Foal is coming home soon but i need advice...

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charlie55

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Hi all, i'm getting my baby in January, he hasn't been handled as such, a few strokes on the face and that's as far as he will allow you to go. He will be living out in a 2 acre field with one other, we haven't got stables but we have got a big field shelter, my worry is if i turn him out will i ever catch him?? Don't think its a good idea to leave head collars on in case he gets caught up... Do you think he will come close for his dinners? Or should i shut him in the field shelter until he is used to being handled? (will have adlib hay in the field shelter,) Sorry for sounding thick, the youngest i've ever owned is a year old and he was like a big soft dog to handle! Just getting abit worried now as to what to do for the best, help please xx
 
A stable would be better especially as you foal hasn't been handled much, but using your field shelter should be good.
Is your field all one or split? If split, put him on the smaller area once you can turn him out.
Has he had hard feed introduced, as if not, it is unlikely that he will come for feed, so you will need to introduce that while he is in shelter.
If you can get a leather foal slip, that should be safer to leave on as should break in an emergency. You can attaché a small length of rope so you can grab that rather than the actual head collar.
 
Spottyappy said:
A stable would be better especially as you foal hasn't been handled much, but using your field shelter should be good.
Is your field all one or split? If split, put him on the smaller area once you can turn him out.
Has he had hard feed introduced, as if not, it is unlikely that he will come for feed, so you will need to introduce that while he is in shelter.
If you can get a leather foal slip, that should be safer to leave on as should break in an emergency. You can attaché a small length of rope so you can grab that rather than the actual head collar.
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I wouldnt withhold money! It isnt the breeders fault he is the shy one! The others are coming on heeps and bounds :)

Thankyou spottyappy, he is on hard feed now so hopefully he has got the taste for it, the field is one big one so i think ill either section it off or leave him in for a bit. I will go and get a leather foal slip, didnt realise they brake so easy! x
 
be positive said:
I replied in breeding but did not think of withholding the money, seems like a good idea.
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Lol, I think if they don't get a cheque [they won't want an actual cheque] you won't get a foal.
I bought a cheap foal slip and left it on, I think it would have broken if there was a problem.
I had a similar problem, it took about eight weeks to overcome her behaviour, I spent hours in the stable reading while she kept on the far side of the dam, she was clamped to mum's side [ the far side], went in and out to field and manege, no way could I get her even tho she had a foal slip with a loop.
We managed to grab her for worming, but of course that involved several people, it did not help.
She popped her head over stable door one day, I clipped on lead rein, and it was all over.
I would ask the breeders, but would be wary of leaving her on her own in a shelter, esp if it is a gate [legs], best to put in a safe place with an old mare if you have one.
 
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MrsD123 said:
Lol, I think if they don't get a cheque [they won't want an actual cheque] you won't get a foal.
I bought a cheap foal slip and left it on, I think it would have broken if there was a problem.
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Don't do this please! If you're going to use a halter, get a small headcollar cut away the bottom part of the fixing and replace with bailer twine, use this to secure the headcollar so it will break if the foal gets caught, also remember that baler twine is generally a lot stronger than it used to be so I would split it in two first. Thread the twine through one of the holes on the headstall and tie to the ring that would have had the buckle part attached to it.
 
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