keeping a yearling on its own

[Pinkvboots]

But would posters not see the issues putting it out ina mixed herd now. Of the top of my head
• Worm counts need to be run regularly and the foal needs to be supervised to see its not passing worms or having trouble pooing at all
• you can't monitor urine amounts or colour etc if you aren't there and foal could have kidney issues etc due to its past neglect
• you risk causing an issue with the grazing if the foal is wormy
• the days are roasting and the nights are still freezing in some areas, this foal isn;t roughed off at all, its been stabled
• it will have a weaker immune system due to poor nutrition as a baby, there is a risk it would catch viruses/get run down with the stress and exertion of moving
• is the owner happy that the handling is correct. can the foal but caught and loaded easily in an emergency

The owner isn't suggesting raising the foal there for good, its a stop gap measure. It will be easier to get grazing when the ground gets better, and she already said shes going to put it out with her other horse. I am struggling to see the issue of how it will damage a foal (who is under vet supervision) to be kept in an acre paddock and stable with company for a few months.


i struggle to understand how posters would be happy sticking a foal (with possible internal and kidney damage that still needs to be monitored, that should be getting close supervision and worm counts, that has a weaker immune system has lived indoors at night) out into a mixed herd where it won't have a strong enough immune system yet to fight off , as well as causing worm issues in the new field. The temperatures are varying between blazing sun and freezing night

I agree I wouldn't want to introduce a wormy ill youngster into a herd of horses it's just not sensible, I can appreciate it's not ideal as a permanent living arrangement but the op has said it's a short term solution.

 

[ycbm]

I agree I wouldn't want to introduce a wormy ill youngster into a herd of horses it's just not sensible, I can appreciate it's not ideal as a permanent living arrangement but the op has said it's a short term solution.

Why is it still wormy? It's been in a box on its own for three months already. And it depends on the herd, and common sense, where you turn it out.

If the poor little creature is still too weak after three months of TLC to go out, then I would wonder if it will not die before it reaches maturity anyway, like the horse rescued by Fides did. It cost her a fortune in money and in emotion for two years, then died of its original worm damage anyway. And that wasn't even ill or exceptionally underweight when she got it.

There are some animals which should not be 'saved' and for which PTS is actually the kinder option. I'm not saying this is one, because I haven't seen it.

 

[paddi22]

three months is nothing though for treating worms in a malnourished foal. She didn't describe the foal as being too weak to go out, she described it as being under vet treatment for worms. You can't just give a worm dose and thats it sorted after a week or two. You have to build them up first, monitor them, start with a gentle panacur. Monitor so they don't get colic. Worm count to see what the panacur killed. Wait, build them up, worm count and then treat again. For bad ones i've had to worm count every ten days to monitor whats coming out, its often not the amount of eggs, but the type. I had a huge problem with ascarids (spelling?!) with one rescue i got in, and foals dont build immunity up to that apparently till the are about a year and a half old. The ascarids damaged the immune system and it was a case of really watching to see if the drugs were working to remove them. It's not a case of just giving a worm dose or even a course of it and turning them out. it's worm counts, checking the resistance of wormers to see if they've worked, monitoring doses and checking for colic. It took me months and months with one i got in.

If the foal is eating and moving round, and the vet is happy to treat it, then why not give it a chance? I'm all against rescues taking in lost causes, but a wormy rescue foal is a common occurence and most come right with correct worming. But it does take a bit more time.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Why is it still wormy? It's been in a box on its own for three months already. And it depends on the herd, and common sense, where you turn it out.

If the poor little creature is still too weak after three months of TLC to go out, then I would wonder if it will not die before it reaches maturity anyway, like the horse rescued by Fides did. It cost her a fortune in money and in emotion for two years, then died of its original worm damage anyway. And that wasn't even ill or exceptionally underweight when she got it.

There are some animals which should not be 'saved' and for which PTS is actually the kinder option. I'm not saying this is one, because I haven't seen it.

I am just going by what the op has said it's being treated for worms by a vet so I presume worms are still an issue, I wouldn't want it out with my horses and I am sure many others wouldn't either and being that it's a small weak foal it could get bullied and hurt in a herd with other healthy horses.

I can't comment as to weather it's worth carrying on with treatment I haven't seen the horse either and the op has not really asked for an opinion on that, I do agree that sometimes when the damage has already been done with worms the horse may not have a long life but I suppose they are giving it a chance, and sometimes that's all you can do what will be will be and that's their choice to take that chance.