and gender, but this is often not possible,
so alternatively an older, quiet pony
may be a good solution. “It is best to get
the foal and his companion used to one
another via a “chat window” or adjacent
paddocks for a day and night before
putting them together,” said Sara.
In terms of feeding your foal, there
is a huge nutrition topic and various
methods and opinions, but generally
ad lib forage is always important as
it maximises digestive health. Sara
explains: “I feed ad lib forage and add a
supplement, in the form of minerals or a
balancer, in the winter months.”
Worming is highly important for
your new foal, as the consequences
of infection can be very severe. Sara
advises: “Make sure you have a correct
worming programme in place and
do not put foals or youngsters on
overgrazed paddocks as they are highly
susceptible to red worm.”
Your new foal should receive regular
visits from the farrier, to ensure his feet
are kept in good condition and to get
him used to the experience from an
early age. “A foal’s fetlock joi