Mare and Foal Turnout - Mare with locking stifle..what would you do...

[cidermillcottage1]

can anyone offer any advice?....sorry this may be a long one!!!

I began bringing in my mare and foal at night about 4 weeks ago..mainly because they live out in the same field as my hunting mare who is clipped and is kept in and night and out at day..it was easier than having them screaming for one another all night.

However, the broodmare has started locking her stifle again when in overnight....this started when she came back from the stud last year after dropping a lot of weight and muscle especially over her hindquarters. What with her being in foal I haven't really managed to get her to build up any muscle or put on much weight here but my vet has looked at it and is convinced it will improve in time when foal is weaned and she starts lots more work/exercise.

Anyway i am tempted to turn mare and foal out 24 hours a day as this worked when she was in foal and she never locks it whilst out...they have got a good field with plenty of grass and I would feed/hay them everyday as normal, but I am worried about the foal staying warm enough....we haven't got a field shelter.

i know its down to the individual horse and how warm they keep themselves and she does keep her self quite warm but I am wondering if I should keep some form of rug on her 24/7 or just when we have particulary cold/wet weather...she's tb/warmblood so not the hardiest!

What do you all do??

Thanks in advance!

 

[Enfys]

Hi, personally I'd rug them and keep them out 24/7 if you can.

I know how mares can drop condition so easily when they are feeding, sometimes it seems that you can't win, I have had to wean a couple of foals earlier than I'd like for the sake of the mares this year.

My foals usually grow really thick coats, I still rug when it is really cold, a LW isn't going to do any harm for yours. I have a mini (signature) that had a locking stifle due to his poor condition I pumped food into him and kept him out where he could move around all the time, totally recovered now.

As for the screaming, hmmmmm, several options come to mind, put up with it (pain in the butt), bring mare and foal in (and fret about her stifle) or....leave your hunter out.

Good Luck.