_GG_
Well-Known Member
So, some of you will have seen that we had a little orphaned Exmoor filly due to arrive yesterday to hopefully try and foster with Jakki.
Well, first thing I noticed was some teeny little plums, he's definitely a he, not a she. Second thing I noticed was that I don't think he's as old as we were told.
We took the towel from Jakki's foal and rubbed it all over him (Jakki is not great with towels/rugs etc. so didn't leave it on him).
Jakki isn't very confident with people she doesn't know, so I held her, backed up into a corner to keep the foal safe from her back legs in case she kicked. Dan, who she also trusts was on hand and the woman who brought the foal (who liveries with the owner of the wild herd he's from) brought the foal in. Jakki was thrilled. Lots of lovely nickering and nuzzling and things started well. Sadly, the foal has been having a bottle held high for feeding and just wasn't understanding putting his head down to try. We did get him on once and he had a fairly good feed, but the more he failed after that, the more Jakki got upset bless her. He's just become conditioned to putting his head right up. Jakki didn't do anything nasty, but she showed signs of annoyance enough that my vet then came out to try as well. He's a repro expert and a wonderful vet and this kind of thing is his bread and butter at this time of year.
The foal was a little weak and after trying a number of tricks, we all agreed that he'd be bottle fed to let Jakki dry up, so that she can be a "nanny" to him rather than a mum.
When I feed him, I do so with the door between them open and they lay either side of the door to each other so the foal is not completely alone when I am not there. He also has a big teddy coming tomorrow.
You might think it's hard not to just cuddle him all the time as he's so damned cute, but honestly, all he needs is to have his bum rubbed as he drinks, have little scratches, a bit of a play and for you to stand still while he lays down and goes to sleep. He's a very happy little chap....and a proper little monkey already, so he's not getting any mollycoddling off us while he is here and until him and Jakki can be together all the time, he'll be kept in line by me and Dan and if people want to see him, they can, but there will be no letting him lie on anyone, push anyone around, climb on or otherwise be overly friendly with anyone. Today he learned that when the back legs come out on the away from me, no problem. When they come towards me though, my fingers bite just like his mums would, lol.
So...for all of those lovely enough to give us your vibes on the other thread, here you go. It didn't completely work, but it didn't completely fail either and with the vet we have, we can at least say we gave it the best shot.
His owners have been in touch and have named him.
So, meet Max
And then....there's this, lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNEGZR4uqlc
Guesses of his age please.
Well, first thing I noticed was some teeny little plums, he's definitely a he, not a she. Second thing I noticed was that I don't think he's as old as we were told.
We took the towel from Jakki's foal and rubbed it all over him (Jakki is not great with towels/rugs etc. so didn't leave it on him).
Jakki isn't very confident with people she doesn't know, so I held her, backed up into a corner to keep the foal safe from her back legs in case she kicked. Dan, who she also trusts was on hand and the woman who brought the foal (who liveries with the owner of the wild herd he's from) brought the foal in. Jakki was thrilled. Lots of lovely nickering and nuzzling and things started well. Sadly, the foal has been having a bottle held high for feeding and just wasn't understanding putting his head down to try. We did get him on once and he had a fairly good feed, but the more he failed after that, the more Jakki got upset bless her. He's just become conditioned to putting his head right up. Jakki didn't do anything nasty, but she showed signs of annoyance enough that my vet then came out to try as well. He's a repro expert and a wonderful vet and this kind of thing is his bread and butter at this time of year.
The foal was a little weak and after trying a number of tricks, we all agreed that he'd be bottle fed to let Jakki dry up, so that she can be a "nanny" to him rather than a mum.
When I feed him, I do so with the door between them open and they lay either side of the door to each other so the foal is not completely alone when I am not there. He also has a big teddy coming tomorrow.
You might think it's hard not to just cuddle him all the time as he's so damned cute, but honestly, all he needs is to have his bum rubbed as he drinks, have little scratches, a bit of a play and for you to stand still while he lays down and goes to sleep. He's a very happy little chap....and a proper little monkey already, so he's not getting any mollycoddling off us while he is here and until him and Jakki can be together all the time, he'll be kept in line by me and Dan and if people want to see him, they can, but there will be no letting him lie on anyone, push anyone around, climb on or otherwise be overly friendly with anyone. Today he learned that when the back legs come out on the away from me, no problem. When they come towards me though, my fingers bite just like his mums would, lol.
So...for all of those lovely enough to give us your vibes on the other thread, here you go. It didn't completely work, but it didn't completely fail either and with the vet we have, we can at least say we gave it the best shot.
His owners have been in touch and have named him.
So, meet Max
And then....there's this, lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNEGZR4uqlc
Guesses of his age please.
