Foals turnout for 1st time

[Gerilew]

Hi I have my new 6 mth old arriving at the weekend and unsure about her turnout. She will be out with 2 other mares (15 & 25 yrs) and then another baby will be joining her next week.

Do I put her out straight away with the 2 mares and then gradually let the other baby into the herd or keep them all apart until next week when the other foal arrives ??

PS Also posted in Breeding thx

 

[Dancing Queen]

i let them sniff over the door - foal to mares first, then mares to foal. Leave them stabled with hay/mix for a morning - if everything has gone well no squealing biting etc, then pop them out together and stay and watch. Unless your mares are nasty - I have found that they tend to mother the babies. It can be so sweet. Just keep a very close eye out- as i say it all depends on how your mares are.
good luck and dont forget the video camera!

As for the other foal - I would be tempted to arrange delivery at the same time then let the foals get to know each other and then place into herd together.

 

[Tnavas]

Absolutely don't put her out with the two mares at the same time. It would be best to put her oout with the kindest gentlest one first. The old saying 'Twos company , threes a crowd' can cause havoc. I lost a weanling in exactly that situation - she got cornered by two others and kicked, she eventually was put down with septic arthritis as the kick had penetrated her hock joint.

Graze weanling and one mare together with the other on the otherside of the fence. In a week or so it may be safe to put them all together but its a good idea to keep an eye on how they all behave.

 

[AmyMay]

And to add to evelyn, shoes off.

Of course the best thing would be to wait and take delivery of both weanlings at the same time.