Foal

Horses that mature at a small stature are called ponies and occasionally confused with foals.

Although ponies exhibit some neoteny with the wide foreheads and small stature, their body proportions are similar to that of an adult horse.

[1] Birth takes place quickly, consistent with the status of a horse as a prey animal, and more often at night than during the day.

Unlike most predators which are altricial (born helpless), horses are precocial, meaning they come into the world relatively mature and mobile.

A sound diet improves growth and leads to a healthier adult animal, although genetics also plays a part.

Like a human infant, it receives nourishment and antibodies from the colostrum in milk that is produced within the first few hours or days following parturition.

The mare needs additional water to help her produce milk for the foal and may benefit from supplementary nutrition.

After eight to ten weeks it will need more nutrition than the mare's milk can supply, requiring supplementary nourishment.

Therefore, some young horses are capable of reproduction prior to full physical maturity, though it is not common.

As a general rule, breeding young horses prior to the age of three is considered undesirable.

However, foals usually receive very basic horse training in the form of being taught to accept being led by humans, called halter-breaking.

A foal at about weaning age
A newborn foal
A foal will be able to run alongside of its dam within a few hours of birth.
A foal will nurse for at least four months before being weaned when under human management, and have been known to nurse for up to a year in the wild.
Foals should be taught to lead
Foals need to lie down more often and rest longer than adult horses.