A FILLY OF OUR OWN

They are always licking, chewing, tasting, and smelling new things and will explore a new object until thoroughly bored. Everything from a fence post to a new member of the herd catches their attention, and this is one way they have of learning vital skills for survival. They learn that water is for drinking and grass for eating; they find it out by exploration. Actually, some foals will play in the water trough for hours, thoroughly drenching themselves, before finally learning to drink the water.

They will also learn behaviours by copying them from other horses in the herd.

They learn from their dams that there is nothing to fear from humans. Often, foals will be nibbling grass long before they actually have the teeth for eating it.

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Some will pull it out by the roots and suck it before spitting it out. By the time their incisors have come out — usually around a week of age — they will have acquired a taste for grass, the ideal food for horses. Photo Courtesy of Firn Hyde Many horse trainers and owners will start working with the foal from only a few days of age. When foals see humans handling their dams, they will quickly learn that people are not to be feared.

Photo Courtesy of Firn Hyde Foals can also be imprinted when they are newly born. The foal will then learn that the trainer is not harmful. Because they are herd animals, like all horses, foals will always want a leader in the relationship with their trainers. Foals exhibit dominance in varying degrees, from leaning their weight against you to biting, kicking and striking with the forelegs.

Disciplining a foal can be a most unpleasant business for the handler. No one likes to scold or push away a baby — one feels like such a bully! Spoilt, pushy horses are often even more dangerous than wild, untouched horses because they have no fear of or respect for man. Dangerous horses seldom have bright futures, unless someone is willing enough to put in the time and effort to correct their behaviour.

A female foal is called a filly. It takes a little more than eleven months for a foal to develop in the womb. Even in the wild, though, a mare — especially if she is pregnant — will often wean her foal herself by chasing it away whenever it tries to suckle. This usually happens later, around eleven or twelve months of age. When driving around the countryside in the spring, one is likely to spot a foal or two in a paddock by the roadside. Always ready for a game, foals constantly exhibit the sheer, simple joy of being alive.

Prancing and leaping on their long and fragile legs, eyes alight, fluffy tails sticking up in the air, foals are a classic and beautiful symbol of life. The benefits of an early start. Details Photo by Rebekah L. Behavioural Quirks God designed foals to have certain behaviours that help them to survive.

Training the Foal Photo Courtesy of Firn Hyde Many horse trainers and owners will start working with the foal from only a few days of age.

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Holt A Four-Legged Symbol of Life When driving around the countryside in the spring, one is likely to spot a foal or two in a paddock by the roadside. Gastric ulcers are also seen in these patients, and may cause rolling, teeth grinding and increased salivation. Some foals with gastric ulceration may roll up next to a fence or wall so they are lying directly on their back with their feet in the air. In addition, the shunt at the liver is closed again, and metabolic waste products that are normally cleared from circulation by this vital organ begin to increase in the blood.

This build-up soon becomes toxic, the life-sustaining mechanisms cease functioning and other potentially fatal events arise. There are several things that suggest the foal is at risk for developing neonatal septicemia. Foals that fail to stand and nurse within two hours, or have urine dribbling or swelling at the umbilicus are suspect.

The FanSided guide to horse racing: What is a filly?

It is interesting to note that before the foal can stand for the first time, he must have good control of his ears. Diarrhea, cough, nasal discharge and fever a temperature over However, a foal that is not easily aroused by human or maternal stimulus or has any of the other symptoms mentioned here, should be examined by a veterinarian immediately.

Normal nursing behavior is the most important indicator of good health. As the typical mare produces about 4 gallons of milk per day, a foal needs to nurse frequently to ingest this volume. The new foal should be observed closely to be certain that he actually has the teat in his mouth. This should be cause for concern.

If the foal has not nursed, the teats may have crusty debris still present on the surface and they may point southeast and southwest, an indicator of a full udder. Normal nursing is repeated in episodes lasting fifteen to thirty seconds or longer. Nursing activity for three or four seconds is not adequate, and assistance is warranted. If the foal has not latched on, directing him towards the teat and squirting milk on his nose can help him locate his breakfast.

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In some cases, however, a stomach tube must be passed by a veterinarian and the first colostrum delivered in this manner. This will insure the presence of essential antibodies in his system, and provide the immediate nutrition needed until normal nursing patterns can be established. The importance for normal nursing can not be overemphasized as it may be the most critical aspect of survival.

As the gut remains porous for the first 12 to 24 hours to absorb antibodies from colostrum, these holes can also allow the passage of bacteria. The presence of milk in the intestine triggers the mechanism which closes the large pores in the lining and allows normal absorption of water and other nutrients. The closure of intestinal pores will guard against the introduction of bacteria into the blood stream, and the antibodies present afford protection against those that may have tried to sneak in uninvited. Premature births are relatively uncommon in horses, but as is the case in humans, present severe challenges to survival.

Although the normal gestation, the length of pregnancy in a mare is days the average is to days , some foals prefer their own calendar. Regardless of the duration of pregnancy, foals with a short, velvety hair coat, little body fat or severe weakness are by definition dysmature, and at risk for septicemia. Forcing their delivery will commonly result in a dysmature foal.

Weaning Your Foal

Time sufficient for the maturation of all body systems is imperative for neonatal survival. The production of surfactant, a substance that allows the lung to inflate properly, is among the last components to mature in the prenatal horse. This miraculous compound reduces surface tension in the alveoli, the microscopic spaces in the lung that are the location for exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases. When you blow up a toy balloon, you will notice that it is fairly difficult in the beginning.

The Centaur's Foal

However, at some critical point, it gets easy. This is what surfactant does in the lungs; makes it easy to inflate the alveoli. Once the lungs are properly inflated, the foal is absorbing oxygen and life without the placenta is possible. Dysmature foals often lack adequate surfactant, and severe respiratory problems with septicemia are common. The amazing phenomenon of new life usually proceeds without difficulty.