[Netherrealmer]

I just saw this video on YouTube that really surprised me. There was an orphaned foal whose mom sadly died at birth. The foal was introduced to another mare—who wasn’t pregnant and hadn’t foaled in a long time—and amazingly, the mare not only accepted the foal but also started producing milk for her!

I had no idea this was even possible. Apparently, mares can sometimes start lactating without being pregnant, even if they’re virgins or it’s been years since their last foal, as long as they bond with and accept the orphan. The suckling stimulates milk production, and combined with the mare’s maternal instincts, she can actually feed the foal.


From what I learned, it seems that if an orphaned foal is introduced carefully and the mare bonds with it, the mare can eventually lactate even without being pregnant. The presence of the foal and the stimulation from suckling can trigger milk production, sometimes even in virgin mares or mares who haven’t foaled for years.

I thought this was incredible — I didn’t realize horses had this kind of flexibility.

[eldavis]

One of the beautiful things about nature, it tends to adapt for survival.

[Netherrealmer]

Not all ends in fairy tale,a mare can reject a foal and kill it. So you have to check first if she will accept the baby

[germainebull]

This is an amazing and touching story! It shows how animals can have unique feelings and natural compassion. A mare who accepted a foal without being pregnant is an amazing example of motherly love.

It is true that nature has amazing powers. The act of sucking can stimulate milk production even in a mare that has not given birth for a long time. This is a sign of the strength of the emotional bond between a mother and her child.

Stories like these teach us that compassion and love have no limits. We learn from animals how to care unconditionally.

[Kchris]

If only we humans were consumers of horse milk. This strange attribute of mares would have opened immense business opportunities. 🙃

[Netherrealmer]

If only we humans were consumers of horse milk. This strange attribute of mares would have opened immense business opportunities. 🙃

Actually, horse milk is consumed in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and China.

[germainebull]

If only we humans were consumers of horse milk. This strange attribute of mares would have opened immense business opportunities. 🙃

Actually, horse milk is consumed in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and China.

Do Mongols use ordinary horses for meat? I bet they have to cook the meat for days to ensure it is tender. Everyday horse work makes the animals' meat quite tough.

[Netherrealmer]

I was talking about milk, not meat, but speaking of meat, Burger King uses horse meat.

[germainebull]

Burger King uses horse meat.

I bet they don't serve horse meat in all markets. Wil have to check whether Americans enjoy horse meat at Burger King.

[Netherrealmer]

Most people just accepted it as an open secret that Burger King uses horse meat and cow lips. Ikea meatballs is also made of horse. It's their way to make it cheaper than most burgers and without using plant-based fillers like vegetable protein.

[Kchris]

Cow lips?! Now this sounds sinister.
I can't imagine a customer ordering cow lips for lunch.

[germainebull]

Cow lips?! Now this sounds sinister.
I can't imagine a customer ordering cow lips for lunch.

Customer: Waiter, may I have a quarter serving of cow lips please.

[Kchris]

Not all ends in fairy tale,a mare can reject a foal and kill it. So you have to
check first if she will accept the baby

I think the mother horse reserves the right to be consulted. Lol

[germainebull]

mares can sometimes start lactating without being pregnant, even if they’re virgins or it’s been years since their last foal, as long as they bond with and accept the orphan. The suckling stimulates milk production, and combined with the mare’s maternal instincts, she can actually feed the foal.

Veterinarians say that this condition can also occur due to hormonal changes or medical conditions such as Cushing's disease (PPID) in horses. But even without the disease, there are some mares that show maternal behavior and start producing milk due to an emotional bond with the foal.

[Netherrealmer]

By the way, not all mares are going to be motherly to a random foal that is not theirs. They could kill the foal if they reject it, or bully the foal. For example, there's a popular race horse named Special Week, and because his mother died, they tried to make a draft horse mare, raise him, but the draft horse is a different breed of horse, so he is rejected by the mare. She let him gut milk for a few months, but after that, she started bullying him, and because of that trauma, Special Week became racist to all horses who are in chestnut color. He hates chestnut color horses because of the draft horse mare that adopted him is cruel.

[germainebull]

y the way, not all mares are going to be motherly to a random foal that is not theirs. They could kill the foal if they reject it, or bully the foal.

It is absolutely true what you say about the behavior of mares towards foals that they do not give birth to. While some may be compassionate and willing to care for them, not all of them have such maternal behavior towards foreign foals.

Under normal circumstances, a mare may completely reject a foal that is not hers. This rejection may lead to her isolating, chasing or even harming the foal. This is especially true if the mare feels threatened or does not have an emotional connection with the foal.

[Netherrealmer]

Just like women, not all women wants to be a mother

[Angie10]

That's nature for you, it never ceases to amaze! And you ARE right, not all women are maternal, so we shouldn't be surprised that some animals fail to bond with their young.