New Foal, but has a problem. What to do. VIDEO

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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Born on monday, 3 weeks over due.
As you can see from this vid all is not well with her legs. So, what can be done to help and how long will it take to get 'normal' if at all.
The breeder is not happy with her, and after losing a lovely colt a few weeks ago their 2011 breeding season has not started well.

These horses are in my care, and I do not own them.
I can't seem to get the vid to upload straight, so appologies to any cranked necks later!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQ-Cg2TOq4
 
i have seen foals a lot worse than this that have came straight.
it has just been very tight and restricted in the womb but now out with excercise im sure will straighten up. both front and hinds legs need to lenghten which may come on own or if not poss vet would rec treatment.
personally i would not have as thick a bed as makes foal walking around harder work,
good luck im sure all b ok in few days/weeks
 
I was reluctant to bed down so much, due to 'struggling-to-walk foal, but did as I was told! I might just be a bit sneaky and accidently take out a bit more next time?!
She is very sweet, and alert but the way the breeders were talking, it gave me the awful impression they want to get rid of her as she isn't worth 'getting right'. I hope she proves to be a feisty little thing that can prove them right, although I can't see her being a champion sprinter.
 
i cant seem to view video, but if the foal is born and legs are not straight, is that right. i always foal my mare in field, i have had a 3 foals in that last 18 years that have been born like that. i put mare and foal in a field with a steep hill, fence the hill of if need be, i am lucky i have 3 fields that is all steep hills. leave them there and feed as normal rug if you need to but the foal needs a steep hill to straighten legs, i have had a foal that i was told i would be saver putting down told this by a vet, i put on a very steep hill in 10 days -2 weeks was brilliant vet couldnt believe it thats a few years ago now. was told this by a old horse man. it has worked on my 3 foals. i am lucky to have 3 fields all hill but if you havent 1 field fence of a steep hill, it makes the use the legs even just getting up and down and just standing on it makes the legs work and straighten all the time, and i mean i had a foal that was really bad and legs are straight as anything now. good luck
 
It won't let me see the video so I presume it has bent legs then time is a marvellous healer.
We had one here that was very small (first foal) and his legs were crossed over at the knees and hocks, if you looked at him from behind, it looked like an X. Vet said to give him a few days and assess then, if there was improvement, it would probably come better. Within a month you could hardly tell, he just straightened up of his own accord. He was only allowed out for an hour a day and was changed onto shavings to help him get through the bed better, as described before. He ended up racing (NH) and had several successful seasons, even winning for Sir Clement Freud.
Another filly was born with a very crooked hind leg. Perfect until the hock downwards when the leg went quite straight to the ground, no shaping of the fetlock on the inside at all and a very bent cannon bone (think almost quarter circle shaped bow!) I thought the worse but vet persuaded me to try to leave her alone. Again, limited exercise for the first month, by six months it was hardly noticeable and if you didn't know about it you'd never even notice. She's now hunting and RC, having a ball. BTW, neither of them were ever lame or unlevel, just very dodgy to look at.

Pics of the colt, and he was much improved then but you can still see
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just found a few pics of a filly foal, one is when she was born, look at legs and other is 2 weeks later being on a steep hilled field.
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It does have a bilateral fixed flexion, but to me the fact that its bilateral is a positive. Boney abnormality in both is unlikely, so id say its just a case of time until the soft tissues stretch out.
 
I had a filly born with legs that looked like that, impossible to say if it is the same of course. What is the Vet saying?

Mine was on restricted exercise, 15 minutes out twice a day, and from Day 1 I was doing physio with her. My Vet had me back her into a corner (for support) and I was doing foreleg stretches (and pushing down on the knee, sounds worse than it was) to strengthen the leg. By Day 3 smartie pants had it sussed, she'd see me coming, go off to her corner and hold her leg out for me:)

She's coming back to me this weekend as a 3 year old, legs are sound as a pound and apparently, so her owner says, she still holds her front legs out straight in front for you!

I wouldn't give up on this one yet, I have seen far worse get better.
 
Lovely looking foal, I know nothing about this problem as a 1st time breeder (foal due in April) The advise given on here is good advise, but i would be consulting with my vet :) keep us all posted on the outcome.
 
From the video, which isn't very good, I wouldn't say you needed to call the meat man just yet ;)

Basically, as others have said, I've seen a lot worse, & by the time they were 2 years old, you just wouldn't have known. Depending on exactly what the problem is (a vet specialising in orthopaedic issues in foal needs to be called, I think), an awful lot can usually be done, from stretches, restricted turnout, corrective farriery etc...

I know she doesn't belong to you. Are the owners experienced in breeding? Is this a racehorse? Are owners not bothered trying to put it right because they think it is unlikely to win a race if legs aren't perfect?

I don't think this is what is wrong with this foal, but have a look at the following article. When it was first published, it was linked to a forum and lots of racing TB breeders/stud owners/stud workers & managers came in and said a lot of the TB foals are born with such difformities... often doesn't stop them from having good racing careers:

http://horsebreeders.myfastforum.org/archive/my-experience-with-carpal-valgus...__o_t__t_5911.html
 
Personally I'd be quite surprised if that filly doesn't look "normal" by the end of the week if she can walk in straw like that and was born yesterday. Her tendons and ligaments just aren't long enough. They'll stretch. I'd turn them out and get her as much movement as I could.
 
Judging by the video.. (which again.. isn't very clear... due to deep bedding!) the foal has contracted tendons both fronts...

Have the vet out asap to have a look... If it was my foal... it would be bandaging both fronts.. and depending on the severity of the contracture (I can't tell from the video) - possibly talking to the vet about oxytet to help relax the legs.

Also.. another thought might be to give it some pain relief.. upright / contracted foals tend to have a bit of a cycle going on.. whereby.. they are upright + over at the knee.. which eventually becomes a bit painful (they won't be lame just uncomfortable) - which makes them more over at the knee... - AGAIN - VETS ADVICE is crucial for any of the above mentioned.... I am just talking from my experience and advice I've had from vets I have worked with.

restricted exercise is important.. but also.. they do need to move and exercise a bit so they don't just concentrate their energy into getting fat and heavy... - which won't help their legs!!

Again.. can't see all that clearly.. but the foal looks weak and windswept behind. that will resolve itself with time when the foal strengthens. But it would be an idea for the vet and farrier to have a look at the foal sooner rather than later.
 
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Foal has contracted tendons and is a bit windswept. I would have the vet look at it with a view to a shot of terramycin - or two (helps with the tendons for some strange reason.) As others have said, less bedding will make it easier for foal to get the exercise he needs (but not TOO much until he straightens behind.) I've seen FAR worse come good - and would expect that one to be pretty much normal within a week.
 
We had a foal like this 2 years ago. It was exercised in our school to start with for 15 mins for the first 2 weeks and then gradually made it up to an hour. The contracted tendons did come right without shoes. But her back leg had a sway on it and thankfully other half is a farrier so we put a lateral extension plastic shoe on it and it did come right. For the contracted tendons we did exercises every day with the foal gently extending the legs 10 time forwards to encourage the tendons to stretch after 2 weeks you would never know its legs were contracted. Hope this helps.
 
I have seen a lot worse come completely right.
It takes a few days to straighten out anyway, but you can help by gently pulling the leg towards you and massaging it.
I would in this case ask the farrier to check the foal in a week's time but I reckon within two weeks it will look hugely better.
I would not reject it if I were the owner, it should be fine given time and a careful eye on it.
 
Hi, if little un was here here, my vet would prob oxytet and cast leg for 24 hours, but that would need doing immediatly by experienced vet, and hardly any straw or turnout, needs to strengthen up behind. I had a really badly windswept one last year, she's grand now.
Has vet seen foal?
 
God, please don't give it plenty of turnout as suggested!! It needs restricting! It also needs far less bedding.
That foal is not too bad, the vet might inject it for the front tendons which are a tad contracted, but I've seen worse ones come right on their own. Those back legs will strengthen and straighten up a lot on their own. I would have a very good farrier look at it from a week old though, just in case it needs a bit of extra help.
 
God, please don't give it plenty of turnout as suggested!
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Completely agree. TOTALLY agree.

My own experience is that in situations like this strict restriction on turnout is needed.

But obviously - your very experienced equine vet will (hopefully) have told you this. Or will be telling you this when they come and see the foal.........
 
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I have just started to look after some mares who are due to foal. This is ''my'' first foal, and as I was gawping at her the owner/breeder was telling me how utterly disapointed they are. I am not in charge of making vet calls (unless emergancy of course) and this filly has been seen by a vet, and the vet was due again yesterday PM after I went off duty. I will find out more tomorow when I return as I am only p/t.
I only asked on here if there was anyting I could do, and the feeling I got was to reduce the amount of bedding she has, which goes against what I was told to do, but I will try to be sneaky. The owner gave the impression that he was so disapointed he didn't think she was worth 'keeping', now take that how you will. She is a TB, bred for the track and first impression on filly was she is never going to be a champion.
Personally, I have never seen a foal with such windswept hocks, and that is my worry, not the contracted tendons which I know have a very good habit of correcting themselves.
I hope that the next foals (due 3rd march onwards) will be big strong healthy colts, which is what they have ordered!
 
Should add, that I suggested to owner that foal should stay IN for quite a while, and I hope that my words of wisdom have been heard.
I will say again, I AM NOT THE OWNER, just the groom and upto a point do as Iam told!
 
New Foal, but has a problem. What to do. VIDEO - Page 3 - Horse and Hound Forums
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How disappointing that another novice breeder with no clue as to what they are doing fecks up the life of a young animal who stands every chance of having the most positive outcome when it comes to those legs. I too have seen worse - with the adult horse ending up having perfect limb conformation....

I guess at the end of the day OP it is up to the YO who has ultimate charge over his equine responsibilities to start making some decisions on how to deal with this situation - both in terms of the responsibility to the foal but also the position you may have been put in.

Makes me so cross. And days like this I really think that numpty novice breeders should be banned!!!!!!
 
I am not a numpty, just the groom. I've done 2 mornings p/t work and feel that I am learning something new as have not dealt with mares and foals in 15 years!
The owner has been breeding for many years, and I respect his words, I have to! If he tells me how disapointing this filly is, then it comes across as 'bad' for the filly.
 
RuthnMeg said:
I am not a numpty, just the groom. I've done 2 mornings p/t work and feel that I am learning something new as have not dealt with mares and foals in 15 years!
The owner has been breeding for many years, and I respect his words, I have to! If he tells me how disapointing this filly is, then it comes across as 'bad' for the filly.
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I'm not insinuating you are a numpty. And as for the owner - respect is gained, not assumed.

As I said though, ultimately the responsibilty for the welfare of this little scrap to ensure the best positive outcome lies with the YO - not you, who is merely following orders. And hopefully he will step up to the mark.

And as for the owner - if he has many years of experience I'll eat my hat.
 
amymay said:
And as for the owner - if he has many years of experience I'll eat my hat.
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RM has already said he is an owner with many years experience and I hope he will do what is right for the foal but I imagine his attitude is only that of deep disappointment, which I know from my own experience, can take a couple of days to change and look on the positive side, especially where stock that is intended for a working career as this one is are concerned. I understand his reaction only too well I'm afraid and can only sympathise with him.
 
I understand his reaction only too well I'm afraid and can only sympathise with him.
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But you've bred enough foals to know how crooked they can be initially - and how well they usually straighten up.

Sorry, he sounds like a knob.
 
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