Foaling and Turnout

[Custard Cream]

I'm planning (and stressing!) ahead of time as mare isn't due till April 2016 but....

Current situation at yard is that mares are all turned out together (around 6 or 7) and are settled in a good herd. Field is a bit of a trek from stables and is no good for foals as over uneven concrete and down the side of a field that is straight out onto a road.

The initial plan is to have mare and foal in a small side paddock away from the rest of the horses, which I think is ideal (as next to her new stable) bar a few fencing issues which I'll have to sort out. It does adjoin other paddocks that will have geldings in but I don't think this should cause a problem.

This paddock is rather small though and really will only do for a few weeks. After that I'm not sure what I'll do as the only alternative is to turn out with the rest of the herd, but I don't think that's good either?

What do you all do?

 

[Faberge]

I wouldn't keep a foal on a yard where there are no others - they need buddies the same age to play with (which also gives the mare a bit of a break). Where in the country are you as I'm sure people could recommend good studs which could accommodate your mare and foal.

 

[be positive]

The yard does not sound at all suitable for a mare and foal, the herd situation is fine if you have some control over the comings and goings but if not it could be a disaster with your mare getting upset at the very least, the other mares will be very interested in a new addition and a young foal in the middle could be badly hurt.
You have plenty of time to find a suitable yard that either gives you a safe field for your mare and foal, not ideal as your foal will benefit from having others and you will need somewhere when weaning them, a stud would be most suitable as the foal could stay with it's friends when leaving the mare, a stud usually offers the best environment for many reasons to ensure your mare and foal are as safe as possible, something most normal livery yards just are not set up for.

 

[Custard Cream]

Thanks for your replies - it's as I had thought. However, mare and I are really happy at this yard and I don't really want to leave

There isn't anywhere else she can go that will be any better. I don't want to send her away to a stud as the whole point is to be near and around everyday and be part of the process. Vet is 1 mile away too, so very handy.

Not sure what to do!

 

[twiggy2]

list the pros and cons

mare is happy there now but may not be when the foal is born-she may be more settled on a yard that has herds of mares with foals and they are treated and live as a consistent herd?

your mare is very likely to be upset by the geldings as it seems all horses (except those used to them) think foals are the most exciting thing ever and there will be lots of galloping about and calling.

what is fencing like?
can mare and foal live out year round in a static herd?

 

[Faberge]

Sorry but just because the yard suits the mare now doesn't mean it will when she's heavily pregnant/foaling down/with foal at foot. There are many many yards which will take the mare (usually around 30 days before foaling to allow time to develop the right antibodies to the new environment), and are fully geared up to do so, with foaling specialists with cameras etc there on hand 24/7 and vets on speed dial in case of any emergency. They are specially set up to help out single mare owners and to offer the optimum environment for both mare and the developing foal. They're also on the look out for anything (such as subtle limb deformities) which can be positively affected by early intervention.
Having a lone mare and foal on a small paddock surrounded by others will be stressful for the mare (and possibly the foal too). And being in an adult herd puts the lone foal at serious risk of injury as twiggy2 says. If I were you I'd accept that you'll have to leave the yard for around seven months but you could plan to wean the mare back to the yard you like (and she does too) around Christmas time, then leave the foal at the stud with his/her friends...

 

[be positive]

Thanks for your replies - it's as I had thought. However, mare and I are really happy at this yard and I don't really want to leave

There isn't anywhere else she can go that will be any better. I don't want to send her away to a stud as the whole point is to be near and around everyday and be part of the process. Vet is 1 mile away too, so very handy.

Not sure what to do!

The whole point is surely that you have a healthy foal, you are not the most important part of the equation the two equines are and their requirements may differ from yours, she may well be happy in the yard for now but having her foal to consider will change her perspective and being in a yard that is not suited to her needs will be stressful for all involved, including you.

List the pros and cons as suggested by twiggy but do it from the mare and foals point of view not just yours, the vet being just down the road is handy but most mares do not require assistance when foaling so it may be a pro but only a small one overall.

 

[splashgirl45]

agree with everyone else. .......A HORROR STORY ...................a friend of mine kept her mare at a lovely place(not a stud) and had lots of experience with foaling mares. her maiden mare foaled during the night and she got there at 6.am to find both mare and foal dead!!!!!! if she had been on a stud farm there is a chance at least one of them could have survived as they have all of the necessary facilities and experience. she had bred this mare herself and was absolutely devastated and said she will never breed again.... safety of your mare and foal is the most important. perhaps put a post in breeding asking if there are any studs near to you, there may be someone on here who can help...

 

[Tiddlypom]

I don't want to send her away to a stud as the whole point is to be near and around everyday and be part of the process.

Not sure what to do!

You should have thought of all this before you put your mare in foal. Your duty of care is to your mare and foal, and your personal preferences come a low down second.

Your current yard sounds to be completely unsuitable.

 

[wildhorses]

I would not consider turning your mare with her foal back out with the herd especially if she is a maiden. Even seasoned broodmares can get extremly funny when turned out with others. Our mares and foals usually go in groups of no more than four when the foals are a few weeks old. At this point they stay with their foal and interaction with the others is minimal, it is really worrying when they first go out especially if they all go running and foals get mixed up, even a mare that is used to foals may kick, bite or charge a foal that isn't her own.

Allowing your mare and her foal to re-join a herd of foal less horses would be asking for a catastrophe as it is highly likely that all the other horses will want to see the foal and the mare will fight to keep them away.

In time foals need to be with other foals and there are few things as lovely when they first start playing.

Last year at our stud, we foaled a maiden with owners new to breeding and they were there every step of the way, including three middle of the night false starts!! They made it for the foaling. They came everyday, sometimes twice a day to see the mare and foal, I was endlessly videoed because it like to buck whilst being led and could be a little devil.

After seeing foalings that have gone wrong I would advise you, unless you are willing to sit up and have foaled mares before to let her foal at stud. Yes, she is likely to be ok, but seeing a foal try to push out of the anus, a mare split like a lump of steak, foals get stuck with a leg back, foals get really stuck and need reviving and other difficult foalings it probably isn't worth the risk. A lot can go wrong very quickly and action is needed immediately, the few times we have called the vet out for a foaling the situation has decided itself before the vet has arrived.