Is this normal ?

[tessybear]

Outside of the stable there is a hardcore area that has pebbles around it , Dolly has taken to eating this pebbles and unless you babysit her the entire time Tess is having her tea outside of the stable she will eat them We have white taped it off now as it only recently happened but in the future it would be nice to put them on this area if the ground is sodden like next winter time.

Is this normal baby behaviour ( 1 week old foal) or should it be discouraged as much as possible incase it extends to when she is older ?

Thanks

 

[MiniMilton]

Much like a human baby puts everything in their mouth to test it out, I expect she's doing the same. She'll grow out of it. She's probably testing her new stumpy little teeth

 

[tessybear]

Much like a human baby puts everything in their mouth to test it out, I expect she's doing the same. She'll grow out of it. She's probably testing her new stumpy little teeth

Ah thank you should we discourage it then or leave her to investigate we were only worried as she seemed to actually swallow one This is inbetween ice skating in the feed bucket and swimming in the water one

 

[Polos Mum]

Do you think she actually swallows them? or just puts them in her mouth and plays with them, wanders round and eventually spits them out?

I can't think it would be good for her to actually swallow as they will not get digested - give your vet a call if you're concerned - you should be able to just chat to them on the phone for free.
Pretty typical behaviour for foals to put anything and everything in their mouth to find out what it is!

 

[tessybear]

Do you think she actually swallows them? or just puts them in her mouth and plays with them, wanders round and eventually spits them out?

I can't think it would be good for her to actually swallow as they will not get digested - give your vet a call if you're concerned - you should be able to just chat to them on the phone for free.
Pretty typical behaviour for foals to put anything and everything in their mouth to find out what it is!

Difficult to say, she gives them a good old chew !! Perhaps she is spitting them out when we are not looking. That is what we were slightly concerned about if it does her any damage but like you say she might be spitting them out.

Thank you, we are learning something new each day with this ****** !

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Give her a semi deflated football to play with. She can kick it, pick it, throw it around et al. Throwing one into a field of shetland foals provides hours of entertainment!

 

[Polos Mum]

I'm sure it's something she'll grow out of but I'd try and avoid her swollowing them until she does!
My previous horse at 15 still stuffed anything he could reach into his mouth - leadropes, grooming kit etc etc. - but then I'm not sure he ever did grow up!

Every days a school day with horses in general - foals you can double that ! Just think how much you'll know in another 6 months!

 

[tessybear]

Give her a semi deflated football to play with. She can kick it, pick it, throw it around et al. Throwing one into a field of shetland foals provides hours of entertainment!

She has one ! and avoids it like the blooming plague, much more fun to stuff her face fullo of mud and stones

I'm sure it's something she'll grow out of but I'd try and avoid her swollowing them until she does!
My previous horse at 15 still stuffed anything he could reach into his mouth - leadropes, grooming kit etc etc. - but then I'm not sure he ever did grow up!

Every days a school day with horses in general - foals you can double that ! Just think how much you'll know in another 6 months!

Fingers crossed , my sister does baby sitting duties whilst we muck out so she can keep a watch on her. Brilliant

It's going to be a steep learning curve she is so cheecky i can tell it's going to be difficult but worth while