Foals
For the first year of it's life, an American Mustang is totally dependent on it's mother for shelter, food, and protection. Mustang foals (baby horses) are able to stand and walk within 30 minutes- 1 hour after birth. It is vital for a foal to stand up and be able to gallop with it's mother because if not, it will be an easy target for predators.
Yearlings/Young Adults
After about a year and a half or so after an American Mustang's birth, it turns into a yearling. Yearlings are the teenagers of the horse world- always looking for trouble and full of energy. Yearlings learn how to fight and they often play with other yearlings to get a taste of the real world. Most mustangs are kicked out of their herd at the age of 2, and they then group together with other young adults (ages 2-6) until they have won their own herd.
Adults
Adult male mustangs (stallions) usually become a member of a herd at around the age of 7. Adult female mustangs (mares) can join herds earlier because they do not need to fight over finding a mate. American Mustangs usually live well into their early 20's before slowing down and weakining with age.
Mustang Herd Life & Social Ranking
Herd Ranking (top authority as no.1)
1. Stallion
2. Lead Mare
3. Herd Mares
4. Foals
5. Yearlings
At the top of the list, you see the stallion. There can only be ONE adult stallion per herd, and he mates to all of the adult mares. The stallion brings up the rear during travel/grazing time and his job is to watch for danger and other challenging stallions.
Then there is the lead mare. Her job is to lead the herd and navigate them towards food, shelter, and water. The lead mare is usually a trusted mare who has been with the stallion for a very long time.
Herd mare's lives are simple. Eat, sleep, take care of and produce foals.
Foals are more respected than yearlings because they can be easily ignored and do not try and challenge authority.
Yearlings are at the bottom of the totem pole, because they cause trouble and are sometimes able to mate. Stallions and mares get annoyed with yearlings and when they reach the age of 2 are kicked out of the herd.
Mares do not stay with one stallion their entire life. Stallions must be able to fight well and protect their herd; or another stallion will challenge him to death or severe injury and take command of his herd.
1. Stallion
2. Lead Mare
3. Herd Mares
4. Foals
5. Yearlings
At the top of the list, you see the stallion. There can only be ONE adult stallion per herd, and he mates to all of the adult mares. The stallion brings up the rear during travel/grazing time and his job is to watch for danger and other challenging stallions.
Then there is the lead mare. Her job is to lead the herd and navigate them towards food, shelter, and water. The lead mare is usually a trusted mare who has been with the stallion for a very long time.
Herd mare's lives are simple. Eat, sleep, take care of and produce foals.
Foals are more respected than yearlings because they can be easily ignored and do not try and challenge authority.
Yearlings are at the bottom of the totem pole, because they cause trouble and are sometimes able to mate. Stallions and mares get annoyed with yearlings and when they reach the age of 2 are kicked out of the herd.
Mares do not stay with one stallion their entire life. Stallions must be able to fight well and protect their herd; or another stallion will challenge him to death or severe injury and take command of his herd.
Two stallions fight over a herd.
