How to Introduce Mare & Foal to Other Horses

Horses are predominantly herd animals and are happiest when socializing with other horses. Within a normal herd situation, mares will foal at a similar time, and the mares and foals run together naturally. This helps integrate foals into the herd environment as they learn to interact with other animals from birth. When a foal is born within a domesticated environment, it is usually a more controlled and restricted occasion, resulting in the mare foaling in an isolated area away from other horses. Ensuring the mare and foal are then introduced gradually and safely to other horses is important to prevent injuries and unnecessary stress.

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn out pregnant mares together so that they are accustomed to each other. If you only have one pregnant mare, turn her out with steady horses that will not bully her. Allow the horses to get to know each other before the foal is born.

    • 2

      Turn out the mare and foal as soon as possible into a field after the birth, to allow the foal to become accustomed to open spaces from an early age. Check the field carefully for any hazards such as broken fencing, litter or poisonous plants.

    • 3

      Move the pair to a field that borders a field of other horses as soon as the foal has adjusted to being outside. Check that the fencing between the paddocks is strong and that the foal cannot escape into the other field, since both mare and foal will panic if separated at this early age. This could lead to unnecessary injuries to both mare and foal.

    • 4

      Allow the foal to see the horses in the adjacent field and ensure they have observed the foal. If you have more than one mare and foal, put one mare and foal in adjacent fields.

    • 5

      Leave mares and foals in neighboring fields for a couple of weeks, until both sets of animals have completely settled. If you have a gate between the fields, open it at this stage, and allow the mares and foals to introduce themselves in their own time. As long as the mares know each other and can see their own foals, they will not usually act aggressively toward each other.