Sable Island Horses

Sambro: A foal's first day  

(June 2003)

Sambro, son of the mare Nemo, was born in May.  In horses, the length of pregnancy (gestation) is usually 11 to 11.5 months, and most Sable Island mares give birth during spring.  Few births are witnessed by people, but it is likely that many foals are born during the night, or near dawn.  Sambro was born just after 8:00 am on a calm, sunny morning.

Nemo was a member, and senior mare, of a relatively large family band comprised of four mature males, four mares (including Nemo), and five young males and females all under three years old. On this morning, all were grazing beach grass on a dune near the West Ponds. For a few hours before she foaled, Nemo was distracted - she walked about, grazed a little, twitched her tail, lay down, got up, and lay down again, and got up, walked about and grazed some more. She did not wander away from her band-mates, but stayed amongst them although her restless behaviour increased. Soon, Nemo experienced strong contractions which ruptured the placenta enclosing her unborn foal and she expelled a gush of about 10 litres of amniotic fluid. During the next few minutes, she lay down and got up several times, and then the birth began.

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