Sable Island Horses: 

Foals  

(August 2002, Revised July 2005)

On Sable Island, most foals are born during May and June. Soon after birth, the newborn struggles to its feet and searches its mother's underside for the udder and a teat. Frequently the foal fumbles about prodding various parts of its mother's belly and flank with its nose, but eventually a teat is found and the foal begins to nurse. This is usually achieved within an hour of birth. During the first few days the mare's milk is rich in protein and maternal antibodies that give the foal immunity from some diseases. This first milk is called colostrum. The amount of antibodies in the colostrum decreases rapidly after the mare has given birth, as does the foal’s ability to absorb them. Although a foal soon begins nibbling grass and beach pea, for nourishment it relies on mother's milk. Many times during the day and night, a foal stops whatever it is doing - frisking about, investigating plants and bits of driftwood, or snoozing - and goes to its mother to nurse. Often, following some disturbance or band movement, the foal will initiate nursing by approaching its mother, which suggests that nursing may also provide a sense of security. A foal is usually able to trot along beside its mother when only a couple of hours old, but, during its first few days of life, can be rather wobbly and awkward

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