Advice Needed, Late Unplanned Foal

[KittenInTheTree]

No photos, because I'm not running a foal watch type thread.

The vet has already been out to confirm and will be out again as and when needed. Sire is unknown. Mare is a finely built 12.2hh, currently aged ten and a half, and believed to have foaled before with a former owner. She lives out with natural shelter and the vet has advised to stick with this. There is adequate stabling available if need be, but this is not a pony who copes well with being confined. To be fair, if I had that kind of scarring, I'd probably be a bit twitchy around humans too.

Anyhow, we are now approximately ten months in. Foal very active in utero. Mare is in good condition and up to date on all jabs/wormer. Assuming that the birth goes off safely and nothing ends up dead, I need advice on how to best manage a foal that will be ready to wean around December/January.

Questions:

• Can I still feed haylage, or is hay better for weanlings?
• I like to think that the foal will grow the coat that it needs - am I wrong there, given how late in the year it's due?

Thanks in advance.

 

[be positive]

The foal will grow it's coat when the days shorten and it gets colder even if born late and yours will not really be that late anyway, hope all goes well with the foaling, such a shame yet another unplanned foal, I know people get excited about it but it is not ideal especially with a tiny mare that could have been covered by a big lump of a cob, you have no idea what may come out and have the responsibility for a life that you did not plan for.

 

[Tetrarch 1911]

Don't worry too much about her foaling outside - if she's happier and more relaxed outside, she should be fine. If you need to, you have stabling, so all bases covered. It just means a lot more hassle for you checking on her. However, the nights should still be pretty clear so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable!

My foals have loved haylage and have thrived on it, and just get baby handy and used to feed, so when it comes to weaning it shouldn't be too bad. Are you removing mare or foal at weaning? I always preferred to send the mare away and leave baby in familiar surroundings with a nanny/companion who is already known to baby and who is sensible and calm.

Yeah, BOGOFS are a pain - any chance of contacting previous owners to see if they have any idea about the sire?

 

[TheMule]

Personally I would plan on weaning a little later- coming into spring around April time. My mare had her foal yesterday and he won't be weaned until that time as I just think baby will have a much easier time weaning onto better grass. My mare had a choice of outside or field shelter and had him on a nice thick straw bed in the shelter- highly unusual as this mare will not tolerate stabling

 

[KittenInTheTree]

The foal will grow it's coat when the days shorten and it gets colder even if born late and yours will not really be that late anyway, hope all goes well with the foaling, such a shame yet another unplanned foal, I know people get excited about it but it is not ideal especially with a tiny mare that could have been covered by a big lump of a cob, you have no idea what may come out and have the responsibility for a life that you did not plan for.

Thank you. Not knowing the size of the sire worries me, but vet is only ten minutes down the road at least. TBH if we'd realised in time we wouldn't have continued the pregnancy. Had the vet do a blood test shortly after purchase and it came back negative, kicking myself for not having her scanned then as well, but she was so bad with people at that point that it seemed too much to put her (and vet) through! Lesson learned. Glad to hear that we shouldn't need to worry about the weather.

Don't worry too much about her foaling outside - if she's happier and more relaxed outside, she should be fine. If you need to, you have stabling, so all bases covered. It just means a lot more hassle for you checking on her. However, the nights should still be pretty clear so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable!

My foals have loved haylage and have thrived on it, and just get baby handy and used to feed, so when it comes to weaning it shouldn't be too bad. Are you removing mare or foal at weaning? I always preferred to send the mare away and leave baby in familiar surroundings with a nanny/companion who is already known to baby and who is sensible and calm.

Yeah, BOGOFS are a pain - any chance of contacting previous owners to see if they have any idea about the sire?

Thank you. We live within walking distance of her field, which makes checking easier. Good to know haylage is okay. I haven't decided about how to go about separating them yet - still reeling by the fact that she's pregnant rather than plump! So lots of thinking and research to do over the next few months.