Feeding the month old foal

Don't feed! That's the dam's job!

No seriously, unless the dam is struggling, don't feed. Foals that grow too fast have all sorts of joint problems - you may want to read up about OCD, just for your info.

I even stop my babies for helping themselves to their mum's dinner and start introducing a little bit of hard feed around 7-8months just before I get ready to wean them. Even then, I keep them on ad lib hay and very minimal hard feed if the winter is harsh.
 
GinnieRedwings said:
Don't feed! That's the dam's job!
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Ditto! Although they are partial to a mouthful of Mums feed (alfa a and fibrebeet with codlivine as a suplement for both mares + Superflex for one)
They do have acess to a rockies red field lick at all times.

I only give the mares small feeds in order to give them their suplements and so it makes it easier if I need to catch them for worming/vet/foal handling etc (they are always happy to come in!)

Overgrown foals are not a good thing and although many do it for the show ring it is not good for the long term health of the foal. It's a pet hate of mine as is overfeeding broodmares - although on this one I have been guilty of feeding the recommended quantity of stud mix and ending up with a foal that was far too big and caused problems both during and after delivery. The modern way we look after our horses I believe contributes to alot of the problems seen. Horses should drop weight during winter (and I don't mean let them become toast racks) and then regain it in spring with good old Dr Green but we try and keep our looking 100% all year round which leads to fat horses in spring.....sorry I'll get off my soap box now :p:p
 
I agree don't feed unless Mum struggling. Grass is the best stuff. My little lady pinches a handful of mum's so I give her a small handful of dampened chaff to give Mum some peace and quite but that is it.

Mum just gets a handful of chaff, a handful of stud balancer and some pony nuts and garlic. All eaten in a minute :D
 
Totally agree with all ^^^^ unless your mare or the foal is really struggling. My mare gets her stud balancer and the foal will get a mouth ful of that when she can sneak her head in but otherwise nope no feed...she can eat grass and her mum's milk!
 
Thank you all very much ,that is what I was doing but suddenly read somewhere that foals must have a feed at 4 weeks old. Ive never fed my foals before and theyve all done well.
 
I agree with everyone else!! My mare is fed stud balancer and Otti will steal a mouthful if hes not chased off! Otherwise, only give the foal something if your mare is struggling to keep up.
x
 
Well I would say that the foal should be sharing whatever the mare is eating he doesn't really need his own feed at the moment. x Keep us posted.
 
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