Maiden mare

thank you,

she is settling into feeding the foal, she just doesn’t appear to want it at all. There’s no bond and she will kick and bite it if we aren’t there to stop her. I don’t know how to manage them really, we tried sedation last night and put the mare and foal together, Chilly was better and more tolerant but the filly is gaining confidence with the feeding.. she went to nurse without our help and Chilly kicked her over. We muzzled her and she will just attempt to bite it through the muzzle
 
Louisa&Chilly said:
thank you,

she is settling into feeding the foal, she just doesn’t appear to want it at all. There’s no bond and she will kick and bite it if we aren’t there to stop her. I don’t know how to manage them really, we tried sedation last night and put the mare and foal together, Chilly was better and more tolerant but the filly is gaining confidence with the feeding.. she went to nurse without our help and Chilly kicked her over. We muzzled her and she will just attempt to bite it through the muzzle
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Could you send her and foal to a stud for a week as a last chance saloon? You need a break.
Thinking farming thoughts, can you put the mare in a stall so she can’t move and the foal can just help herself? Probably harder with a horse than a sheep or cow.
Also with sheep don’t they bring a strange dog in to trigger defensive behaviour?

I think I’d do the stud thing, if you can find one. Sallyf at Groomsbridge foaled my difficult mare and dealt with the milking issues, she’s near Cambridge.
 
Thank you everyone,
We are actively looking for a foster mare. I’m not sure how much more a stud could do, we have got the nursing more or less but chilly just doesn’t want the foal. I can’t see that changing.
We will continue as we are until we find another mare.

we have tried the protection thing, she attacked the other horse and her foal.
 

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Louisa&Chilly said:
Thank you everyone,
We are actively looking for a foster mare. I’m not sure how much more a stud could do, we have got the nursing more or less but chilly just doesn’t want the foal. I can’t see that changing.
We will continue as we are until we find another mare.

we have tried the protection thing, she attacked the other horse and her foal.
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So sad for you that this is the outcome- I cannot imagine how hard the last few days have been for you. I hope you find her a lovely foster mummy
 
Thank you all,

I am absolutely heartbroken for the pair of them and I am ready for these last few days to be over. Seeing her stood like this on the camera is horrible.
Equally, I’m incredibly grateful to have the pair of them alive and healthy regardless of the current situation.
We have possibly found a surrogate, we are waiting on the vets to confirm ??
We will continue to use chilly to feed the filly until the mare arrives.

I bought Chilly to event, she had an incredible year as a young horse but she decided that she didn’t want to do it, presuming pain, we spent 2 years investigating why she objected to being ridden, we are still none the wiser and the vets suggested that we called it a day with investigations after having tried everything.
They agreed that becoming a broodmare was a suitable lifeline for her, now this has failed I have some decisions to make which really rings home to me the heartbreak of this situation
 

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Im so sorry l&c, it is heartbreaking for you all and my fingers are firmly crossed a foster mum is found soon. You’ll be relieved when that happens and finally get a well deserved break. That sweet foal…its a blessing at least youre getting mum’s milk into her.
 
Thank you,

yes I could look at a teddy or something for her, I hadn’t thought of that!

im really hoping the mare is suitable, If not then I hope we find one soon.

she’s very lucky that we can still give her her mothers milk, although I wonder how much she is getting, she always appears hungry, even after nursing she still wants to suckle on us. When we were bottling she would get full and wander off. The vets have suggested we add formula to her diet, I didn’t want to but if I were to do this I suppose I would know that alongside Chillys milk she is getting a substantial amount.

I’m terrible with names! Any suggestions would be welcomed!
 
You may even find she will eat some bucket feed my friends foal ate her mums feed, hay and grass from literally a few days old he used to push her out the way so he could stand I the bucket and eat.
 
Pinkvboots said:
That picture is so sad you must be so upset I really hope the surrogate works out for you.

I remember some years back with a similar situation they put an orphan foal in with an orphan lamb the way they snuggled up together was unbelievable they both really did appreciate the company.
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i wondered whether a young lamb weaned from its sheep mum could be got from a neighbouring farm near op, while waiting for foster mum. As a play friend and distraction inbetween milking sessions.
 
We have found a surrogate!! I believe it is Tracey Griggs!
She lost her foal a couple of days ago, so sad.
she is going to bring her mare to me, unfortunately she cannot get her here until Saturday afternoon, is that too long with regards to the mare and milk etc?
I did offer to collect the mare but she would like to bring her herself, completely understandable. I feel so grateful and I pray that the mare and foal accept one another!

just a couple more days for the little girl, we do have lambs but none are orphans sadly. She has made herself a little straw nest and seems content for now.
She spits out hard feed!

Her parents are Pedlers Chill and Danger Mouse VI
 
Louisa&Chilly said:
We have found a surrogate!! I believe it is Tracey Griggs!
She lost her foal a couple of days ago, so sad.
she is going to bring her mare to me, unfortunately she cannot get her here until Saturday afternoon, is that too long with regards to the mare and milk etc?
I did offer to collect the mare but she would like to bring her herself, completely understandable. I feel so grateful and I pray that the mare and foal accept one another!

just a couple more days for the little girl, we do have lambs but none are orphans sadly. She has made herself a little straw nest and seems content for now.
She spits out hard feed!

Her parents are Pedlers Chill and Danger Mouse VI
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That’s only the day after tomorrow, if she has vet advice to keep things moving it should work. I do so hope so.
 
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