Question: Last year we purchased a mare in foal. She foaled this past weekend and has rejected the foal! She won’t have anything to do with it, she won’t let it nurse and was kicking at it. We had to separate them for fear she would injure the foal. What makes a mare act like this? Could it happen again? We’re trying to decide whether or not to breed her on her foal heat.

Answer:  There are several suspected causes of foal rejection. Breed and temperament may have something to do with foal rejection. The phenomenon is most common in the Arabian breed, and is most common in maiden mares across breeds. Hormonal imbalance may also be playing a role. Rejecting mares often have lower estrogen and progesterone levels than mares that willingly accept and nurture their foals. The environment in which the mare foaled may also have disrupted the bonding process of this mare and her foal. The presence of humans, other horses or other animals can interfere with the bonding between mare and foal and cause her to reject the foal. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain a low profile while your mare is foaling. Mares usually foal quite capably on their own, and while it is best to observe the mare in case complications arise, she should not be unduly disturbed.

While she may reject her second foal, she may not. If she was a maiden mare, she might not reject her foal this time, although the possibility is there. Additionally, if she was disturbed during the foaling and bonding process this year, you could take steps to eliminate those problems next year. If you decide to breed her, it would be best to make sure you have colostrum and milk replacer on hand when the foal arrives just in case.