Coprophagy, or the eating of feces, is common in foals and young horses. This is considered to be normal behavior and may benefit the young foal by helping to establish the micro flora of the gut. By ingesting the stool of the mare, the foal will receive the normal population of microorganisms necessary for the maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract. It is uncommon for adult horses to engage in this behavior.

See Abnormal Horse Behavior for more unusual behaviors.