Meet Crunchie 7 week old Orphan foal !

[RobinHood]

Hiya this is actually paddywak but using rosannas account as cant remeber my password or secret question!
Meet Crunchie she is 7 weeks old and an orphan foal ! she is TB x Connnie/LW Cob
and she is very cute.
She is currently drinking equilac and eating balanced horse feeds foal starter mix ?
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2385849993

Does anyone have any experience bringing up orphan foals and have any tips?
Any help much appreciated! x

 

[Shilasdair]

Try to get her out with an older auntie to teach her manners...even if you still have to feed her yourself.
Orphan foals can be very 'bratty' as they get a bit too familiar with owners...a bit of old mare discipline works wonders.
S

 

[zigzag]

Raised a TB colt foal whose mum rejected him and tried to kill him, we had a huge stable which we partitioned across and had our old gelding in with him , so he was always with another horse, he learnt from Star how to eat food hay etc and be a horse, and Star kept him in check, we got him drinking milk out of a bucket within a few days which helped cos we fed him and left him so we weren't bottle feeding him

 

[RobinHood]

I was confused for a moment when I saw a post from myself but then I saw the title and the penny dropped

 

[Peasfriend]

My 2 year old was an orphan foal. His breeders did a brilliant job of raising him - they tried a foster mare but she rejected him, so they ended up bottle feeding him (couldn't be bucket fed as uncle acquired the taste of milk!), buddying him up with a gelding, whilst putting him out with another foal and his dam. He was taught to lead and pick up his feet as any other young foal would be. I got him at 6 months and he went in with my gelding who taught him more manners in the field. Last December, I acquired another gelding, who has taught him even more manners in the field, which also made a noticable difference in the way he was to handle. He became coltish quite early on and was cut at 9 months. He can also be quite precocious and has been an awful nipper (almost cured by shaking a plastic bottle filled with stones). Tips wise... allow her to be a foal - try and graze her with another foal if possible, or failing that, a suitable auntie or uncle. Consistent, firm handling (as with any foal) and don't feed from the hand. Apart from an awareness of her situation, I wouldn't necessarily treat an orphan any differently (but then my boy is my first proper youngster...) My boy obviously associated people with food and we've had a constant battle of wills in the who's boss department. I'm glad to say, as he matures, he's turning into a very sociable, polite chap but it's been a lot of hard work and blood, sweat and tears!

 

[tking]

hi i hand raised my now 16 year old gelding whos mother was killed in the new forest, i turned him out during the day with two shetland fillies who taught him all the manners he needed but were the right size to play with, i agree with peasfriend it is hard work but the bond you get with them is fantastic. My pony has never done a days work in his life due to getting joint ill as he too was hit by the car, he now also has stomach problems ,who knows if it is connected with being an orphan. but he will always be a very special field ornament, who will do anything for me including playing a part in the local school play, on stage!. Good luck and enjoy ,you have a friend for life.