First foal - tips and tricks

[haybalecity123]

Hello

Getting my first foal in November and wondering if any tip or tricks to know? Do you tend to feed your foals or is grazing enough? He is a cob and a leg in each corner type

TIA

 

[Gloi]

Make sure when he comes he has one or more suitable companions to live with. How old will he be?

 

[twiggy2]

Worm him and chuck him out on reasonable grazing, with other youngsters and good fencing and as long as he is neither fat nor thin leave him to it feed wise

 

[Cortez]

Absolutely have him out with other weanlings. He may not need feeding but access to a mineral lick or similar would be a good insurance policy. Don't over handle, but do teach to be caught, lead and tie, and pick up feet and be handled all over. Leave him to it.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Absolutely make sure that he has other weanling companions.

 

[eggs]

I always got another foal as company for my home bred foal when it was time to wean. Have as much turn out time as possible and don't over handle. They just need to learn the basics as Cortez described. This certainly does not need to be done every day. Unless there was a medical reason I don't rug foals but mine did come in overnight into a big barn where they had ad-lib hay.

 

[Chinchilla]

Absolutely have him out with other weanlings. He may not need feeding but access to a mineral lick or similar would be a good insurance policy. Don't over handle, but do teach to be caught, lead and tie, and pick up feet and be handled all over. Leave him to it.

and how do you define/know what 'overhandling' is? Is it different with each foal?
/\ actually no idea why I'm asking this, I'm never going to own a foal...but interested nonetheless...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If anyone needs a nice native foal the fell sales at penrith are at the end of the month and you can usually get a good bargain ... just saying!

 

[haybalecity123]

EKW are you trying to bankrupt me??

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm haha

Will have company with olders, no other young ones for a little while. How much is overhandling as a PP asked? I would thinking at last 5-10 mins of cuddles, headcollar, walking around, inhand grazing etc a day

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Not bankrupt you! Quite a few of the foals have been born and lived on the Moor so are hardy wee things! Plus fells sell well a few years down the line so look at it as an investment for both your foals mental well being and your sanity knowing they are roughly the same size and are able to look after themselves!

As to handling - I drag mine about with me once or twice a week. Collecting feed buckets, doing the hay, mucking out, climbing in and out of the trailer on route somewhere else. They do get lead properly every so often but when they come on a jobs round they are on the end of the rope and are just expected to follow. The rest of the time they are free to do as they please!

 

[Cortez]

The last foal I had (bit of a surprise; from a rescue mare...), a PRE colt and I bought two connemara weanlings for €100 each and chucked them all out together. Overhandling = cheeky, needy, pushy. If I brought them all in every two weeks for a bit of brushing, feet handling and tyeing up, that was plenty. Checked them in the field every day, obvs...

 

[AmyMay]

How much older?? Have you really thought this through?

 

[ihatework]

Please tell me you are not planning on putting a weanling out with an established adult herd

 

[TheMule]

Weanlings really need to be out 24/7 with same-age company, preferably with an older horse or two to keep order.
If you can't buy another one then usually charities will loan youngsters until backing age or you could advertise for someone in a similar position that would pay livery

 

[TelH]

My weanling went out with his sister who is a year older and a 3yo. Not a perfect situation but better than going straight into my established adult herd. I think he would have most likely ended up getting the stuffing kicked out of him had I done that.
Handling wise he learnt to be caught, walk sensibly on a headcollar and leadrope, be tied up for basic grooming and feet picking out, and to stand politely for the farrier. Just the necessities really. The rest of the time he was just allowed to be a baby.

 

[sport horse]

Please do not even consider turning your weanling out with an adult herd. The last person I said this to ignored my advice and the adult horses chased the poor baby through a massive hedge filled with barbed wire. It was found the next day, the owner could not handle their own terrified weanling and I was called (as an experienced breeder) to help the vet get the foal into a trailer and to the vet hospital. I would not want to describe the injuries that poor foal sustained but I have never seen a sight like it before or since and that is in over 50 years with horses.

The owner did not even have the funds to pay the vets for the long long treatment needed, or myself for spending a whole morning and providing transport.

If you do not have the facilities/company for a weanling then do not buy it. That would be cruel.

 

[pippixox]

Interesting.
Can this be a bit different when they are in a mixed herd initially with mum?
My friend has her first foal but the mum has come with her temporarily (owner is a friend and lacks grass) and they have now joined her other three horses. One is 4, one 7- welsh As and an old mare. They are all ok at the moment. But her plan is to eventually return mare (foal nearly old enough) and foal to stay with the older 3. But I guess she will be established in the group by then. Unless they then start picking on her more once mum is gone?

Her foal is handled daily now as comes in and out with mum and the others- in at night in stable and chip pen. But not over fussed with.

 

[Nudibranch]

I would also avoid "cuddles". You may well end up with a pushy, in your face youngster who will never be quite as mannerly as it should be - at least not without a LOT of consistent work to "unlearn" its lack of respect. I bought one who turned out to have been an only foal who was cuddled a lot and he was a pita. Immediately anyone different handled him, he'd just try it on big time even when he was fully grown. Basic handling once or twice a week and turn out with other youngsters and maybe one or two older mares. Other babies are really, really important.

 

[be positive]

Interesting.
Can this be a bit different when they are in a mixed herd initially with mum?
My friend has her first foal but the mum has come with her temporarily (owner is a friend and lacks grass) and they have now joined her other three horses. One is 4, one 7- welsh As and an old mare. They are all ok at the moment. But her plan is to eventually return mare (foal nearly old enough) and foal to stay with the older 3. But I guess she will be established in the group by then. Unless they then start picking on her more once mum is gone?

Her foal is handled daily now as comes in and out with mum and the others- in at night in stable and chip pen. But not over fussed with.

That set up sounds fine and nothing like a herd situation that will be on a normal livery yard, 2 small ponies and an oldie are relatively safe and one will probably take care of the foal once mum leaves, the owner is also in full control so can split them if required.

Turning a weanling out alone into a group of mature horses, possibly shod, coming and going to be ridden etc could be a disaster, if the OP has no control over the introductions, or has no experience of youngsters and how they interact, it is not fair on a foal and is why most livery yards should not take on foals unless they have suitable facilities to offer.

 

[Cortez]

Foals really, really need to have companions the same age. If they are out with adults only they don't have anyone to play with, tend to annoy the hell out of the older horses and don't use up enough energy to stay out of mischief.

 

[Antw23uk]

I fear this will all fall on deaf ears and no suitable foal companion will be sourced! Shame but i guess we just wait for the 'help' posts over the next year or so!

 

[sport horse]

Sadly I fear you are correct. That is exactly what happened to the one I outline above and it so nearly died.

 

[haybalecity123]

Dear me, look at these comments at the end. Did they make you feel better? The most experienced horse people ever to walk the planet? Vastly superior? From a few words on a post, and a massive dose of assumption and groupthink, suddenly that's the conclusion you come to? Looks like the last two posters had a nice circle jerk session with each other. You're so amazing. Proper cool kids.

I didn't mention livery yard, or how old 'olders' would be, or how the company would be achieved. Nor do you know level of experience with adult horses, or the facilities, or future plans. In fact, very little to go on whatsoever. Yet we get to the end and my foal is going to die through sheer negligence, aided by a great deal of presumption by other posters and the inference that somehow it's a chav asking.

Fill in more blanks. It's really funny.

 

[AmyMay]

In fact, very little to go on whatsoever.

Yes, because you left a conversation you started. People who automatically fill in the blanks and draw their own conclusions.

 

[Cortez]

Dear me, look at these comments at the end. Did they make you feel better? The most experienced horse people ever to walk the planet? Vastly superior? From a few words on a post, and a massive dose of assumption and groupthink, suddenly that's the conclusion you come to? Looks like the last two posters had a nice circle jerk session with each other. You're so amazing. Proper cool kids.

I didn't mention livery yard, or how old 'olders' would be, or how the company would be achieved. Nor do you know level of experience with adult horses, or the facilities, or future plans. In fact, very little to go on whatsoever. Yet we get to the end and my foal is going to die through sheer negligence, aided by a great deal of presumption by other posters and the inference that somehow it's a chav asking.

Fill in more blanks. It's really funny.

Funny how you got all that out of people offering good advice and voicing some concern. If you ask for help it's considered bad form to poop all over it.

 

[Nudibranch]

Dear me, look at these comments at the end. Did they make you feel better? The most experienced horse people ever to walk the planet? Vastly superior? From a few words on a post, and a massive dose of assumption and groupthink, suddenly that's the conclusion you come to? Looks like the last two posters had a nice circle jerk session with each other. You're so amazing. Proper cool kids.

I didn't mention livery yard, or how old 'olders' would be, or how the company would be achieved. Nor do you know level of experience with adult horses, or the facilities, or future plans. In fact, very little to go on whatsoever. Yet we get to the end and my foal is going to die through sheer negligence, aided by a great deal of presumption by other posters and the inference that somehow it's a chav asking.

Fill in more blanks. It's really funny.

I hope your comments were aimed at the two last posted before yours because yes, in fairness they were ott. However the rest of the thread gave you consistent advice, or the "tips and tricks" you asked for, from people who have experience with foals and youngstock. You stated there will be no other youngsters and from the way you wrote it is reasonable to infer you don't have experience with foals already. Everyone has advised you not to overhandle and that socialisation with other youngsters is crucial. You don't seem to like that but sorry, that's what is required.

Look, if you want comments along the lines of ooh, a foal, I'm jealous, make sure you give it lots of fuss...etc, etc, then there are other forums who would probably provide that. If you want suggestions from people who have been there and done it then maybe you need to be less defensive and think about what you want from this weanling long term.

 

[RachaelJC]

Dear me, look at these comments at the end. Did they make you feel better? The most experienced horse people ever to walk the planet? Vastly superior? From a few words on a post, and a massive dose of assumption and groupthink, suddenly that's the conclusion you come to? Looks like the last two posters had a nice circle jerk session with each other. You're so amazing. Proper cool kids.

I didn't mention livery yard, or how old 'olders' would be, or how the company would be achieved. Nor do you know level of experience with adult horses, or the facilities, or future plans. In fact, very little to go on whatsoever. Yet we get to the end and my foal is going to die through sheer negligence, aided by a great deal of presumption by other posters and the inference that somehow it's a chav asking.

Fill in more blanks. It's really funny.

Reading the last two statements you are referring to, I do see your side and how they would come across in isolation. There are a number of assumptions being made due to lack of specific detail.

As everyone has said, foals really need be out with others of a similar age in order to develop properly / in the usual way, and it will be more fun for them than being out with adult horses. Because you mentioned that your foal would be out with "olders, no other young ones for a little while" the assumption is that these are prime adult horses in an established herd, shod and in regular work. If that's not the case, can you elaborate? How many, how old, etc.? Is it livery, if so at a riding school or private livery yard? How long will your new foal be without younger company?

I know it's a financial strain, but 'borrowing' a weanling or moving yours to a yard with other young ones will really give a good foundation and set you up for success when your foal grows up.

As for handling, young horses aren't like other pets that live inside the house - it's OK if a dog or cat want to come close for cuddles, not so much a fully grown horse! Over-handling causes them to be desensitised to you and they can turn to being pushy, bite, stubborn, etc. 5-10 mins of cuddling and handling per day is too much, I'd do twice per week max. Again, you want to set yourself up for success as he/she gets older.

I'd also rope in a decent mentor as it's your first foal (if you haven't already) so that you can bounce ideas off or just chat about crazy foals! It really helps to have someone there to support you when you need it.

 

[Ernie2001]

I've had two foals (one is now 3 and his younger brother is now 1). Both came unhandled straight from mum. Unfortunately when getting my first foal I didn't have other weanlings so he was turned out with my 20 year old retired pony who soon took him under his wing. He was a month or so later living in my 'herd' which consisted of the older pony and two 10 year old geldings. We never had any problems and I felt I knew my horses well enough to know how they would react to a new situation so felt safe leaving them together. The 3 year old is very well mannered and I've had no problems with him.
His brother was introduced in a similar manner and no problems. All 5 live together now very happily and are all mates. I think it's more about being sensible as to what horse you turn them out with, I find the older horses make the yearlings braver and easier to handle. Luckily mine are all laid back geldings so didn't have any issues.

Enjoy your foal, they grow so quick! 😀

 

[sport horse]

I am sorry you think my comments are over the top. They come from over 50 years of experience breeding and owning horses.

You asked for advice as you are getting you first foal. I in my turn got loads of advice when I started. That is how we all learn. To not listen to or take that advice is your prerogative. However that could impinge on the well being of you foal. Your choice.

 

[Asha]

Good grief OP ! You came on and asked for advice , you stated this is your first foal and it would be turned out with older horses . You mentioned giving it cuddles and inhand grazing / takin for walks etc . All giving the impression you havent the first idea how to raise a foal. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum , and the posters are trying to help you avoid any costly mistakes. Youngsters can easily find ways to harm themselves. You can have the experience in the world with older horses , But that doesn’t translate into doing the right thing with weanlings . The posters on here just want to help guide you , and also make you aware of the consequences of getting it wrong .

The advice you have been given is sound . I would advise following it for your weanlings sake .