cazza
Well-Known Member
Where you are your weather extremes are horrendous though so I'm not surprised.
Foals getting wet???
- Thread starter _jetset_
- Start date
cazza
Well-Known Member
Only thing I would say if you are going to put a rug on him, is put it on him in the stable, if it frightens him he can't hurt himself. Then lead him out with it on so he can get used to the wind blowing against it and making move and rustle. Then when it first rains again take him out in the rug so he can get used to the noise and see how he is. Sorry have heard a couple of horror stories where people have thrown a nz on a youngster and put it in the field, once the wind and rain got up a bit the horse pannicked and ran through a fence. I hope I haven't scared you but please be careful when rugging a youngster for the first time. All of mine are given a couple of weeks on the yard/stable to get used to the rug before being turned out in one.
Tia
Well-Known Member
Only the temperatures are cold. Interestingly this doesn't seem to bother them. It's the rain which they don't seem to like....thankfully we don't have much rain but when we do, you never see the foals outside.
No I was more talking about the foals born on the stud in Denmark that I was thinking of, to be honest.
No I was more talking about the foals born on the stud in Denmark that I was thinking of, to be honest.
cazza
Well-Known Member
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Troy was rather wet when I got there, but full of life and a bit of a bugger to be honest. He didn't want to come in and kept giving hubby the runaround... then pretty much fought all the way to his stable and sulked when he was in
I towel dried him through his strop of 'But I don't want to be dry' and he is now dozing happily.
I towel dried him through his strop of 'But I don't want to be dry' and he is now dozing happily.
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
bey was out in the hail in the daytime(rugged) and shes survived lol.
i really wouldnt worry too much, unless its very cold windy and heavy prolonged rain he will be fine hes a healthy foal.
if it looks like its going to be very cold and wet all day just turn them out while you are down, but it looks like the weather is on the turn.
as a previously flapping mother
i found a great site on the bbc weather which gives you the forecast for the next 24hrs and a 5 day general forecast from the met office for your actual area(the nearest town) when i was wondering if i should turn bey out.
i really wouldnt worry too much, unless its very cold windy and heavy prolonged rain he will be fine hes a healthy foal.
if it looks like its going to be very cold and wet all day just turn them out while you are down, but it looks like the weather is on the turn.
as a previously flapping mother
i found a great site on the bbc weather which gives you the forecast for the next 24hrs and a 5 day general forecast from the met office for your actual area(the nearest town) when i was wondering if i should turn bey out.
sanda
Well-Known Member
I bring them in if its bad ,. they need to lie down flat to sleep a lot and they cant do that if its cold and wet.
Whatever stud farm Ive worked on we always bring babies in if its bad untill they are a lot bigger, its still early, in the wild most foals are born in May.
I would definatly bring them in if its raining unless its warm[12 degrees or
more] and soft rain
As for rugs on foals , I do not believe in them , how are they ever going to get a waterproof coat with a rug on.
Whatever stud farm Ive worked on we always bring babies in if its bad untill they are a lot bigger, its still early, in the wild most foals are born in May.
I would definatly bring them in if its raining unless its warm[12 degrees or
more] and soft rain
As for rugs on foals , I do not believe in them , how are they ever going to get a waterproof coat with a rug on.
lisaward
Well-Known Member
our foals are born outside and never get rugged or come in ,they are mostly natives but i also have a hackney and my OH has a hannovarian who had a foal born with constricted tendons last year we left her out so they got stronger,it rained for a two weeks solid and never did her any harm.
just seen troy's pictures and with all that lovely grass you have i think he'll have plenty of warm milk
just seen troy's pictures and with all that lovely grass you have i think he'll have plenty of warm milk
Zebedee
Well-Known Member
he doesn't need to be kept warm as such, just dry -esp over his back. If the rug you have been leant is a thick warm one, why don't you get a lightweight one to turn him out in while the weather is so unsettled. My last years foalhas worn a rug from the Shires' Cuddly Ponies' range. Fitted brilliantly, as they are designed for small ponies/foals.
I have to admit I wrap my foalies in cotton wool for the first few weeks, & provided you leave plenty of hay & water for them there's nothing wrong with leaving them in for the day if you're concerned, & then turning out for an hour or two in the evening while you do the yard work.
I have to admit I wrap my foalies in cotton wool for the first few weeks, & provided you leave plenty of hay & water for them there's nothing wrong with leaving them in for the day if you're concerned, & then turning out for an hour or two in the evening while you do the yard work.
suebingham
Well-Known Member
What a little cutie Mr Troy is!!!!!!
The only time of the year we get very much rain here is in the summer (and it DOES come down in buckets and is ICY cold) but all I can add to this discussion is that my mare kept her filly out in it -- despite having a nice loafing shed in her corral.
The only time of the year we get very much rain here is in the summer (and it DOES come down in buckets and is ICY cold) but all I can add to this discussion is that my mare kept her filly out in it -- despite having a nice loafing shed in her corral.
Chambon
Well-Known Member
Everybody has different schools of thought on this!
We don't let our foals get wet for at least the first 4 weeks. If rain is forecast they don't go out, except for maybe an hour in the morning and evening while we muck out (providing it's not raining at the time). If they are out and it starts to rain we bring them in.
We don't rug any of our foals. After about 4 weeks, if they are doing well then they have a little grease in their coats and can withstand a bit of rain.
We don't let our foals get wet for at least the first 4 weeks. If rain is forecast they don't go out, except for maybe an hour in the morning and evening while we muck out (providing it's not raining at the time). If they are out and it starts to rain we bring them in.
We don't rug any of our foals. After about 4 weeks, if they are doing well then they have a little grease in their coats and can withstand a bit of rain.