Concerned for the new baby at the yard

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LankyDoodle

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Moved yards in September. Just our two and the owners' three ponies/horses there. They do have cattle and some goats as well. They're not hugely knowledgeable about horse care, but one of the kids does take her ponio to local shows etc. They don't have a school but will do by mid-late spring.

Anyway, to the point. At the weekend, they were given a baby!!! Their friends had bought it at a local sales last week and their 2 year old child could not distinguish between this coloured foal and his own little shetland, so he walked up to groom the foal and basically he got kicked. So our YOs have ended up being given the foal as they have land. They don't have enough stables yet - they have three (2 taken by us), plus 3 makeshift ones made from 5-bar gates. They have a 30 year old mare one end, the foal in the middle and their pony cob on the other end.

The two horses seem to be bullying the little foal, mainly the mare if I am honest, which is understandable given the mixture of her age and his cheeky curiosity - he is 7 months old.

They are not feeding the foal any hay and yesterday when the foal tried to eat some from the neighbouring stable through the bars, they scorned him telling him he would choke!!! They aren't giving a hard feed and he doesn't get turned out. So to be honest, I think he must be starving. He's been weaned, obviously! He looks on longingly at the other 2 eating their hay, poor mite.

The other thing is the handling, but they will learn about this and it's not affecting his welfare (they just may end up with a pony that doesn't like being handled and/or takes the micky out of its handlers later on). I am just concerned about the feeding, and not totally sure how to approach it, as they're clearly not sure rather than purposely trying to starve him. I try to drop hints but I am not a confrontational person so leave it at hints.

What would you do?
 
so, if he isn't getting hay, hard feed or grass, does this mean he is getting nothing at all? They are starving him to death. i wouldn't faf around, they need to feed him or they need to be reported before they kill him. I think you need to be very straight with them. sorry.
 
That;s exactly right and the reason I am concerned. I posted this gingerly wondering if I was being unreasonable (I am a nervous person).

They have ended up with this foal rather than going out of their way to get one. If I were them (I don't call myself knowledgeable by any means but do think I'd be capable of caring for a youngster and I also know when to say 'no, can't do it because it would be wrong for the foal') I would not have just accepted being landed with a foal when I have never had a youngster before and/or relatively novice.

The handling side of things is important but is not my concern. My concern is the food and I was worried about confronting them as, like I said, I am a nervous person and thought 'it's not my business'. Anyway, I'm afraid to say that I nearly gave the baby some hay today but caught myself and told myself that it was not my business to do so, so I didn't. So little baby is probably still standing there looking at the others munching. I also think he should be out playing in a paddock and having fun.
 
If you are sure he is not being fed, then call the BHS and ask the welfare representative to come round...to 'make sure the foal is in a good home'. THen they can tell YO what the foal needs.
I have found the BHS welfare reps to be very tactful.
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Sorry but that absolutely disgusts me. I could not sit quietly and say nothing - they are breaking the Law by not feeding that poor little thing. Sometimes I just do not understand people.
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Thank you, shils. I might do that. The only reason I can be sure is that they have said about the hay choking him and when I was speaking to the young daughter, she was saying they didn't want to start feeding him hard feed. I also know he is in his stable all day (all 4 of theirs are to be honest, but he doesn't go out even if the others do).
 
How long has he not been getting any food for? You are not being unreasonable but you need to get your act together and say something (or get your husband to) or let his death be on your conscience.

Sorry to be blunt but you can't just stand by and do nothing.
 
I'm sorry but I think you need to get a horse welfare charity or the BHS involved if you want to take it further. If they are not feeding this poor little thing then something needs to be done asap or it will go down hill very quickly. Not having a go at you by the way!

I couldn't stand by and watch it starve - can you sneak it some hay while they aren't around? I know it's not for you to feed their foal but until something is done then being sneaky might be the only way to help it.

Good luck, it must be putting you in a difficult situation!
 
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Thank you, shils. I might do that. The only reason I can be sure is that they have said about the hay choking him and when I was speaking to the young daughter, she was saying they didn't want to start feeding him hard feed. I also know he is in his stable all day (all 4 of theirs are to be honest, but he doesn't go out even if the others do).

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If it were me, I'd ask them straight out what they are feeding him...and then tell them what he needs!
But if you are more tactful than me, you could also offer to fetch them Stud Mix for the foal when you buy your hard feed, buy them 'Foal to 5 years' or similar, or even phone up Dodson and Horrell or the other feed companies' help lines, and get them to formulate a diet for him.
I can't quite believe anyone thinks you can get an 'Airfoal' like an 'Airplant'.
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Hedgewitch - that is exactly what I nearly did this morning. I got as far as his door with a wedge of hay, and then thought 'what the hell are you doing you nosey cow?' and dropped the hay back by their bale!

But it's not my nature to allow an animal to suffer, and until talking it through here, I didn't see that by satisfying THEIR consciences, I am passively allowing the boy to starve.

I will speak to them later today. My husband is quite good at confrontation (he has told them our horses are not being kept in this winter, apart from odd days, as the yard was sold as year round turnout, and they have accepted it). I just have to swallow my humility and do it.
 
Poor thing not eaten since Friday. I would defo say something although I can understand how you feel, i'm not the most confrontational of people either but saying something in the case is defo not sticking your nose in.
 
My god - seriously how have you not managed to say something?! I've breed foals and it should be getting practically ab lib hay and hard feed at least once a day as a minimum. The poor thing has probably only just been weaned and desperate for food, warmth and comfort. I'd also be seriously concerned that it's not been turned out - it should be going out everyday for exercise to help it grow stronger and develop properly - ideally with a suitable companion who isn't going to bully it. I'm sorry, but you really do have to say something as they sound like they are being plain cruel (intentionally or not). If it doesn't go well then I would call in the ILPH or someone similar. Sorry I sound so harsh but think of the poor little foal at the end of the day. Good Luck!!
 
Oh that's a shame. I would definately have fed him - you are being caring not nosey. Trouble is he'll probably end up with colic now anyway.

Good idea to get your husband to speak to them, takes the pressure off you. Let us know how you get on.
 
I am sad about reading this too, why are you turning a blind eye and using the 'its none of my business' attitude, why don't you speak up, nervous or not, tell somebody who can help and please give it some hay before it drops down dead
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Hmmm, I agree.

Several things have not gone to plan since we started at this yard and we have considered moving again, but the fact we've only just settled and paid £300 for refitting of mats in two stables, is holding us back. They are lovely people but they erm don't have a clue at the moment... about livery or anything else, it seems. Their horses are lovely and not over/underweight, but they're real novices despite years keeping horses. I don't know if it's a case of 'my way or no way' or really that they think horses should/can be kept like a dairy herd.

The foal doesn't have a friend, either. Their horses/ponies are 30, 16 and 10, and all seem to be bullies.

I just felt very sad for him. He is probably missing his mummy as well. He isn't wearing a rug, but has a very thick coat (he's cobby). He is on straw and I have seen him trying to eat it but then giving up. He hasn't been doing any poos. Oh God, this just starts to sound worse. Maybe he has been doing some poos, but there weren't any this morning
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I am sad about reading this too, why are you turning a blind eye and using the 'its none of my business' attitude, why don't you speak up, nervous or not, tell somebody who can help and please give it some hay before it drops down dead
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Sorry if you haven't read the rest of the thread. I have already said I am going to say something when I see them later today. It's only last night/this morning that I've become concerned because I started thinking about the hay comments and the fact he hasn't been out, then speaking to the girl last night about hard feed as well...
 
Can you get down to the yard now? Time is probably going to be of the essence here. Call the vet out to your horse or something and get them to speak to the foal's owners.

Seriously, this could be catastrophic. You could go and make a real difference instead of talking about it on a computer.
 
I'm going to say something tonight, and I am going to give him some hay while they are out at school/work/silaging.

I should have done it earlier, but I've been told off before for doing similar with older ponies, and yes I'm nervous. I guess I needed the say-so of this horsey community so that I knew I wasn't being a hard-hearted bitch by telling them they haven't a clue.
 
if they have a child,
they must realise that a foal has to eat, phone ilph whatever they are called now let him tell them if you dont want to do it have been in the same positition myself
 
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