I was prompted to write a basic guide to purchase after being contacted several years on end by people not quite sure of what buying and owning a foal entails and really some people who really werent ready to own a foal for the first time.
I hope that this basic guide will help you make an informed desicion.
Should I go to look at a foal before I buy?
Yes, you should. Many experienced breeders, show producers and so on dont view foals in person before purchase but I highly reccomend viewing a foal at least once so you can assess the foals basic temprament. It may be an idea to visit the foal anytimg up to three months of age and then again at 5 months of age if you are able too. You may think that you cannot assess a foals temprament early on, especially if he has not had a huge amount of handling, however any experienced breeder will tell you that within days a foal develops individuality, his or her own personality and each is easily distinguished from the next in character. A responsible breeder will be able to help match the right foal to you within the foals first few weeks whether the foal has had a huge amount of handling or not.
What should I expect from my foal at what age?
Do not expect a foal, at any age, to be a ten year old horse in minature. If thats what you want buy a ten year old not a foal. People handle and progress thier foals at different rates, for example I personally do not start leading foals from thier heads until 3-3 1/2 months old others do so at days old. It is up to you to research different ways of handling and at what stages different people do things and what you agree or disagree with and how you would like your foal brought up. A foal at any age should be curious, he should be willing to approach you and have a sniff even if he then dashes off and hides behind mum, he should be willing to keep approaching you and should not simply run away to the other side of the field and not approach. Remember to look at and "speak too" the dam of the foal, remember what a big part she plays in the foals outlook on life and people. A slightly older foal should approach you readily but should ideally not barge, rear, kick out or bite you with ears back. You would ideally look for the foal to stop a stride or so away from you and reach his nose towards you and "ask" for a tickle. Sometimes foals go through stages of being slightly over exhuberant but if a foal does get too close the foal should readily move away if you push his bottom or shoulder. Most foals go through stages of trying to chew on clothes and some may try and nip, however watch carefully for biting behaviour, although this can usually be sorted out easily if you have young children or are not very experienced with foals a foal who is inclined to bite first and ask later may not be the best choice for you. You should be able to walk around the foal and touch him all over including his legs, stomach, tail and ears, be sensetive though dont expect him to be perfect but watch for any very negative behaviour and be aware if it seems like he has never had any of these areas touched it may mean he hasnt been handled. Do not expect a foal to perfectly pick up and hold every foot beautifully for you. DO expect to be able to touch front and back feet and from 3 months of age expect him to understand being able to lift a hoof if he has not already had his hooves trimmed. You should be able to pick up and hold a foals foot for a couple of seconds with the foal LOOSE without the foal getting stressed but be aware you are not who he is used too and he may not want to do more than this for you. What is most important is that he is happy for you to be touching his legs, inside and out his chest and belly and it doesnt frighten him when you bend down and stand back up again. With regards headcollars and leading, feel free to ask to see the foal with a headcollar on, be aware that with young foals particularly the neck may be done up before the nose, what you dont want is for the foal to feel he is being pressured and for him to run away/rear or strongly resist having a headcollar on. Leading a young foal should be mainly done by guiding the foal from his bottom, if you see someone dragging a young foal by the headcollar be careful, such behaviour can result in long term or even permenant physical damage to the foals neck and back never mind the negative mental impact on the foal. Do not expect perfection but do watch the foals reaction, a willingness to learn and the foal trying to understand and do as is asked is important even if he cannot yet lead perfectly. There is no age set in stone for a foal to be taught anything but look for a confident, happy foal who will willingly approach and be handled by people whatever his age.
When should I expect my foal to be ready?
This will widely depend on when the owner chooses to wean. The weaning age varies greatly, some wean as early as three months old, others choose not to wean foals but leave mares to wean foals themselves. The majority of breeders go for somewhere in the middle, the recognised age for weaning is 6 months old. I would personally never reccomend anyone buy a foal who has been weaned earlier than 5 months old, the ideal age in my experince and opinion is 7-8 months of age. If you are unsure consult a veterinarian on ideal weaning ages and why.
The weaning of foals can be a controversial subject, when you go to view your foal ask the owner how they wean and ask them to be specific if you are unsure. There is much success with both sudden and gradual weaning and arguements for and against both methods however what you must be sure of is that the foal is kept with other horses at all times, it is cruel to keep a weanling foal by himself with no company for extended periods of time. Similarly do not accept the weaning method as the owner travelling the mare and foal to you unloading the foal and driving off with the mare. Moving a foal to a new home is traumatic enough without him loosing his mother at the same time. Remember that a foal will relate his first moving of yards, leaving his herd and leaving his mother with a horsebox, his new surroundings and YOU....this is a negative experience and can stay with a foal for life. Your foal must be fully weaned before he travels to you to minimise the upset of his world and to minimise the likelihood of a lifetime of trouble loading and trouble with seperation anxiety.
What should I expect from my foal when he arrives?
You should be fully prepared for when your foal arrives. If he has never been stabled you will ideally have a safe, secure field with a companion pony ready for when he arrives, you should not fuss with him and turn him straight into this area and remain to supervise him for at least 2 hours. If you do not have a suitable safe field a large stable with a companion pony next door that your foal can see and touch but not climb over any walls is fine. Try not to have your foal somewhere where he cannot see or touch any other horses or ponies, he will settle quicker if he has calm horses around him. Do not use haynets in a stable for a foal, try to avoid using stables with bars between without covering the bars securely with a very strong mesh with small enough holes that your foal cannot get his feet through. A foal could easily rear and put a leg through a metal bar and break a leg, a small enough foal can break a jaw in bars set further apart whilst trying to reach a next door neighbour. Similarly a foal may try to jump a stable door if he cannot see or touch another equine. Be prepared to supervise your foal for at least two hours after he arrives to be sure he doesnt get upset. Keep hay on the floor, ideally do not give him hard feed in the first 24 hours as the change in situation can mean corn feed can result in colic. Providing the foal with a digestive support system such as Baileys Diegst Plus in some forage feed in the first few weeks is an excellent idea.
Consult a nutritionist on what to feed your foal, make sure you know what he has been fed by his breeder and if you wish to change his food do so very gradually. Do not make any changes to his diet or routine if you can help it in the first couple of weeks.
Be sensible in what you expect him to do and to cope with. Do not expect him to be foot perfect straight away, give him plenty of time to settle in before you ask questions of him. Do not, after 12 hours expect him to tie up outside his stable and have his feet picked out without moving a muscle. Do not book a vet or farrier visit in the first two weeks unless it is an emergancy as it would not be fair on the foal to do so. Do things gradually, get to know him, spend plenty of time just being around him and giving him scratches, progress to picking his feet up gradually even if previously he has been excellent, build up again just to be sure. If he struggles with his leading then dont pull or get cross with him, use a rope behind his bottom to help 'push' him forward and use a voice command to help him, leading another pony infront of you will also help.
Remember a 7 month old foal is very much a baby and his whole world has been turned upsidedown, even the quietest most laid back, well handled foals are likely to react to this and need time to settle in.
There are many good books and information on the internet avaliable to read on foal handling before and after weaning as well as methods of weaning. Do your research and think very carefully as to whether getting a foal is right for you and your family. Talk extensively to the breeder, expect the breeder to be able to give you a good description of the foals personality and expect them to be honest as to whether they feel the foal will suit you. Dont be pressured into leaving a deposit for a foal until you are absolutely sure. Dont make split desicions, go home think about it and talk with family members. Remember to consider your personal circumstances and facilities you can provide, foals take a lot of time, effort and money and its not always plain sailing....you must be prepared for this!