Even before the birth of her foal, the mare develops an exclusive relationship with it by isolating herself from the group for two to twenty-four hours before foaling to avoid any interference. She then flees all contact with the rest of the group in the first days after birth. The attachment between the mare and her foal is significant and quantifiable: the foal spends 90 % of its time within 17 ft (5 m) of its mother during its first month of existence, then 70 % during the second and third months, 50 % at six months, and 25 % at nine months when weaning takes place.