensure their vital signs are normal and there are no deformities. You should get your vet to give the foal a check up to confirm that the foal is in excellent health.

Foals start to wean off milk and start eating after about six to eight weeks.  If you are bottle feeding the foal, you will find he needs help with this transition.

You can do this by giving him less milk and ensuring he is eating hay and grains.  You should also ensure he is drinking enough water.  If you have other horses, make sure your foal can see them, he will copy their behaviour which will make the transition much easier.

You should start to train your foal as soon as possible. It is important that he learns good manners right from the start. If he knows you are the boss straight from the start, you will find he is much more manageable.

If you have decided to begin your horse experience with baby horses, or if you have a foal born on your property, then you can ensure they will become young adults in a healthy way. 

By giving them the right care and making sure they learn good manners early on, you will be able to easily maintain and care for the horse later. You will also find that when the time comes to train him for riding, the experience is much more pleasurable for both of you.

Previous Articles By This Author

• Buying Your First Horse
• Equipment for Horses
• Basics of Horse Care
• Grooming your Horse
• The History of Horses