Foal with no turnout

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thatsmygirl

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Hi all, I went to see a 6 month old foal a couple off days ago, he was lovely and friendly but has no turn out!!! The guy that owns him keeps him on a livery stable and he's been stabled for neally a month solid. Now my question is if I do buy him how do I now get him use to turn out without him going off his head and off course no contact with other horses for a month either so it's going to be hard for the poor fella. Any helpful tips would be great.
 
Do you know the reason why he currently isn't getting any turnout? Presumably he was before the last month? If I was to buy him I would maybe stable him to start with - say, maybe at night and introduce turnout slowly. This depends on your set up though. If you can have individual t/o or can electric fence off a smaller area of your field for him then I'd go with that and let him be able to see and 'talk' to other horses and over time extend his paddock area and maybe introduce him to a friendly horse if you can. That's how I'd work it anyway as we have a nice, friendly-to-all-horses old TB who is our first introductee for any newbies we get.
 
He was brought from a local sale so iv been told and stabled since then as the yard has no turn out for him. I would think he was turned out before that with his mum. He's neally 7 months actually by his passport but has no testacules ( spelling) my other foal by that age had small peas!!!
 
When I got my yearling gelding recently he'd been on restricted turnout. I got him home, turned him out with my gentle old mare and left him out. After he had settled properly he was put in the same paddock as the other horses but he and the old TB were one side of an electric fence and the other two horses were the other side. I then took the eletric fence away and I didn't have any fighting.

It is very bad for a young growing horse to have no turnout and no social interaction with other horses. This would be enough (the negative effect on his physical and mental development) for me to go and take him home, but I am soft. ;)

If you have another youngster or a gentle horse available to turn him out with, he should be fine.

Day one (literally five mins after getting off the trailor).
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After a couple of weeks, with the electric fence in place.
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A few days ago (all together).
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To be honest if it's likely he was turned out up to a month ago then I'd be inclined to pop him out again if you got him in the daytime anyway. I'd pop him in a stable if I got him on an evening though and then turnout the next day. I suppose it depends on the foal but I would imagine unless they've been mollycoddled from a young age then they'd pretty much accept whatever you do.
 
He also looks very wormy so that needs sorting. Faracat I know where u are coming from, I felt so sorry for him today I just wanted to take him home but am worried about turning him out as iv got elec fencing and feel he's going to race stright through it and upset everybody. He's got mucky eyes and sleeping in poor **** as well. Just looks poor and not kept well
 
I hate to think the health/lameness issues this fellow will have if continues to be kept like that. Stabling horses is hard on their legs, and is part of the reason that so many horses become unsound relatively early in their careers. (As well as poor shoeing/trimming).

Also his mental health/socialisation would be an issue as well.
 
I don't think i would want to buy it. There could be some problems in the future if he's been pretty much stood in for a month whilst growning so much. There's so many nice foals out there that my head would have to rule my heart, as i would rather buy a well raised foal from a breeder than one from someone who is probably making a quick buck from a market bargain. he should have at least wormed it if he actually cares about it.
 
As a baby he desperately needs turnout, movement helps develop strong bones. He would be best oout 24/7 iin safely fenced area.

Can he not even be turned ouot in an arena for a few hours to play? Many years ago my youngster from a yearling lived in at night and was out most of the day she stayed sane.
 
One of my foals had to stay in for 6 weeks (when she was only 6 weeks old) as she fractured her pedal bone. Yes she had mum so social interaction wasn't a problem but when I said to the vet will there be issues with growth and standing in he said no problem with it at all. There were no ill effects from it at all.

Obviously this is different as there is no reason for this baby to be in. Im not sure I could leave him there if I'd been to see him as it's no life for a baby. If I brought him I would just get him home, worm him and get him out next to the others. Yes he is going to go loopy and run but he will settle. I would then gradually introduce him to the others as you would with any new horse.

If you like him go and get him, it sounds like he needs you. If it's only been a month I really wouldn't be too put off but I'd want to get him out of there if I could afford him
 
Iv brought him :)
it's played on my mind all night and can't leave him there. I'm paying hardly nothing for him, under £100 so leaves me with plenty in the kit in case off any problems. He's coming home end off this week and iv got a 15 month old so going to turn them 2 out together once he's wormed.
 
I'm really glad to read this. I very much doubt that him being in will have any long term negative affects. It will be a lovely moment letting him out for a run around and meeting his new friends.

I'm glad you decided to get him out of there as it really wasn't a suitable sounding place for a baby. Good on you :)
 
You have another youngster, so, IMO he couldn't be anywhere better. As for being stabled for a month, no not ideal, but far from dire!
Look forward to seeing some pictures!
 
Ah sounds like he'll have a good home and fab that he has a mate too. As he is in at the moment I would be tempted to go and worm him before you tak e delivery of him and his worm burden :-) you can get him out as soon as possible .

My yearling needs and op and vets have advised any less than 6 weeks box rest and said op would be a waste
 
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