foster mares

[RubysGold]

Hi
This is probably a really stupid question, but one I've always wondered about.

Could a mare be a foster mare without losing a foal first?

My mare once started trying to feed someone else's foal, lining herself up at fence so foal could reach from other side of the fence. I had to move her in the end. (Is it possible that she could have actually produced milk for that baby??

Anyway, there's no reasoning behind the question, just pure curiosity.

 

[mynutmeg]

I'd be interested in knowing this as well - my mare has so much milk the foal is getting cresty despite cutting the mare's balancer right back and I'd love for my colt to have a friend.

 

[HBM1]

I think you would be incredibly lucky for a mare to accept a foal which isn't hers, without it being her idea in the first place, whilst also feeding her own foal.

I have two mares who are incredibly close. They had foals 2 weeks apart and one would regularly allow the other's foal to feed from her at the same time as her own baby, but it was definitely down to the mare's own discretion.

I have heard of mares who do not have a foal spontaneously start to flow milk when a foal is around, but I think they are usually the earth mothers of the horse world.

 

[RubysGold]

sorry, I didn't mean if a mare has a foal and doesn't lose it. I meant if a mare doesn't actually have a foal, but has maybe had foals years ago.

My mare is a total pain if a foal appears, she just wants to go to the foal

 

[jdrewery]

it is possible but she will not naturally accept the foal, it can take upto 20 hours and you will have to start by having her tied up in the stable with the foal and progressing bit by bit, eventually they should accept the foa las ther eown