Foal and cold wet weather

[Malbec]

I drive past a small paddock on my way to the yard which has a pony mare in and she gave birth to a foal Monday night/Tuesday morning and the weather since has been pretty vile and there is no shelter at all in the field.

I know very little about foals, will it be ok in the cold and wet? I've seen it on it's feet but not suckling yet. It's on a busy A road so I only get a glimpse as I pass but there is no hay for the mare and water buckets are more often than not tipped over!

I don't know the owner, there is a small pull in at the gate and I have seen a car there only a couple of times in the past year. I'm lying awake at night worrying about them but are they hardier than they look?

 

[AdorableAlice]

The foal needs help, well worth calling ILPH asap.

 

[Zero00000]

Report it as a welfare issue to WHW or a local rescue/charity to you.

 

[Polos Mum]

OP not sure where you are but WHW (world of horse welfare) or BHS (British Horse society) would both come out and take a look and give advice / intervene if needed. You will find local contact numbers if you google either of the above.
PLEASE don't try the RSPCA - they will not be as responsive.

 

[Malbec]

OP not sure where you are but WHW (world of horse welfare) or BHS (British Horse society) would both come out and take a look and give advice / intervene if needed. You will find local contact numbers if you google either of the above.
PLEASE don't try the RSPCA - they will not be as responsive.

Thanks, have left a message with WHW, hopefully they can send someone out.

 

[tda]

Hang on a minute, you drive past, 10 seconds, and you've decided it hasn't suckled. Why don't you go and sit outside the field for a couple of hours and wait and see if it's really struggling before you call the RSPCA.
Sorry but I have good friends who care ridiculously well for their animals who have had the authorities called in for absolutely no reason

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It must be feeding if it's still alive from Monday, it's not ideal weather for a foal so I would probably stop off and have a proper look round.

 

[Equi]

It isn’t ideal weather or time of year for the goal but it must be suckling. Horses are very clever, the mum will be putting it into the hedge and sheltering it when she needs to. It’s still worth a call to the welfare advisors but don’t underestimate a good mum.

 

[Laurac13]

I think better safe than sorry and see if WHW or the like can check on the foal.
I Used to drive by a paddock with a pony and donkey in on my way to work and towards to end of last winter I thought the donkey looked quite poor and depressed and not coping with the bad weather albeit he wasn’t in a dire state but I was a bit worried and I thought he needed a rug but I didn’t do anything 2 days later he disappeared and I never saw him again He had been there for years he may have been old or ill but I will never know he obviously didn’t make it through the bad weather

 

[Malbec]

Hang on a minute, you drive past, 10 seconds, and you've decided it hasn't suckled. Why don't you go and sit outside the field for a couple of hours and wait and see if it's really struggling before you call the RSPCA.
Sorry but I have good friends who care ridiculously well for their animals who have had the authorities called in for absolutely no reason

I said I hadn’t seen it suckling, not that it hadn’t. It’s been on it’s feet once since I passed and the other times lying down next to the mare but WHW said nothing they can do until lockdown is eased next month but to call the RSPCA if I think it’s an emergency.

I reported it because it’s only a few days old and the weather here has been cold and wet and there is no shelter, not even hedging so thought it may need some help and the mare could do with some hay.

 

[Trouper]

You're right to be concerned - but I would first ask around the "neighbours" to see if anyone knows who owns the mare or talk to other horse owners or any riding schools nearby before contacting the welfare organisations. If all fails, then asking the RSPCA would be prudent. Not my first choice of equine welfare organisations but if they are the only ones who will attend then there is no choice.

 

[stormox]

Would it not be better to try and speak to someone - owner or neighbour, or stop and have a look yourself? Is mum in good condition? Maybe the foal is sucking and you just havent seen it? Foals do take shelter under their mums and if its a hardy native breed could well be fine.

 

[wills_91]

Not sure why everyone is jumping down the ops throat -admitted in first post she didn't know much about foals and was wondering if the weather was a worry! Op might not have time to be trailing round looking for owners.

Also I hate this "if its a native it will be fine'. I've had to bring my Shetland in today because he was shivering after the last few days of horrendous weather.