A nursing foal’s nutritional requirements will exceed the mare’s ability to supply nutrients to the foal a few months after birth, making creep feeding a good way to get the young horse off on the right hoof.

Dave Freeman, PhD, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension equine specialist, said many foals allowed access to grain will start to show interest in eating within a month of birth.

"If a mare’s feed is soft and small enough, it is expected that foals will soon eat alongside a mare’s trough," he said. "While milk will serve as the main source of nutrition for the first couple of months, unweaned foals older than three months to four months of age will need a substantial source of additional nutrition