New Foal- nervous breakdown.

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lottie940

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I have taken on a 6 month old foal today and I am already questioning my judgement.

He is to live out 24/7 with my older horse. there are 3 shelters in the field and they have plenty of grazing (once I let them back through to big field).

They seem to get on well in the field generally but I fed them together tonight and it was a nightmare.

Foal didnt like his tea so took older horses tea ( who just let him do it!) so thought right I'll shut one away so put the older horse in the stable which caused younger horse to freak out and gallop round looking for an escape route! In the end I ended up putting head collar on the foal and doing a bit of fuss and picking feet up etc whilst older horse had his tea.

Older Horse did let foaly in the stable to share hay though but I am now worried they are going to become inseparable !!

What is the best way forward to prevent this? I don't want to end up not being able to take my older horse out any more!! Help!!
 
It will be okay in the end - your foal will be a bit of a wild card for a while though, if you don't get much response in here repost in breeding. For now, I would stick a headcollar on the older horse and tie him up to eat, and headcollar on the youngster too and hold him whilst he eats.

My 18 year old is constantly pushed off his food by the yearling and the three year old, so I have to stand by him and remove the bowl if they look like knicking his.
 
You've got yourself a handfull!
With only the two together you are likely to have problems - if you need to take the other horse out for any reason the foal is going to FREAK. Shutting it in might make it worse as it could hurt itself trying to get out.

Is there any way you could get something small and quiet to act as a buffer? Three are so much easier to deal with as there is always one left when another goes out. They can also help diffuse disagreements, and helps prevent individuals from getting too attached.
 
You may have to just hold the foal and handle him whilst your older one eats (also good to get the foal used to being handled). Having just the 2...you're asking for problems, especially with such a young one. If you take the older one out the foal will naturally be worried and probably freak out, also agree that shutting the foal in somewhere could also result in an injury.

Is the foal yours to keep or are you looking after him for someone?

I would suggest getting another horse to keep the foal company if you need to take your older one out. Perhaps maybe even another youngster so he has someone to play with and act like a baby for a while? We have 4 foals out together at the moment so they can play, they are also next to a field with older ones who can tell them off over the fence :)
 
There are two other cobs up there on the yard that live together but they are on the other side of the property. Once I open up the big field foaly will be able to wander down and have a look at them but I am worried that without his friend he will crash through the fence and try and find us.

The people I bought him off told me to shut him in a stable when I go out with my older one, both top and bottom door shut, with some food so that he cannot try and follow us.
 
ILPH may well have a suitable comfort blanket of a small un that you can loan, that way you can take yours out and mad foaly can still have company. Thats better education than shutting foaly in the stable.
 
i have just (2 weeks ago) bought a 6 month old section A foal as primarily,company for Charlie, and as a pet, to show inhand a bit. I have tried to start as i mean to go on, in that I separate them every day.... i have taken charlie out for hacks and the wee one has called and had canter about but as soon as we are out of sight he goes into the stable and is settled(hubby keeps an eye). I have also had some days with them in separate fields. I feed mine with Charlie in the stable and put the wee one's bucket right at the stable door so they next to one another with just the door between them. the 2 of them are in my siggy - pics were taken this morning.

ETA - i did shut my wee one in the stable the first couple of times we went out, but he was fine, so i dont bother now.
 
FFS don't do that. Put it this way, you might end up with a foal that tolerated being left alone shut in the dark, or more likely, you will end up with a foal that has stable stress that will stay with it for life.
Have you owned a foal before? Ideally they need to be with others of their age when they are so young, maybe with a nanny horse.
 
Could you not get maybe a little Shettie as well, or an older, sensible pony? I think you're going to need a threesome rather than a twosome.
 
Oh dear, poor foal :(

Presumably it's only just been weaned, it needs a companion who will always be there with it, a foal cannot be expected to tolerate being left on its own and it will probably injure itself badly if you do take the other horse away.
 
let them share..put in two buckets, 2 lots of hay..NOT haynets with a foal..when you catch up your gelding, catch up the foal aswell..it WILL NOT lead to separation issues as the foal gets older, trust me..the poor little guy has just "lost" his mum, he needs reassurence ATM not a regimental routine..

just do normal things with him..leading, feet, brushing etc..he'll become less dependant on your gelding as he asserts himself
 
it obviously depends on the foal and what handling it has had until now. Mine is well used to a stable and chooses to go in there himself as a safe place - infact he's been in most of the day today. He's also been used to been being brought in on his own by his breeders, was weaned a while ago and has had some experience out showing. Thankfully he seems really chilled and settled. I know plenty of people who have 2, and dont have problems... similarly i know some who do. Hoping we will continue the way we have been going and be the former:)
 
Slowly, slowly, trainee baby....

Start by splitting them up for feeding - get a gate on the field shelter, or bring them both in to the yard & stable them for 10 mins a time (yes, I know its annoying when its dark/cold etc, but this will pay off in the end).
Practice grooming & tying up - and also leaving baby for a short while on his own with friend in nearby stable. Observe how he reacts.
If all well for 15 mins or so at a time, do this twice a day.
Then move on to taking your older fella out for a 5 min walk - where baby can see him going & & returning - and most importantly you can hear baby all the time. Dont shut top door etc, just leave with a small amount of hay for picking at. However, DO shut yard main gate!
Extend times till you are able to hack out for an hour or so & baby only looks mildly amazed at what you are doing.
Keep persisting, its amazing sometimes when you look back 6 months later & you can find your bolshy yearling can be quite an angel when left on his own...

Good luck
 
Well they actually told me to tie him up which I just won't do as I am scared to death he will strangle himself. When I mentioned that they said shut him in the stable.

Not owned a foal before which is why I wanted some advice. I know some of it is teething trouble.

The two cobs on the other side of the land live together ok and can hack out independantly.
 
lottie940 said:
The two cobs on the other side of the land live together ok and can hack out independently.
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Yes, but your foal is only 6 months old. He has probably just been taken away from his mum and is obviously worried about being alone and is looking to your older one for reassurance.

Agree with Ms Piebald, take it slowly with him and get him used to your older one being taken away, it will take some time as your foal grows up a bit and becomes a bit more independent. I wouldn't expect any foal to tolerate suddenly being left alone.

In an ideal situation, I would have the foal turned out with others of a similar age so they can play together, second to that get another companion.

Good luck with him :)
 
lottie940 said:
The people I bought him off told me to shut him in a stable when I go out with my older one, both top and bottom door shut, with some food so that he cannot try and follow us.
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Well they're idiots - IMHO! This poor little chap has been taken away from his Mum, to a strange place - and has found a friend! That friend is his security blanket. Take friend away and shut him in a dark stable .......

He WILL have a nervous breakdown - or at least injure himself or get ulcers!

You need to find a small, quiet - probably elderly - companion so foalie has a second friend. I wouldn't recommend the two cobs (although I obviously don't know them - they MIGHT be angels!) Generally, adult geldings - and some mares - are NOT the best companions for a weanling foal!
 
The best advice I can give you is find someone local who is exprierienced with youngstock and kind, and get them to help you out a bit. I'm saying, if you need to pay the right person it will be worth it. You pay for riding lessons, it's really worth paying for looking after foals lessons as well. There is so much you need to know about handling, feeding etc, it would be really worthwhile.
 
nativeponies said:
let them share..put in two buckets, 2 lots of hay..NOT haynets with a foal..when you catch up your gelding, catch up the foal aswell..it WILL NOT lead to separation issues as the foal gets older, trust me..the poor little guy has just "lost" his mum, he needs reassurence ATM not a regimental routine..

just do normal things with him..leading, feet, brushing etc..he'll become less dependant on your gelding as he asserts himself
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^^ this, AND this. I wish so much that I'd taken Tinypony's advice when i got my girlie at 9 months old.


Tinypony said:
The best advice I can give you is find someone local who is exprierienced with youngstock and kind, and get them to help you out a bit. I'm saying, if you need to pay the right person it will be worth it. You pay for riding lessons, it's really worth paying for looking after foals lessons as well. There is so much you need to know about handling, feeding etc, it would be really worthwhile.
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I made a separate feeding area when I bought a NF weanling, he thought he could share my mares feed which she strongly objected to. It was just a 24ftx24ft approx electric fenced off area, I also have a mini shettie which kept the youngster company when I rode my mare. I did learn him at around 12 months old to stay on his own in the field, it took quite a long time building up the lengh of time he was alone slowly.
It may be worth while trying to loan a companion so your foal does not stress out while you do things with your other horse, then when he is older you could then try and learn him to stay on his own for a while when you ride etc. As I stated before it did take quite some time, and the first time I left mine alone was for just for 5 mins. Then built up the lengh of time over a few weeks, however there are horses out there that just will not tolerate being left alone, and will end up getting hurt trying to find his field mate.
 
A horse is a HERD animal, and nothing's as clingy as a youngster that's just been weaned from its mum. Whoever told you to shut it in a dark stable while you take your horse out is a fool. (that's the polite version.) It will probably freak and might really hurt itself, and/or be really traumatised. and/or hurt whoever goes to let it out eventually. :( :(
If you are going to take your adult horse out to ride etc, you have to have another pony or horse or something in there for foaly so he still has a friend. Sorry, no way around this. In with the cobs should be fine, but don't leave him all alone in a field for heaven's sake, he's likely to kill himself going through the fencing to follow his only friend in the world...
 
My advice is based on bitter experience when I brought my own 6 month old foal! And, I'm not being nasty honest, but I think I had more experience with youngstock than Op has. Op - get some really good help, there is absolutely no substitute, and mixed advice from an internet forum just won't cut it. Oh, and don't take someone's word for it that they know what they are talking about, get someone recommended, maybe contact some local studs. If you want a great adult horse, treat this foal right now.
 
kerilli said:
A horse is a HERD animal, and nothing's as clingy as a youngster that's just been weaned from its mum. Whoever told you to shut it in a dark stable while you take your horse out is a fool. (that's the polite version.) It will probably freak and might really hurt itself, and/or be really traumatised. and/or hurt whoever goes to let it out eventually. :( :(
If you are going to take your adult horse out to ride etc, you have to have another pony or horse or something in there for foaly so he still has a friend. Sorry, no way around this. In with the cobs should be fine, but don't leave him all alone in a field for heaven's sake, he's likely to kill himself going through the fencing to follow his only friend in the world...
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I agree 100%
 
Tinypony said:
My advice is based on bitter experience when I brought my own 6 month old foal! And, I'm not being nasty honest, but I think I had more experience with youngstock than Op has. Op - get some really good help, there is absolutely no substitute, and mixed advice from an internet forum just won't cut it. Oh, and don't take someone's word for it that they know what they are talking about, get someone recommended, maybe contact some local studs. If you want a great adult horse, treat this foal right now.
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very good advice
 
Just wanted to thank everyone who replied to my desperate post at the back end of last year.

I am pleased to say that I still have foaly, who is now officially named Olly, and he is coming up 1 year old next month. It's not been an easy ride by any means but I think slowly but surely he is settling.

He was gelded 8 weeks ago which seems to have calmed him down no end. He loves being groomed and like kisses and cuddles and food!!

Food is his favourite pass time and I can get him to do most things with the offer of a cheeky treat or two. I have been able to hack the older boy out and leave Olly in the stable for a few months now. I pop him in with hay and he quite happily stands there until we come back. He also has his buckets in there morning and night to stop him nicking my older lads food.

I had issues with him escaping so I've had to invest in lots of fencing which cost me a fortune but it was either that or sell him and I couldn't bear to part with him.

anyway once he hits yearling status we are going to start having strolls out with his older companion and seeing some of the sights. Thanks again everyone.
 
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