Most foals are three to five months old, and were born in a Bureau of Land Management wild horse facility. Mares come from rangelands primarily in Nevada, California, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming and Idaho. Although the foals eat hay or grass, they still nurse their mothers. Babies depend on their mothers to teach and nurture them for several months. Fillies and colts born from wild mares display a variety of color.
Most wild horses are solid in color.
Predominant colors are sorrels, bays or browns. Foals are especially active in the evenings, often running beside their mother. Although most Bureau of Land Management facilities inoculate foals, as well as the mares, the babies who nurse gain immunities from their mother. A mare and her foal may not share the same color, giving the adopter an interesting contrast. The foal crop in 1998 was greater than usual, so the Bureau of Land Management has more pairs than ever to offer for adoption.