föl

Föl is a Swedish noun meaning a foal, the young offspring of a horse or other equine. It is used in everyday language as well as in veterinary, breeding, and agricultural contexts to refer to a young horse that is typically under one year old and not yet fully grown or trained. The term is distinct from the adult horse and is part of discussions about horse care, breeding, and development.

The word föl has long-standing usage in Swedish and is cognate with related North Germanic terms for foal in neighboring languages. Its usage reflects a shared linguistic heritage among Scandinavian languages, where similar words denote a young horse.

In practice, a foal is usually born in a mare’s foaling process and nurses soon after birth. Foals grow rapidly during their first months, begin to stand and walk, and gradually transition from milk to solid feed. Management of foals focuses on nutrition, vaccination, dental and orthopedic checks, and socialization, as well as gentle handling to establish groundwork for riding or work when they mature. Weaning typically occurs several months after birth, after which the foal continues to develop and usually remains under close supervision until it can be integrated with older horses.

See also: Horse care, Equine breeding, Veterinary terms related to foaling.