3 legged foal

[Lacuna]

Came across this in my FB feed today - 3 legged foal born in US - https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=989213183408816&set=a.490204843309655

He's at a rescue (not sure if he was born there) and they've made the decision to keep him going 'as long as he's not in pain'.

He's cute - about a month old or so and has a whole bevy of fans who comment on his posts.

But I found this video of him moving - it just looks like such an effort. I can't imagine him running round like foals are meant to. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1573993439978034
I'm sure he brings in a lot of donations, but I don't feel its fair to keep him going when he will just keep getting bigger and more and more awkward on that leg.

 

[Clodagh]

Ah but they are making loadsa money out of him.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Came across this in my FB feed today - 3 legged foal born in US - https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=989213183408816&set=a.490204843309655

He's at a rescue (not sure if he was born there) and they've made the decision to keep him going 'as long as he's not in pain'.
View attachment 157892
He's cute - about a month old or so and has a whole bevy of fans who comment on his posts.

But I found this video of him moving - it just looks like such an effort. I can't imagine him running round like foals are meant to. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1573993439978034
I'm sure he brings in a lot of donations, but I don't feel its fair to keep him going when he will just keep getting bigger and more and more awkward on that leg.

He is cute, I saw the video online,
but I worry about the weight on his other front leg when he gets older.. Unless they can make a prosthetic which will be hard as front the shoulder I do's think it is possible. Not sure how long before he can't cope.#

 

[Lacuna]

He is cute, I saw the video online,
but I worry about the weight on his other front leg when he gets older.. Unless they can make a prosthetic which will be hard as front the shoulder I do's think it is possible. Not sure how long before he can't cope.#

I dunno whether they can make a prosthetic work - from what I can tell from the photos, I'm not sure he even has a shoulder joint to work with

 

[Equi]

He’s cute but his tendons are already rubbish and the bigger he gets the worse it will get. However I think he currently still has a quality of life. I just hope they let him go when that becomes no longer true. Unlike another poor famous young horse who frankly I think is cruel to keep going.

 

[ihatework]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

Same, sadly.

I don't think people do this kind of thing for the animal's benefit, they do it to make themselves feel good.

 

[Gloi]

Don't say such things on their post though or you'll get blocked for being a downer.

 

[ycbm]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

And mine.
.

 

[Gloi]

And mine.
.

Most people would unless they saw it as a source of income.

 

[splashgirl45]

I can’t understand why they kept him alive , so many animals are kept alive who , in my opinion, should have been PTS. The number of dogs born without limbs being put into wheelchair type contraptions and the people are so proud that they have kept them going with no thought of the pain they are causing them… makes me very angry…

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

Same here

Likewise any animal who needs a wheelchair to be able to get about I'd pts

 

[Pearlsasinger]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

And mine

 

[JBM]

Just depressing to watch honestly
60% of his weight on one leg

 

[Snowfilly]

I’ve been working very hard to keep my mouth shut about him. Poor little soul needed PTS the moment he was found, and then hopefully his dam could have taken a foster and things would have been better all around.

 

[Widgeon]

I don't feel its fair to keep him going when he will just keep getting bigger and more and more awkward on that leg.

I''m sure they've said he will be PTS as soon as they think he's starting to struggle (and quite how to judge that is a whole other can of worms!). I agree he won't have the same abilities as a normal foal but if he seems bright and happy and pain free (for now) I can understand why they don't want to let him go yet. I can't imagine that he'll keep managing for much longer though, I assume he's getting away with it because his bodyweight is so low. But foals grow so fast that won't be the case for long at all.

 

[Time for Tea]

Same, sadly.

I don't think people do this kind of thing for the animal's benefit, they do it to make themselves feel good.

I think you are right, and I would not have kept him going. It is so sad.

 

[blitznbobs]

That’s abuse it’s not as if his front legs are in the right place either… cruel

 

[dottylottie]

my first thought, how on earth are you going to do his feet or even pick them out? possibly the back ones, but you’d never be able to pick out that front one every day!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Has the dam been feeding him? I am surprised if she hasn't given up on him knowing that he really isn't viable.

 

[Equi]

Has the dam been feeding him? I am surprised if she hasn't given up on him knowing that he really isn't viable.

From what I can gather his dam is not involved and he is being bucket fed. The poster has said multiple times they will put him down when he is no longer thriving.

 

[rhino]

Has the dam been feeding him? I am surprised if she hasn't given up on him knowing that he really isn't viable.

No, the breeders wanted to keep the mare, probably to keep breeding from. The rescue only got the foal (and I think at a day or two old).

 

[Titchy Pony]

No, the breeders wanted to keep the mare, probably to keep breeding from. The charity only got the foal (and I think at a day or two old).

I have been refusing to look at the posts about this foal on FB.

So from what I gather here, the breeders didn't do the right thing by this foal and have him put down as soon as they found him. Instead, they passed him on to a charity. Charity will keep him alive until he starts struggling.

I'm horrified to be honest. I've just bred a foal of my own and a brief look at the video linked shows no comparison. Mine is galloping around the field, leaping and jumping about like a spring lamb, this poor soul can barely heave himself around in a shuffle. If he'd have been mine, he'd have been PTS, for the foal, but also for me, I wouldn't want the heartbreak of getting attached, giving him a name and watching him deteriorate, probably fatally in his first year.

 

[rhino]

I have been refusing to look at the posts about this foal on FB.

So from what I gather here, the breeders didn't do the right thing by this foal and have him put down as soon as they found him. Instead, they passed him on to a charity. Charity will keep him alive until he starts struggling.

I'm horrified to be honest. I've just bred a foal of my own and a brief look at the video linked shows no comparison. Mine is galloping around the field, leaping and jumping about like a spring lamb, this poor soul can barely heave himself around in a shuffle. If he'd have been mine, he'd have been PTS, for the foal, but also for me, I wouldn't want the heartbreak of getting attached, giving him a name and watching him deteriorate, probably fatally in his first year.

Yes it’s absolutely horrific. It is completely inevitable that the wee guy is going to suffer terribly, I haven’t seen videos as actively avoiding the rescue (who have done some very good things in the past) but in a photo I saw his back legs already look very painful too, his whole posture is understandably tight and sore.

Should have had cuddles from mum and owners and then been put down IMO. Reminds me so much of my now 2yo as a foal, cutest wee bay dun, but the difference between how the 2 spent their first weeks of foal hood couldn’t be much more marked. Mine was zooming around about 50 acres with lots of foalie friends and a very attentive dam.

 

[dorsetladette]

He would have been put down at birth if he were mine.

Mine too.

There was a foal last year who's story i couldn't read or follow. From what I understand he was premature and his leg joints weren't great. He had all 4 legs in cast's from very early days. IMHO he should have been PTS at birth too.

 

[rhino]

Mine too.

There was a foal last year who's story i couldn't read or follow. From what I understand he was premature and his leg joints weren't great. He had all 4 legs in cast's from very early days. IMHO he should have been PTS at birth too.

Seven? The QH foal? He’s still existing, sadly and painfully, and making his breeder a lot of money in the process from all the monetised videos and ‘merch’.

 

[cmkeventing]

Seven? The QH foal? He’s still existing, sadly and painfully, and making his breeder a lot of money in the process from all the monetised videos and ‘merch’.

I have only found Seven recently and been attempting to put together what happened with him. I know there is more to riding but she breeds show horses and Seven is worthless in that sense. Shes spent god knows how much money to save a foal that will never be ridden, shown or bred and (more importantly but I said the ridden etc as thats of course what he was bred to do) he will never be comfortable. I might be a bit cold hearted but I am very black and white with horses and if they aren't going to be comfortable and happy, I call it a day there. Im not going to put them through anything else

 

[Gloi]

Seven? The QH foal? He’s still existing, sadly and painfully, and making his breeder a lot of money in the process from all the monetised videos and ‘merch’.

I'm sure the same will be the case for this one, where he will be kept alive so long as he makes money.

 

[Rokele55]

I have seen the story on seven, the premature foal. Following it, I felt the breeder thought she might get a good outcome for him? She hasn't, and I cringe when I see him.

Yes, that poor three legged foal should have been humanely euthanized at birth.

 

[Gallop_Away]

Jesus Christ I hate the human race on times. Poor little thing