Poor Foalie...bit of a rant

alsxx

alsxx

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Not much point to my post I'm afraid other than to moan!! There is a foal at our yard that would appear to be on full livery...the poor thing has been here for about 5 months and in all that time has been confined to a stable other than for a couple of hours out at grass with one other pony. The last week or so when I have been turning out in the morning I have walked past its stable and discovered that its started weaving...now I am sure there will be some people that disagree with me, and I really dont want to start a debate, but why on earth keep it cooped up? Its a baby, it should be out in the field being a horse for goodness sake! And its not even a year old and already seems to have developed a bad habit!

sorry guys, rant over!
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Yeah foals should be allowed out to play
When I worked with horses the foals would go out in the morning and come in at night
Feel very sorry for this foal indeed owners should be handling the foal and not have it on full livery
 
I wonder if it's a colt? At the riding school where my ned was in full livery (that's WAS) they bought some hideously expensive colts to bring on as stallions (no stallion facilities but hey, so what). Sadly, they could only have an hour or so out every so often in the barren outdoor school. Needless to say, "vices" soon appeared! Poor guys.
 
Dont be silly girl! Foalies are delicate things and may hurt themselves if allowed to do what foalies are supposed to do. They cost money and so does the vet
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. Just being sarcastic, I dont believe any of what Ive just said. Owners and YO should be ashamed of themselves and YO should know better. It may be the owners who are paranoid but YO should talk to them and point out the potential problems of keeping a growing youngster cooped up. Poor baby, what a frustrating start to life
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Yes it is a colt....but when i say it is out, it is turned out where we all have to ride through to go out on a hack, so not exactly a field...and needless to say I have had some right fun and games trying to hack out and get through the gate with him around! Not that I blame him! They wont be getting it cut for a while either for some reason I have not dared to ask!!
 
Poor little bugger - babies should be out and playing - to learn about life and grow strong.

When I bought him home at 16 months Chancer did have to come in at night and only had 4 days a week turnout in winter - most I could get.

On days in though he was put in the school in the morning and afternoon to have a run round with our old chap and I played little games with him on days not out in the evening. He actually rather likes his stable. In the summer he is normally out 24 x 7 from May to October.

Is there no more turnout available or do they just keep him in - if there is turnout then they should be ashamed at what they are doing. Assume he has no health problems which is why he is so restricted.
 
We have a yearling colt who has been sent to us to handle as he is so naughty towards his owner. He is in his stable all day, but comes out everyday for his lesson of leading and general handling and gets the odd run in the stallion paddock. He is 8 months old and about 15hh already and a right g!t.

He is being produced as a stallion and in the wrong hands (as already proved) he could be a very dangerous young horse. Stallions / colts can't just go out anywhere, they need very secure fencing etc.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions without knowing why he is there and what he is intended for, being in a stable doesn't = crulety. If his owner wants to keep him entire then most stallions lead isolated and mainly indoor lives, it's a way of keeping them and others safe.
 
I agree.
All youngstock should be kicked out til they're ready to start work - ideally 24 hrs a day in a herd of different ages.
If the yard doesn't have the facilities to keep a colt (high fencing if it is liable to jump out) then either they should buy some high electric fence posts (they're not that expensive) or geld him, or send him somewhere that does.
Mind you, my two youngsters lived out since birth or when I bought them...and you'd be surprised the number of people who want me to bring them in....even though they're fed/hayed/rug changed twice a day. Except my vets - who are delighted with them living out
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If people do not have the facilities for a colt or stallion they simply should not have one.

This is a 'Welfare Issue' if the colt is not being allowed to go out.

I would contact the Welfare Hotline of the ILPH (International League for the Protection of horses) and get them to send out one of their inspectors to have a chat with the owners of the horse and livery yard.

www.ilph.org Welfare Hotline Tel: 08000 480180
 
sorry but if you cant give a stallion a good quality of life (and no..isolation is not good quality!) then you shouldn't have one, it's not that difficult to chop off their balls. JH58 he's probably a git because he doesn't get turnout...
Poor foal, unless it has a medical reason it should be out.
 
Blimey, our foal is nearly 9 months old and hasn't been in a stable yet, apart from when she's being nosy and takes herself exploring! All the others live out, and she's no exception. She is full of beans, she would be shear hell if stabled!
 
The colt I mentioned was sent to the stud for training as he was so bad, since being here he's fine. I think it was over handling rather than lack of turnout actually..

All the stallions in question are stabled, with an hour or so turnout a day in a properly fenced and well maintained stallion paddock.

I think the vast majority of stallions do have slightly isolated lives, in that they can't be turned out just with any old companion. Which is exactly why I think people should think very carefully before decided to keep a horse entire.

I agree foals should be out with their own kind but without knowing the situation I think it's wrong to assume stabled = welfare case, after all there could be many reasons why this foal is stabled.
 
if you dont have the facilities, dont have the horse, an 8month old is too young to be in, its not fair on it. no medical reasons why it should be in, just easier for the owner.
 
You think that is bad? At my current yard (am hoping to move) they have stallions that are in constantly in and they are incredibly aggressive as a result. Also the foals have their headcollars on far too tight and for the 1st 3 days they have it on, they have a leadrope attached and are put in a stable. When I asked why I got told so that they would learn what it felt like to tread on a leadrope and not be able to yank its head up...

Also the little babies are so unbelievably shy & frightened of people. I now know why, the yard 'manager' (17 yo who has been riding for a year) puts them in the indoor school for 1/2 hr a day and then rattles the gates and 'boo's' at them to make them run.

I find this all far too much and as a result have decided to move as soon as I find somewhere. It is so wrong in so many ways and I genuinely find it upsetting and really sad.
 
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If people do not have the facilities for a colt or stallion they simply should not have one.

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i 100% agree with that comment, are colts and stallions are treated like any others, they live out together all year round happily, as long as there are no mares. and stallions covering mares are taked from the herd and return to them at the end of season no problems. i know people with valueble stallions dont want them turned out with other but just because there entire does mean they need shuting in 24/7
 
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