HELP PLEASE: Very young foal out in this weather!

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GREYSMEADOW

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I was looking at my facebook and noticed a friend of mine (I have not contacted her) has posted some pictures of a week old foal.

The notes by the pictures say that the foal is a week old tomorrow and I am so worried he will die of cold - they have put a rug on his mum but not him. XXXXXX just said I would bring in into my house - he is so lovely I had a long chat to him today!!!

I'm really concerned for this little fellow. Back in the summer the RSPCA did visit this place (I think this new foal is located in the same place) but they acted far to slow on another matter. I was also advised that they were going to keep an eye on things there!

Any ideas please.
 
Is he living out or was he out for just 5 mins for a play and some photos. If he's running around keeping warm and then tucked back up into a cosy stable and little rug then he is unlikely to die. I guess WHW are the only people who would be able to do anything, but a photo can be deceptive so don't go crashing in all guns blazing.
 
There is a TB stud in northern Poland that winters out ALL of their mares and foals, some of them foaling in the middle of winter. The temperatures quite often drop to below -15C, so in comparison, UK is fairly warm ;) I would imagine that the foal will be just fine, as long as the mum is well fed and has plenty of milk, they have some sort of shelter and hay.
 
Maybe you could post how he could do with a nice rug, and suggest somewhere to buy one from. I think that horses in general are oftern better out than in, at least out they can run around and keep warm, ok a one week old does seem harsh, but there are still some "wildish" herds that live out and breed in all weathers!
 
I know that the BHS Welfare Officer was not happy the way they dealt with the situation before and was reported back to BHS HQ.

I have texted and email my BHS Welfare Officer already and also another friend who has a WHW contact and await for an update/advise.

The friend who posted the photos is not the owner of the horses/foal or foal(s).

The situation before a horse owner failed to communicate with the RSPCA as horse needed to have veterinary attention (needed to be on restricted/no grazing/stabled), they have to give them so many days to provide information.
 
A late foal one week old out in these sub zero temperatures without any rug or protection from the elements is very vulnerable IMO. WHW would be the very first phone call I made today, most especially given the previous problems. I wouldn't call the RSPCA first, definitely WHW.
 
you havent said the breeding of dam & foal? a native foal born into this weather will acclimatise quite quickly as nature has designed them too, most natves dont need rugs unless they are clipped for work my 2 are only lightly rugged because little man has been very ill this year & isnt quite back to full health & my new mare has been rugged all summer so has not got a good thick coat yet (im weaning her out of them)
 
Aoibhin said:
you havent said the breeding of dam & foal? a native foal born into this weather will acclimatise quite quickly as nature has designed them too, most natves dont need rugs unless they are clipped for work my 2 are only lightly rugged because little man has been very ill this year & isnt quite back to full health & my new mare has been rugged all summer so has not got a good thick coat yet (im weaning her out of them)
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I totally agree with this. If it is a native it will be totally fine without a rug
 
ISHmad said:
A late foal one week old out in these sub zero temperatures without any rug or protection from the elements is very vulnerable IMO. WHW would be the very first phone call I made today, most especially given the previous problems. I wouldn't call the RSPCA first, definitely WHW.
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Definitely WHW, I find they are far more proactive and quick over horse welfare issues.
 
The trouble is, sometimes more harm can be done by rugging a foal and neglecting to check it than not rugging at all... if a rug gets saturated, foal can't get rid of it and could get REALLY cold and get hypothermia...
 
It really does depend of the breed - there are mares and foals on exmoor all year round whatever the weather, no rugs no feed and no hay!

If you are at all worried contact WHW. I have not had good experiences with RSPCA myself but WHW always respond quickly and appropriately.
 
If it is a native type and the field has good hedges/trees for shelter etc, and there's plenty of hay supplied for mum then whilst it is still not ideal to have been born so late in a year (IMO poor breeding practise) it should be fine, as said it can run around, usual sleep in amongst the hay bale or up against a hedge row and shelter from the prevailing wind. If there are other issues like no regular hay supply, mum's condition is poor to start with etc, or the foal is of a finer type breed, then yes report it.
 
Thanks for all your help and advise here – it has been most useful.

To give you an update the BHS Welfare Officer popped over to visit the mare and foal yesterday afternoon and found that a stable had been provided with some bedding (made out of a back end part of a van/truck or something) and a large bale of straw provided for the mare to eat – so shelter and something to eat had been provided and mare and foal seemed fine – following her around. The Officer came across some walkers who were also concerned of the foals welfare. Apparently the RSPCA Field Officer was also contacted and instead of the 3-4 days she had to wait before; the Officer called back within the hour and he will also be visiting the site (today).

I did speak to WHW for advise too and because the BHS are already attending they will leave it with them to deal with unless they need further assistance.
 
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