Thinking about Purchasing A Foal

Question
I'm considering adopting a foal from a rescue, possibly a PMU or one from the nurse mother used to feed a Thoroughbred foal. I've been working with horses of all ages except foals for 7 years, the only foals I have worked with were Miniature Horses for a short period of time. The people who own the stable I board at have been raising horses for over 50 years and are more then willing to help and some of the people who board at the farm are equally willing. I am a Sophomore in high school but I plan to adopt the foal just as school is ending so I have the whole summer to work with him. My question is
-Do you think I would be capable, with the help I am being offered and the vetrinary knowledge of the people I know available, to care for a foal?
-How long should I wait before weaning the foal?
-When is an appropriate time to start working with lunging freely or does it depend on the horse?
-Are there any things I should be wary of when looking for a foal?
Thank you for your time and I'm sure you will be able to help me.

Answer
Hi Ila!

Great questions that you have.  I think that adopting a foal would be a great experience for you, but you need to understand the time constraints.  If you have the time to devote to a foal, it can be a very rewarding experience.

I think you'll be very capable of raising a foal.  Make sure that you do some reading, particularly if you can get hold of any of John Lyons' material.  He's great, and gives you a good idea of what to expect.

Let me start by answering your question about weaning.  Most foals begin eating grass hay by around 4-6 weeks of age, along with the milk substitute they're receiving (or nursing off of mom).  By around 4-5 months, they're usually ready to be weaned.  Now, during this entire period of time, it's really important that the foal is being handled by someone who knows what they're doing.  The reason I say this is that they can be quite a handful at this age, especially if they haven't been handled by people.

The most important thing in the first year is that you establish firm boundaries with the foal, so that they do not become a problem later.  What seems like cute behavior when they're little (like nibbling on your hand, or rubbing their head on you) can become serious problems when they get to be 650 lbs.!  Learning to lead in halter is a very important step.  Always make sure that you are the one in charge of where you're leading, not the horse.  

As for lunging, be extremely cautious doing any lunging on a tight circle for the first year.  You don't want to cause any developmental problems with the knee and hip joints as they're forming.  Free play in a round pen is fine.  Make sure your baby gets socialized with other horses.  Having turn outs with other horses, especially mares who have foaled before, is a great way to do this since the mare already knows just how far to push it.  The mare will be able to teach the baby their own horse communication (body postures, boundaries, etc.) and that will make your job easier later on.

Hope this helps!  Use the time before you get your foal to do some reading and research so that you feel confident of how to start.  Good luck with your new baby, and let me know if you have any other questions.

--Susan