Ruggin up foals

J

JJ2

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I am the proud new owner of a gorgeous 7month old coloured cob colt foal. He is lovely and is currently living out 24/7 in my field. It has been raining none stop here today and there are quite strong winds, resulting in cold, driving rain!! Not nice!
I went to see to him tonight only to find him charging around and looking like he was shivering.

This is the first foal i have owned and am wondering if people put NZ['s on their foals whilst they are living out or just leave them to harden up?

I am a bit paranoid about my horses getting cold so i want to make sure it isnt just me being soft!!
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Thanks in advance!
 
I have put hay in the field for him and there are lots of hedges he can stand by but at the moment he is standing in the middle of the field!! Silly foal!

I am also building my field shelter next weekend so he will have that to go in

He has lived out all his life but has been stabled for the past 6 weeks whilst he was weaned etc so maybe that has made him a little soft (if that makes sense!)

I guess i just dont like seeing him cold!
 
Is he on his own? If he is then he's probably very lonely as he's not long been weaned from a 24/7 companion; foals really do appreciate company. As the others say, as long as he has shelter, plenty of hay available and regular feed and scratch then he shouldn't take any harm. If you put your fingers through his coat to his skin, his skin should be as dry as a bone. If he is wet,to his skin, then he needs bringing in and drying off; a foal can soon go downhill if he gets consistently wet and cold.
 
Have you been out in the field and stood where he is standing?

Sometimes they find a kind of thermal area in the field. It can look really exposed but when you go and stand with them, they have actually found a really good place to stand.

The amount of times I have said "Stupid blooming horses, I provide shelter etc and they stand in the middle of the flippin field"! I now try and make a point of joining them in their chosen spot and more often than not it is me who is being stupid! Why be in a shelter when you can be in this spot of the field and be able to continue the important tasks of eating and tiger watch out duties.
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He is with my little mare who is a 3yr old and they are getting on really well. She is very patient with him as he is starting to climb all over her!! Poor girlie. His skin was dry at the moment so hopefully he will be ok.

I cant do anything tonight anyway as he would be too wet to put a rug on him anyway so will go and buy one tomorrow just incase he needs it.

He has only got to brave it for a week then i will hopefully have my field shelter up.
 
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