Are horses born with teeth? Things to know about foals

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Have you heard? We have a new addition at Free to Flower Farms!  This little filly was born just over a week ago in the peace and quiet of our fields. I am an eternal birth geek – and will forever be in awe of new life. But to my surprise, most people are actually curious about something completely different: are horses born with teeth? Let’s take a deep dive into the land of horse teeth and everything else you need to know about young foals. 

Our little filly does not yet have a name, so I will be referring to her as “Little Girl” for now. 

Little Girl’s birth

Horses are pregnant for around 11 months.  Little Girl’s mother, Texas, was inseminated with a German stallion on June 20th, 2022. Texas is also the mother of LT, you can read about her story in my post about trailering a horse. Little Girl was born on June 5th, 2023. Due dates are nothing but estimates for all mammals. It was extremely important that Texas remains undisturbed and unhurried until her foal chooses the perfect time to be born. Apart from the initial ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, we opted out of all veterinary care. We were not against it but chose not to engage with it unless we felt the need. That need never arose. 

About a week prior to Little Girl’s birth, Texas’ udder was starting to fill up. A few days before the birth, her udder started waxing up. All that means is that small drops of colostrum start forming on her nipples. It’s a telltale sign that labor is near. This prompted us to start checking on Texas regularly throughout the day & night. Our horses are kept out in the fields year-round, but we still trekked out there even in the middle of the night to check all is well. 

​We’ve had close to 10 foals born at our farm to date. I have yet to see a mare foaling. They are experts at picking a time when they know they will not be disturbed. Little Girl was born sometime between 2 am-6 am on June 5th. The time between our last check of the day & first check of the previous day. 

Everything went smoothly, just as designed. Texas was a true pro. Her placenta was beautiful. Different in some ways from a human placenta, similar in others. Little Girl was strong & alert from the get-go. Nursing was a breeze. I felt so much gratitude and awe at this new life starting right on my land. 

Newborn Foals and their Teeth

In my opinion, understanding foal teeth is not a crucial piece of information horse owners need to possess – unless there is some sort of an issue. From my 18 years of experience with horses, teeth, and dentistry don’t really come into play until later on. But it is a fascinating topic nonetheless and the answer to the question, are horses born with teeth, is actually not so clear cut. 

In the first few hours after birth, the foal instinctively attempts to stand and nurse from its mother. It’s a crucial moment as they establish their bond and begin receiving vital nutrients from the mare’s milk. Over the next few days, the foal’s strength improves, and they start exploring their surroundings, learning to walk, trot, and eventually gallop.

At birth, a new foal may be born completely without teeth – this was the case for our Little Girl. Or, they may have their 4 central incisors already present. If they are born without teeth, the incisor teeth will emerge within their first 8 days of life. Their second set of incisors will come in by about 8 weeks of age, and the last set by 8 months of age. Those sets of teeth are the so-called “milk teeth”, “baby teeth” or deciduous teeth. Young horses shed them as they age, and they will be replaced with permanent teeth. We use these to determine the age of a horse. Within the first two weeks of life, baby horses will also erupt their first premolars. Those are generally not used to determine a horse’s age, because they are more challenging to view. 

Older Horse’s Teeth

At around 2.5 years of age, baby teeth make way for adult teeth in the horse’s mouth. Permanent central incisors come in first, followed by upper central and lower central incisors around age 3. Those provide a grinding surface, otherwise called being “in wear”. This wear is what is examined in adult horses to determine their age. Male horses have canine teeth, while mares only present with those occasionally. They may not be as developed or all 4 may not be present. 

Wolf Teeth are usually extracted, as they are in the way of the bit. By 5 years of a horse’s life, horses should have a full set of their permanent teeth, in wear. In older horses, the grinding surfaces of their teeth change. Those are what is used to determine the age of the horse in his later years. 

Equine Dentistry

A horse dentist can start seeing a horse yearly starting at 2.5 years of age for routine dental care. The timeline can be different if the horse is experiencing any kind of discomfort or showing signs of dental issues. In senior horses, weight loss is often an indicator that a dentist visit is required. In younger horses, discomfort caused by wolf teeth is a common reason for dental work. 

First weeks of a foal’s life

The first few weeks after birth are some of my favorite. I love watching little foals put on muscle and fat so quickly. Our Little Girl is just over a week old, and already she’s become a lot plumper and stronger than when she was first born. Frolicking around the fields with her mother, she is still in her obedient stage. She follows wherever her mother leads and doesn’t stray too far. I’ve seen her testing out her jumping & running skills a few times. A joy for me to see – not so much for her mother though! As the main protector, she is not able to protect her precious little one from predators if they stray too far. Drinking milk, sleeping, and exploring are the main items on the agenda for the two of them. Whenever her foal strays too far, his mother chases after them and corrals them back into the safety of her protection. 

The First Year

As the weeks pass, the foal’s growth becomes more apparent. Their limbs lengthen, muscles develop, and their body proportions change. The foal begins to interact with other young horses, engaging in play and socialization, which helps them develop crucial social skills.

One of the most remarkable transformations during this period is the eruption of the deciduous or milk teeth. By the age of two weeks, the foal’s incisor teeth start to emerge, followed by the eruption of premolars in the following months. These baby teeth allow the foal to graze and eventually transition to solid food.

As the months go by, the foal’s physical abilities continue to improve. They become more coordinated, agile, and independent. Through interaction with their dam and other horses, they learn important social hierarchy and communication skills within the herd.

By the end of the first year, the foal has experienced tremendous growth. They have shed their baby coat and developed a more mature, sleek coat. Their adult teeth begin to replace the deciduous teeth, marking the transition to adulthood.

The Second Year

The second year of a horse’s life is a continuation of their growth and development, building upon the foundations laid during the first year. As they enter their juvenile stage, significant changes occur in their physical, social, and mental capabilities.

Physically, the horse experiences continued growth and maturation. Their skeletal system continues to develop, with the bones and joints gradually solidifying. Muscles become stronger and more defined, contributing to increased strength and athleticism. The horse’s overall body size increases, and they begin to resemble a miniature version of their adult form.

During the second year, the horse’s adult teeth continue to erupt and replace their deciduous teeth. By the end of the second year, most horses will have a full set of permanent incisors, with some premolars and molars also in place. These permanent teeth enable them to chew and process a wider range of food, transitioning them further into the adult diet.

Socially, the horse’s interactions within the herd become more sophisticated. They refine their understanding of social dynamics, hierarchy, and communication. Playing and socializing with other young horses remain essential for their social development, helping them establish lifelong bonds and learning valuable skills within the herd.

Mentally, the horse’s cognitive abilities continue to evolve. They become more inquisitive and curious, exploring their environment and learning from their experiences. The horse’s ability to learn and retain information increases, making this an ideal time for training and introducing new skills.

Final Thoughts

Watching a foal mature from a little baby to a strong two-year-old is one of my favorite things about keeping horses. Not only do you get to mold & train them exactly to your liking. But you also get to learn about their personality on a much deeper level. The connection has the potential for much greater depth, than with a horse that you acquire at a later age. 

Although horse breeding may seem daunting to a new horse owner, it is worth it. Not to mention that the costs associated with breeding tend to be smaller than that of purchasing a finished horse.  Once you become familiar with horse ownership, perhaps exploring the world of foaling might be an exciting next step for you and your mare. 

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