Foal growth timeline and housing: birth to adult

The decision, step by step

1. Count age from birth, dates from the cover

   The two clocks describe the same growth schedule. A youngster born on day 16 becomes a yearling on day 20 and an adult on day 28. Age 12 means 12 in-game days since birth, not 12 days since the cover.

   More columns → Scroll sideways, or focus the table and use arrow keys.

   Growth checkpoints

   Milestone	Foal age	Since cover
   Birth	0 days	+8 days
   Yearling move	4 days	+12 days
   Adult transition	12 days	+20 days

2. Reserve the yearling’s destination before it moves

   A Yearling Paddock is useful for repeated breeding, but a free stable place can also house a yearling. Stage 1 paddock holds six yearlings and costs 5,000 coins with a 20-coin daily running cost. Stage 2 holds 13 and costs 10,000 coins with a 100-coin daily running cost. Check cash flow as well as capacity before upgrading.

3. Make a second plan for adulthood

   A paddock place does not become an adult stall. Reserve an ordinary stable place for the age-12 transition too. If either transition has no suitable room, town boarding costs 100 coins each day until you make space. Free capacity promptly rather than treating the off-site move as disappearance.

4. Give yearlings age-appropriate exercise

   Yearlings cannot be ridden before age 12, but walking and lunging are available. Use the activities the horse is old enough and fit enough to do, keep an eye on its condition and exercise indicator, and wait for adulthood before planning ridden work.

5. Separate a growing colt from mares

   At maturity, inspect the youngster’s assigned stable group; automatic placement may put him with his mother if that is where space exists. The launch breeding guide warns that a young stallion can cover mares from age 13. Keep stallions and mares in different groups; upgrading the Stable to stage 2 provides a second group. Closing fields does not prevent a pregnancy within a mixed stable group. Gelding is another option if you do not want him as breeding stock.

6. Check what leaves when selling a mare

   Selling a pregnant or nursing mare also sells the attached foal. If you intend to keep that youngster, retain the mare through nursing and wait for the yearling move before making your sale decision. At adulthood, assess the youngster’s own potential and traits before retaining it for your next breeding generation.

If the result is different

If the youngster is at the town breeder, free a suitable stable place, then go to the sale barn in town to retrieve the adult horse and stop ongoing boarding costs. A launch Steam player confirmed this route after a yearling aged up without a free stall. If ridden training is unavailable, check age and fitness. If unexpected pregnancies begin after a colt matures, inspect group assignments immediately and separate stallions from mares; shutting fields is not a substitute.