Ceriann
Well-Known Member
He is so flippin cute - you must be knackered but it must be so rewarding helping him like this.
Max the Orphaned Exmoor, the journey begins
- Thread starter _GG_
- Start date
Lintel
Well-Known Member
Aww. I'm sure she'll be a great nanny too x
_GG_
Well-Known Member
Max has been learning a lot today.
Last night was colic watch, only got to bed at 5am as Dan took over before he went to work so I got a few hours kip.
The joy of seeing poos can never be underestimated for us horsey lot, lol.
Anyway. Today, after getting his bowels moving, he's been on top form and has has learned a lot. He's learned how to groom himself, how to groom me without any chomping, how to lift all four feet when I touch his fetlocks. Not holding, just lifting on touch. He's also learned one of the essential first lessons of a human raised foal...that he must not walk on humans and his feet must respect our space. He got three gentle corrections, walked away, came back and kept his own feet in the right place...so a really good sign at how quickly he will pick everything up.
He has a friend now as well to snuggle when we're not with him but he also lays at the door with Jakki and you can't tell, but there is a little gap so they do see each other.
https://youtu.be/ugk5QZmthos
Last night was colic watch, only got to bed at 5am as Dan took over before he went to work so I got a few hours kip.
The joy of seeing poos can never be underestimated for us horsey lot, lol.
Anyway. Today, after getting his bowels moving, he's been on top form and has has learned a lot. He's learned how to groom himself, how to groom me without any chomping, how to lift all four feet when I touch his fetlocks. Not holding, just lifting on touch. He's also learned one of the essential first lessons of a human raised foal...that he must not walk on humans and his feet must respect our space. He got three gentle corrections, walked away, came back and kept his own feet in the right place...so a really good sign at how quickly he will pick everything up.
He has a friend now as well to snuggle when we're not with him but he also lays at the door with Jakki and you can't tell, but there is a little gap so they do see each other.
https://youtu.be/ugk5QZmthos
full_throttle1
Member
I love this thread 
hope Max is feeling much better. He obviously went to the best possible home.
hope Max is feeling much better. He obviously went to the best possible home.
_GG_
Well-Known Member
MochaDun
Well-Known Member
Oh he's just wonderful and adorable. Well done giving him a chance and while not totally solved the problem it's so good he's got a mare nanny and yourselves to keep him on the right path
_GG_
Well-Known Member
Oh he's just wonderful and adorable. Well done giving him a chance and while not totally solved the problem it's so good he's got a mare nanny and yourselves to keep him on the right path
Well...I've not gone in to too much detail as it's hard to say things sometimes without it sounding like you're criticising people, but putting him back in the car for another long journey was not an option. He was getting weaker pretty quickly so I called about a other foster mare in Gloucester and one in Bristol, but they already had found foals and the other nearest were devon or Leeds and it was deemed too risky.
I so want to just put him and Jakki together, but until she's dried, my gut just says no. I can see that she's not 100% about him moving around her at will yet so not going to risk it. It'll happen though and now he's on proper milk and eating so well, he'll be strong enough soon that he'll cope with her if she needs to discipline him but he really is still very wobbly at the moment. Vet out on Friday to give him a once over...and Jakki as well.
Spottyappy
Well-Known Member
He's so gorgeous!
I hope the bucket arrives soon, so you can have a longer break, once he's got the idea of how to drink it from it.
He's definitely Landed on his feet, with you. Lucky boy.
I hope the bucket arrives soon, so you can have a longer break, once he's got the idea of how to drink it from it.
He's definitely Landed on his feet, with you. Lucky boy.
Nici
Well-Known Member
Max is a beautiful little colt, I'm really happy for you, _GG_!
I also think that he was under a week old when you got him, judging by the video, as he is still a bit wobbly there.
Love the pictures!
I also think that he was under a week old when you got him, judging by the video, as he is still a bit wobbly there.
Love the pictures!
_GG_
Well-Known Member
I'm a bit gutted..need to keep him on the bottle a little longer to be able to closely monitor his intake each feed as it's doubtful he received full colostrum and then had poor nutrition over the weekend so vet wants to hold off until he's off his antibiotics and finadyne. He's doing much better today, but we did have the vet out at 1:30 this morning to a very rattly, shaky foal who was feeling very sorry for himself. Sorry enough that vet agreed waiting just a few hours could have been disastrous. They're so fragile at this age bless them.
I have to postpone turnout and mixing with Jakki and Paulo as well until he has his plasma and then a few days.
Luckily, he's very good. He's understanding boundaries, he's learned that demanding anything gets him nothing so he's very polite about asking for the bottle now and he knows that he has to be careful about where he puts his feet. You'd never think it to look at him...usually has his ears pinned back like a grumpy old man but he's a total poppet bless him.
Yes, it's most likely that he foaled last Thursday or Friday night. Also ever such a slight possibility that he's a little underdeveloped but won't be able to tell until he's grown up a bit more. That neck needs to change, but at the moment, it could just be the lack of proper nutrition. Time will tell.
I'm uploading a really cute video from this morning and a heartbreaking shaky one from last night. Feel so helpless, but I just love my vet. I think he has a rather large soft spot for Max as well, lol.
Akkalia1
Well-Known Member
My goodness he is gorgeous and what a good job you're doing. You must be exhausted. I would so love a little foal one day, the cuteness is almost too much!