Basic foal care

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charlottemary

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I have just taken on a 1 year old cobXdales filly and I have a few questions. I have never owned a foal before so this is all quite new to me. Do I need to rug? She has a lovely think coat atm but with this weather I don't want her miserable but at the same time I defiantly don't want to mollycoddle her! Does she need hard feed? If so what should I start her on? What are some good ground work things I can be doing with her? In a week she's already gone from practically feral to picking her feet up. Also what are some essentials you would recommend? The only think I've bought her so far is a turnout headcollar and leadrope. Thanks for any helpful advice! And the reason I have her is because my some one my YO knows has gone to prison and needed her horses taking so I bought the foal and my YO is looking after the other 5 for her, they were (and still are) in a very sorry state and very under weight
 
Shouldn't need a rug as long as there is reasonable shelter from worst of weather.
Don't rush to feed lots of hard feed just because poor. Start with adlib good quality hay/haylage and a mineral lick or mineral powder in a bit of chaff/speedibeet.
If in a state might be worth getting a vet check done and follow their advice on worming/teeth.
 
Thanks for the reply, I didn't think she'd need anything feed wise, I have a 15.2hh cob and she gets fat just looking at grass! Vet is coming out for a visit on Friday ( easiest he could get) to check all of them and then farrier on Monday to give them all a trim. Should the farrier be trimming foalies feet? As I said I have no clue when I comes to youngsters. Also, any ideas on names anyone? She's a bay with a blaze, standing at 13.2hh, I've just been calling her foalie but that won't do!
 
charlottemary said:
Thanks for the reply, I didn't think she'd need anything feed wise, I have a 15.2hh cob and she gets fat just looking at grass! Vet is coming out for a visit on Friday ( easiest he could get) to check all of them and then farrier on Monday to give them all a trim. Should the farrier be trimming foalies feet? As I said I have no clue when I comes to youngsters. Also, any ideas on names anyone? She's a bay with a blaze, standing at 13.2hh, I've just been calling her foalie but that won't do!
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Unless feet are looking particularly long I wouldn't trim yet but depends how fast growing they are. For name, bay mares I like the names Gem and Blaze. I have no clue why though
 
I would definitely want a farrier looking at a yearling, even if her feet look ok to the untrained eye. We start ours with a light trim at 3-34 months and do them every 5-6 months if all is looking ok (otherwise sooner.) Feet can go wrong very quickly in a youngster - and you need to teach them to be good for the farrier before they get too big, strong and bloody minded. I wouldn't rug - as long as there's some natural shelter in the field, and I'd feed plenty of hay/haylage and a mineral lick.
 
Rugs - I did rug my foal a couple of winter back due to non stop wind and rain. He is a wimpy warmblood though. He would come in shivering and drenched to the bone. He was very well behaved with his rug and never got tangled or caught up in it, although I can't say the same for other foals.

Feed - He got a handful of Hi-Fi with some vitamin supplements; which he is having again this winter. He has continues access to a salt/mineral lick ad-lib haylage and grass. Your filly might need more to help her out.

Feet/Farrier - He has his feet assessed and trimmed every 5-6 weeks as my other horses get theirs done. Keep it routine and look out for changes that could effect his conformation or foot balance.

Vets - I make sure all worming and vaccs are up to date to ensure that he is healthy. It's a good idea to get the vet to do a check over on her if he's not in the best condition.

Handling - I would never overdo it and keep training short and sweet. Make sure you can catch, lead, pick up feet, groom and handle. Once they're sorted I would move onto tying up and slowly leading her away from her friends so she doesn't get overly attached.

I also found toys were great for keeping him amused if the bigger horses didn't want to play. He loves his yoga ball!
 
Essential a good farrier sees her asap, if she needs correcting he will do it and advise, I would feed a pet scoop of D&H if you want to break aged 3, if you want to break aged 4/5 you can let nature take its course, but a little bit of minerals unless the grazing is 24/7 on old pasture where they are able to graze extensively.
 
This is the only foal that has been rugged here -- with a rug made out of one leg of a pair of leggings! She was very weak when born and had to be lifted up to the udder, then topped up from a bottle, every three hours, night and day. After the first day, I did not bother to tie the mare and would just milk her in the field. The foal survived and flourished, ony to die in a freak accident when a yearling. As the shepherds around here say, "Some are meant to die". But some good advice has been posted about managing a healthy yearling and I have nothing to add. Just remembered this photo and thought it might be of interest to someone.

Graciesfoal1.jpg
 
Everyone has been so helpful and kind! Will defiantly get the farrier to look her over and as I said the vet is coming to any worming and vaccinations will be done then. I might buy a rain sheet for her for when the weather is very bad because of all the wind and rain the uk has been having but don't want her being too whimpy! I went today and bought her two of the horslyx big licks, one for her stable and one for I'm the field. I'll defiantly go out and buy a yoga ball for her to play with as well, I can see the next few years being very fun! No doubt I'll be posing again soon for more advise lol
 
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