HELP! Foal Turnout

[Jess1994PM]

Hello,
bit of background - i have wanted to buy my own foal for years and have a friend for life and finally in a position to do so.
Before buying I sussed out a few yards and found no livery yards anywhere near me with youngsters! ALAS i found a livery yard, very knowledgeable and had a lady who had a foal and yearling so i deposited a stable and bought a filly (6 months old)
I bought her and she was delivered two weeks later (due to me being away she stayed with owner for a bit) and the lady has unfortunately had to move liveries due to last minute personal issues.
I am now left with a filly I adore already, very sweet - 13.1 6 month old and no youngsters.
I am scared she is going to get bulled as the youngest is now 3 years of age and with an established mare herd. I am definitely not putting her alone, I have one option she can share with a calf in a field until shes a bit older but never paired horses/calves before so I'm a bit reluctant.
I have heard of introducing her to one or two separate but the older mares are huge and if that goes badly she could be seriously hurt.
Any ideas as i now feel terrible

 

[Cortez]

Foals should be in a herd of similar age youngsters, a calf is not a horse and is absolutely not a substitute. Well done you for setting up the right sort of arrangement to start, and bad luck on it now not being available. Can you find a stud farm or other breeder that can take her as a livery and run with a herd of other weanlings?

 

[AmyMay]

I would not turn a six month old out with an older (unknown) group of horses.

Can she winter with the people you bought her from?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree with above look for something more suitable it's not ideal putting a foal out with adult horses in an established herd.

I once helped a friend with a yearling filly and let her turn her out with my mare but I knew my mare wouldn't hurt her and she had previously had foals and been a nanny to other youngsters, but it was only a temporary solution until she found somewhere with other young horses.

 

[AmyMay]

Is it 9 months old or 6 months old?

 

[Arzada]

Have you looked for youngstock livery?

 

[Jess1994PM]

Foals should be in a herd of similar age youngsters, a calf is not a horse and is absolutely not a substitute. Well done you for setting up the right sort of arrangement to start, and bad luck on it now not being available. Can you find a stud farm or other breeder that can take her as a livery and run with a herd of other weanlings?

very annoying on how it has turned out! I have tried posting and looking around for youngstock turnout but im a bit stuck as i dont drive and the yard is literally 5 minute walking distance - everything is literally perfect and her handling is going fab apart from the turnout process. I think the nearest yard I found available was over an hour away from me.

 

[Jess1994PM]

I would not turn a six month old out with an older (unknown) group of horses.

Can she winter with the people you bought her from?

I wouldnt want to do that to her as id be scared she would just get seriously hurt, but there is another field available that 2 mares are in. one is said to be quiet and the other is an older mare but im still nervous.

 

[Jess1994PM]

Is it 9 months old or 6 months old?

she is 6 and a half - she was born early march

 

[AmyMay]

I wouldnt want to do that to her as id be scared she would just get seriously hurt, but there is another field available that 2 mares are in. one is said to be quiet and the other is an older mare but im still nervous.

She’d get hurt at the breeders?

 

[Starzaan]

She needs to be turned away with other weanlings her age. Have a look for some local studs as most offer young stock livery. Being close to home is the least of your worries at the moment I’m afraid. She absolutely must be turned away with babies her own age, or you risk ending up with a very broken horse, or a horse with a knack for breaking humans.

 

[Jess1994PM]

She’d get hurt at the breeders?

No sorry with the mare group - the breeders are in wales 2 hours away and i dont think she was very well cared for there. she came riddled in untreated ringworm, worms and quite underweight - hadnt been handled at all

 

[AmyMay]

No sorry with the mare group - the breeders are in wales 2 hours away and i dont think she was very well cared for there. she came riddled in untreated ringworm, worms and quite underweight - hadnt been handled at all

Fair enough.

 

[AmyMay]

So, what part of the uk are you in? Posters may be able to help.

 

[Jess1994PM]

So, what part of the uk are you in? Posters may be able to help.

I am in the northwest, near bolton

 

[Starzaan]

I am in the northwest, near bolton

In that case, ring Wylderswoode Stud and enquire about yougstock livery. She needs turning away with weanlings her own age asap. That is far more important than you handling her daily. She needs to go and learn how to be a baby, and how not to behave.

 

[Jess1994PM]

Thank you I will get in contact

 

[maya2008]

I hope you find a solution soon. Youngstock livery doesn’t seem easy to find. I ended up buying another little one to go with my bogof foal. They both seem to be growing up with decent manners, but bogof baby was born into this herd and Aunty still comes down on her like a ton of bricks if she puts a hoof out of line. Funnily enough, at a year old, she is now more interested in her 5 year old ‘boyfriend’ than in her same age friend. Now I wonder how her mum got pregnant so young… ??

 

[Jess1994PM]

I hope you find a solution soon. Youngstock livery doesn’t seem easy to find. I ended up buying another little one to go with my bogof foal. They both seem to be growing up with decent manners, but bogof baby was born into this herd and Aunty still comes down on her like a ton of bricks if she puts a hoof out of line. Funnily enough, at a year old, she is now more interested in her 5 year old ‘boyfriend’ than in her same age friend. Now I wonder how her mum got pregnant so young… ??

Im hopefully getting her moved in the next few weeks to a new place! I tried a few youngstock liveries and they were full! haha that is brilliant! I just love being around her, so glad I got a filly but il be less stressed when she is safer and happier in a young herd but she seems content at the moment. dont think she has even realised she isnt around foals atm as she is too busy stuffing her face most of the day!