Caring for a horse during its first few years of life is very important, as this is the period in which it can become more beautiful, healthy and strong. Therefore, especially if you are planning to sell or have racehorses on your farm, you should pay special attention to the care and feeding of the foal. What should you know about this? How do you ensure the correct and healthy development of your foal?
Foal nutrition: from suckling to weaning
To ensure that the foal grows in the best possible way, respecting all the developmental stages set by nature, it is essential that it can feed on its mother’s milk. This should be the case for at least the first 180 days, which is the period of time necessary for the creation of antibodies. During these first six months of life, the baby’s nutritional needs must be fully met to ensure a normal growth spurt for the animal.
Approximately two weeks after birth, the foal’s diet can be augmented by the introduction of solid food. However, it is important not to exaggerate with the quantities: by introducing new food gradually, the animal’s stomach can get used to weaning without difficulty.
Recommended foods and recommendations
Feeding recommendations include forage, vitamin supplements and special feed for the health of the mother and foal. Rations should be increased daily. However, it is recommended that only food produced for newborn puppies is fed, as it is rich in nutrients and designed for specific purposes.
However, it is essential to ask your vet for advice before making any changes to your foal’s diet. Therefore, it is important to have constant discussions with the professional, particularly during the first months of the animal’s life.
Some tips for carers of foals
Feeding the foal correctly is essential, but it is not enough. With time, each breeder learns to take care of the animal in every way. However, especially for beginners, there are some tips that should not be underestimated. In this regard, it is useful to say first of all that the foal should be cleaned carefully, already after birth.
It should also be helped to manage its head and legs. It is also important to ensure that the animal can stay outdoors and graze freely. However, it must be ensured that there are no holes in the ground, in order to avoid falls and subsequent injuries and bruises to the still delicate and uncertain legs.
If you want to train a foal, it is important to wait until it is one and a half years old, so that it is ready in terms of strength and endurance. It is also important to have the foal examined by a veterinary surgeon at regular intervals in order to prevent diseases and physical disorders.
Care and feeding of the foal: our conclusions
Feeding the foal is important and the foal must be given the right care. However, this attention should start from birth. To breed a strong and healthy horse, it is essential to be present and ready to help the mare during labour. This is the first step towards safeguarding the health of the baby. For this reason, we offer our customers a reliable Foaling Alarm that alerts the breeder at the moment of foaling. Don’t hesitate to ask us for more information and find out all the details in the section dedicated to C6 Evo and C6 Birth Control.
