Nurse mare foals are born so that their mothers will produce milk to nourish the more valuable foals of other mares, which are unable to care for their babies for various reasons.
The sixth annual Dream Equine Foal-A-Palooza, which will be Saturday at Three Runs Plantation, raises money to rescue some of the many nurse mare foals that need to find homes after they are taken away from their mothers.
Proceeds will benefit the Dream Equine Therapy Center in York.
"It's a really fun day," said Dream Equine's Aiken representative, Gina Greer, who is the founder and organizer of Foal-A-Palooza.
There will be three equine competitions - a hunter pace, the Ride-a-Test dressage event and Jump-for-Fun, a jumper schooling show.
Information about the divisions in each category and the entry fees can be found online at www.threerunsplantation.com by clicking on the community tab and going to the calendar link.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., and Foal-A-Palooza officially starts at 9 a.m.
"Everything is very low-key," Greer said. "There's kind of a no-stress atmosphere."
A raffle and a silent auction with more than 70 items also will be held.
"We will have a couple of foals that we recently rescued that will be available for adoption at Foal-A-Palooza," Greer said.
All entry fees for riders include a buffet lunch. The cost to eat for non-riders is $15 for adults and $7.50 for youngsters 12 years of age and younger.
"We have great food, and there is a lot of nice energy," Greer said.
"Kids are running around, playing and watching the competition. It's always good to bring a lawn chair if you're a spectator."
Three Runs Plantation, which is an equestrian residential community, is at 125 Three Runs Plantation Drive.
DeDe Biles is a general assignment reporter.