A Horses Life

First few hours – Horses can be up and about within a half an hour after birth. They need to be quick and agile very soon after birth because
in the wild predators would love a little foal for dinner. As soon as a foal is born its dam (mother) licks it to dry its wet coat and stimulate blood
flow.

First weeks – In the first weeks of a horses life its baby central incisor teeth come through its gums. Their second, third and fourth premolars
also come through in their second week of life. They also start learning how to handle their long, out-of-proportion legs. At this time the foal is still
suckling. It will stay very close to its dam because in the wild she would be its only source of food and defence.

1 month to 6 weeks – During this time of a horses life its baby intermediate incisors come through and it starts getting more adventurous and bold,
going farther and farther from its dam. The foal is still dependant on its dam for food and protection but as it reaches the two to three month area of its
life it no longer will hide behind its dam or cling to her side.

6 months to 9 months – As a horse reaches the 6 to 9 month period of life their corner incisors break through their gums. Their permanent wolf teeth
should start to push through. Some horses never get these teeth, but if they do then they get them within the period of 6 months to 3 years. They also get
weaned at around 6 months. At first the mare will gently push her foal away when he comes to suckle, but as time goes on she will get tougher and harsher with her
rejecting. Eventually, if the foal does not get its dam’s message she will begin kicking it and biting it and then, if the foal still doesn’t understand,
people will have to separate the two. This may sound harsh but all foals have to grow up sometime and often separating the mare and her foal is the kindest
way to do it. Around the time of 4 months to 6 months a foal will also be halter broken so that it can be led around. Some horse owners will not wait till the
foal is 6 months and halter break them at only 3 months, but most foals start their training at the time of 6 months.

9 months to 1 year – Now, as a young horse approaches its first year in its horses life, it gets its first molar. It also starts to look like an adult horse.
Its head still looks a bit too big and its legs still seem to be too long, but it is slowly growing into itself. At this time, a horse like a Thoroughbred would
already be getting ready to be ridden when it is 1 and a half years old. Other breeds of horses, however, tend to only start being ridden when they are 3
years of age.

1 year to 2 years – Not a lot happens in this time of a young horses life. A young horse will get its second molar and it will continue growing
bigger and slowly start filling out but besides that there are hardly any changes.

2 years to 3 years – Now a whole lot starts happening! This is one of the busiest times in a horses life. As they turn 2 they start getting their
permanent central incisors, their second premolar and their third premolar. When they reach the 2 and a half marker they become ready to breed which means
that all the colts and the fillies must be separated. By the end of this season they will also start getting their third molar and their fourth premolar.
And, as they come up to turning 3, a young horse starts getting prepared by its owner to learn to be ridden, but the actual riding only starts when the horse
is about 3 and a half.

3 years to 4 years – As the young horse turns 3 it should start getting its intermediate and corner incisors. They also might get their canines, but some
horses never do. A young horse also will start his riding training. This is a tough time for a young horse since being ridden goes against what all their instincts
are saying. Most horses train very easily, but there are a few young equines who are more difficult then others. Most horses start getting ridden around this time
because they stop growing at around 3 and a half. They now will look just like an adult horse and will have reached their full height. When a young horse turns 4
they are no longer classified as a “colt” or “filly” but now as “stallion”, “gelding” or “mare”.

The rest of a horses life – The way a horses life goes from now on is totally dependant on his or her owner. Some horses may become three-day-eventers
and compete all over the world. Some may become racehorses and run in the Kentucky Derby. Some horses may become show jumpers and go wherever the sport takes
them. Or some horses may just become a nice riding horse for a young child somewhere. Whatever happens to them, most horses will be in their prime of life at
around 10 to 12 years of age and die around the age of 20 to 30 years. Horses that have lived hard lives like three-day-eventers or racehorses will die sooner
then that since they have their prime at around 3 to 6 years of age, but horses that had gentle lives as stud stallions, brood mares or just pleasure riding
horses can be known to live up to 40 or even 50 years, but these horses are few and far between. But what age the horse dies at doesn’t matter! It’s what they
did before they died that does! If they had an unhappy, traumatized life then it was not a good horses life. But if they had an enjoyable, free and pleasure
filled horses life doing what they were good at then it was most worthwhile!