The rejection of a newborn foal by a mare is a common and serious problem. In the worst-case scenario, the mare savages the foal on sight and injures or kills him quickly. If the newborn survives his mother's initial attack but is not allowed to nurse, he may not get colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk that is so important because it contains antibodies against disease as well as other health benefits; this, too, can be fatal within the first few months of his life. And, if the foal does survive, hand feeding is a time-consuming chore fraught with challenges of its own. To reduce the likelihood of foal rejection, it is important to first consider the source of the problem.
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