This filly’s face is full of expression but not fear. Regarding me with an equal measure of suspicion and curiosity, this three-month-old cannot decide whether to run or investigate. My appearances have been frequent since her birth so I doubt I’m much of a surprise to her at this point in her life, but as the foals get older and bolder, they are compelled to closely scrutinize their surroundings, my appearances included. She did not run, but was unable to muster the courage to approach with enough confidence to touch me. It is unusual for a foal to be brave enough to investigate a human visitor to the point of touching. I should add, I mean the foal touching and sniffing me, not me touching the foal; that only happens on the rarest of occasions.
On a different note, this filly’s appearance has changed significantly many times in three months. She is/was the dun colored filly with the pale eyes and wavy coat of hair. Now, she has transitioned into a beautiful roan color with a deeper hue in her eyes. Her features remain more refined than her siblings, which is pleasant.
A previous blog post or two has mentioned this unusual event but I have not shared this image yet.
In the first hours after giving birth, a new mother (her first foal) is in a standoff with an old mare who is intent on stealing her newborn filly. The new mother was distracted with not feeling well in connection to passing the placenta and was lying down quite a bit. The old mare, who has not had a foal of her own in years, swooped in and took ownership of the newborn. The newborn was not equipped to understand the situation and began bonding with the old mare, who was standing and attentive, even attempting to nurse from the old mare. In this image, you can read what’s happening on each horses face. Apprehension from the disheveled black mare as she tries to unravel what’s happening; this is her first foal, so she has no experience with motherhood. Some distress and fatigue for the newborn and resolute defiance from the old paint mare. After much confusion and some human intervention everything was made right. All is well for the new mother and her foal, and the old mare has accepted that she failed (for the good of all) in her attempt.
This time, with a timid mare, the stallion takes a gentle approach, coaxing her attention with quiet nuzzling. This behavior stands out in comparison to rowdy interactions that mares with stronger personalities instigate. This illustrates that stallions are not just breeding brutes, but herd leaders capable of complex social interactions based on the dispositions he is dealing with.
Prompted by an energetic herd mate, a resting colt has a decision to make. Stay down, and be pestered, stepped on and mouthed, or get up and give the perpetrator a run for his money. The dark colt is fast but the light colt is big and strong. They are both the same age, by the way, only a few days apart. This may not be obvious because of the size difference.
At about 24 hours old, this newborn is active and inquisitive. Foals, at this stage, maintain a wide stance and exaggerated gait. The animated and purposeful footfalls of the newborn foals are one of their most endearing qualities. They just try so darn hard.
For a newborn foal, the first few moments are monumental. They leave the protective world of placental breathing, nutrition and body temperature regulation. Thrust into their new environment, they must immediately switch over to life outside of the womb. This means major adaptations in circulation, for one. The lungs adapt to breaths of air and the circulatory system suddenly has to manage receiving oxygen and increased blood supply and releasing carbon dioxide into the blood stream. Previously, this was accommodated through the mare’s blood from the placenta, the lungs having received minimal blood supply during fetal growth. Also, body temperature regulation comes into play as does the sudden exposure to light, sound and touch. Extremes in temperature, wet or dry conditions, dirt, dust, foliage and all the nearby living things all demand attention and comprehension. The miracle of a successful birth continues into the first hours when the newborn awakens balance, muscle control and digestion. Attempts at standing, walking, (or in the case of wild foals, running) and nursing preoccupy the baby. It’s no wonder that newborn foals often travel, for security, in close, often touching proximity, to their mothers for the first several days. The foal’s physiological transition to independent life is one of my greatest contemplations during foaling season.
Considering that there was no affiliation or loyalty between these two mares before the older mare gave birth this year, it is a wonder that the young paint mare has attached herself the the older mare and foal. The paint mare loyally follows the other mare and has taken to caring for the foal with devotion.
The above images shows the “God Mother” mare grooming her adopted foal while the actual mother grazes.
The image below shows the trio with the herd stallion. This is the first time I have observed this stallion interacting with a herd foal.
Some foals had great fun during an unusual rainy day in June …
and some foals did not find any pleasure in the rain at all.
Mother’s Day is every day when you’re the mother of a rowdy colt. This old girl just wanted to lie down and rest in the shade on a humid day and her darling colt did this until she stood again.
In an opportunistic moment of acquisition, this old mare stubbornly defies the new mother’s claim to her foal.
The pensive face on the new mother shows her confused concern with the situation.
A newborn foal rests under the protection of an old mare. The first-time mother of this foal was distracted by discomfort associated with the birth so the old mare (who has not had a foal of her own for years) swooped in and took charge.
Interactions between mares and stallions are surprisingly varied. While some meetings are boisterous, squalling, dust-raising, kicking and pawing affairs, others are gentler, less obvious and barely noticeable. Often, the quieter mares merely glide in beside the stallion and present themselves without being pursued at all. Their communications and actions are subtle, demure even.
I often observe this mare running with her foal, for no apparent reason, other than the joy of it. You Go Girl!
A very new newborn colt tries to make sense out of a very busy morning. His first hours filled with following his mother into the pond, circling the meadow with the herd and being born all in about three hours. Whew.
The nursing reflex in a newborn is strong. They experiment for hours even after they have had several successes at finding mother’s milk.
I can’t say I’ve ever seen this particular behavior before. This is not the first moments of typical climb-on-Mom wackiness; it is more like sudden-snooze behavior. There was no climbing or frisking about like you see in rowdy, older foals. The foal is still quite young here, so this is just funny.
This mare, bless her heart, waited patiently with her sleeping two-day-old foal while the rest of the herd drank and played at the pond on a warm spring day. All the others took their time in the water drinking and rolling in the mud. Eventually, they ambled back up toward the trees. It must have been hard to resign herself to wait while her foal slept. Once the foal finally rose, the mother didn’t even wait for the foal to nurse; she headed straight for the pond. This surprised (and delighted me) because the stallion had long since moved the others a distance away. This could be considered defiance of his perimeter. After all that waiting, she marched right in and took a good, long drink. The new foal did not hesitate one moment when striding through the sticky mud to join her. Together they drank and waded and pawed in the water. The stallion had long since gathered and moved the other mares and foals away. When he came back for some unruly returning mares the new mother looked concerned. Avoiding discipline from the stallion is an ongoing worry for the mares and foals. The stallion, however, only took the single mares and left them to finish their time in the water. With apparent relief, she lingered another few moments then dutifully rejoined the herd. A couple of days earlier, when her foal was newly born, the stallion had again kindly relaxed his demands on her staying with the others. He did not enforce his herd boundaries on her, rather, he left her alone to bond with her newborn.
Just look at the buoyancy and light-hearted spirit in this very pregnant mare! With her eyes lit up and her positive disposition, she is a sight to behold.
Like any baby, this week old foal is willing to put anything it his mouth. Moving through a tall mustard seed patch, this week old colt seems entertained by the oddity of his surroundings after the more usual grassy hills.
