Foal won't follow

[ribbons]

No harm out for a couple of hours with a little rug on. It's not mid winter. And yes I have gone against vet advise on occasion. They don't always get it right. I had a slightly windswept filly. TBxWB Huge, 3 weeks overdue and vet thought she had dislocated hip and must stay in. Worst possible thing to do. 3 days old, perfectly straight and went on to be advanced dressage mare.

 

[Goldenstar]

Thanks, yes the foal has had his foal slip on and off him a few times now. Thankfully we got them out fine today. Hopefully it will get easier by the day, though I do need to be able to do it alone at some time.

You will be able to do it alone once you get them into a routine and for a while all is easy foal stays by mum after a while babe gets more indendant and increases the distance they will go away ( experts can age foals by how far they will roam from mum) then they get curious then they do go walk about sometimes as you bring them in but you will get though it .
We usually taught them to be lead with one person leading mum and foal it's a good lesson for life to invest time when they are little and it helps you to move them around.A co-operative mare is worth her wieght in gold one of ours who had had many foals knew the drill so well she would help you by putting herself in the right place all the time.
IME two year olds where the worse some of ours where complete thugs at two.

 

[Wagtail]

You will be able to do it alone once you get them into a routine and for a while all is easy foal stays by mum after a while babe gets more indendant and increases the distance they will go away ( experts can age foals by how far they will roam from mum) then they get curious then they do go walk about sometimes as you bring them in but you will get though it .
We usually taught them to be lead with one person leading mum and foal it's a good lesson for life to invest time when they are little and it helps you to move them around.A co-operative mare is worth her wieght in gold one of ours who had had many foals knew the drill so well she would help you by putting herself in the right place all the time.
IME two year olds where the worse some of ours where complete thugs at two.

Yes I would expect mares get more and more used to it and become more helpful and less stressed, the more foals they have. This mare won't be having another though as the owner bred the foal for herself. I am going to have my hands full I think.

 

[Wagtail]

No harm out for a couple of hours with a little rug on.

Which is exactly what I am doing. He has been out for a few hours. He has a turnout rug too so that he doesn't have to miss any days. But he won't be left out 24/7 whilst the weather is like it is.

 

[ribbons]

I have never suggested out 24/7 at this age, even in good weather. Just not in 23/7.
It sounds like your doing a great job, I think some of us have misunderstood each other in this thread once or twice. Easily done with the written word.

 

[Wagtail]

I have never suggested out 24/7 at this age, even in good weather. Just not in 23/7.
It sounds like your doing a great job, I think some of us have misunderstood each other in this thread once or twice. Easily done with the written word.

Yes, it is. Though I don't know where I have given the impression the foal is in 23/7. Maybe it's because I said he went out in the arena? He is three days old. Vet said to keep in for a few days and so today was his first day out. He will be going out for four or more hours a day for the next two weeks gradually increasing.

 

[Wagtail]

This foal is far too independent already and goes off all over by himself. Then Mum gets upset. We were hoping he would just follow for a few weeks at least so that owner does not have to be here all day while they are out. She lives 50 minutes away so can't just keep popping back. I don't have someone here most of the time. He is one hell of a handfull. He tries to jump on you too so we have been firmly pushing him off. Don't want to scare him

 

[Goldenstar]

This foal is far too independent already and goes off all over by himself. Then Mum gets upset. We were hoping he would just follow for a few weeks at least so that owner does not have to be here all day while they are out. She lives 50 minutes away so can't just keep popping back. I don't have someone here most of the time. He is one hell of a handfull. He tries to jump on you too so we have been firmly pushing him off. Don't want to scare him

It's amazing they are born with there temperaments our calm foals where calm horses our cheeky foals where cheeky horses.

 

[Wagtail]

It's amazing they are born with there temperaments our calm foals where calm horses our cheeky foals where cheeky horses.

Yes, I just know this one is going to give us trouble . On the plus side, you can stroke him all over his face, ears and body and he's completely unphased. He loves being quite roughly scratched around his withers. He tries to get so close to you and will bump right up to you and then suddenly try to jump on top of you. Obviously something we need to watch. We will have to be very firm with this one!

 

[AmyMay]

We were hoping he would just follow for a few weeks at least so that owner does not have to be here all day while they are out.

They rarely do. But in a few weeks you'll have it down to a fine art, and will be able to do the both on your own - leading the mare, and guiding the foal.