So I have a foal....

[SmallSteps]

I mentioned on another thread that I bought a very lovely competition mare in late December, who didn't cope well with lockdown losing all her topline, gaining one hell of a belly and eventually going into labour *cries*

So I have this lovely foal now three months old, and I don't know anything as he's a BOGOF/twofer. Sire is a cracking stallion but mare had scanned empty and I hadn't known she was ever covered, so the switch of owner allowed her pregnancy to go unnoticed, I just thought she was very kind, a bit backward and very bloated. Mare was on a diet and endless hill and polework (and competing) before he was born but he's turned out huge. He spent the first week of his life as a dummy foal and very, very determined to die on me, but now he's robust and healthy, if a little too independent and growing a little too fast.

He's easy, like his mum, leads, respects your space, picks his feet out but not someone I saw coming so now that I'm no longer in the reactive, try-and-keep-it-alive, panic stage can anyone recommend a favourite site or book and/or give me their top tips on foals, weaning, the lot, it'd all be incredibly welcome!

 

[milliepops]

I'm finding my way through with my first foal who is the same age so can't help on resources (I have a few books bought in a flurry on amazon but tbh the internet has been a better source of up to date practical info like worming etc).

But you MUST join FoalFriday, it's compulsory!
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/foal-friday-2020.790446/

 

[SmallSteps]

I'm finding my way through with my first foal who is the same age so can't help on resources (I have a few books bought in a flurry on amazon but tbh the internet has been a better source of up to date practical info like worming etc).

But you MUST join FoalFriday, it's compulsory!
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/foal-friday-2020.790446/

A top tip already!

 

[SashaBabe]

He's lovely. Does he have a name?

 

[ihatework]

Awww bless him.
In your shoes I’d call up some local studs and see if you can integrate him and the mare into their set up now, with a view to weaning at stud and bringing your mare home.

 

[Xmasha]

Congratulations, now that’s a freebie I wouldn’t mind having !

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

What a lovely story and he looks gorgeous and I am sure he will be loads of fun, I will look forward to hearing about him and his progress.

 

[honetpot]

If you can not find a stud to take them someone who has a old pony to nanny it and play until mum has had enough, If they are socialised weaning is easy.

 

[SmallSteps]

Thanks! We have two others at home, young competition mare and the kids semi-retired 13hh mare, so four in total, and they all turn out together at the moment. Foal is very independent and happy to lose sight of mum (I had to tube feed him for the first few days so I think that's made him a little less well bonded). I worry that he doesn't have any friends his own age, so the stud might be a good plan. Otherwise I can send the mare back to the livery yard she’s been at before, or just try to wean at home...

 

[Equi]

Im not a breeder/stud but i had two foals on my small yard so no other babies about kind of thing. My first foal was very independent and didn't much care if mum was not near or out of sight, mum would check where she was then toddle off to do her own thing. I had an older mare and "uncle" gelding they were out with and she got along with uncle a little more than the older mare so one day i just put them out on each side of a fence and there was no drama and thats how they stayed until a few weeks later (mare dried up) then they just went back together no issue. I did leave it probably a lot later than many would the filly was probably 10 months and i only split cause i wanted to show her and didnt want her panicking when mum was not there which she didn't. Second foals mum was a lot more involved and he was a bit of a mummies boy so they got to be in the herd up until he started mounting his sister about 7 months then he and mum went into a split stable at night (which upset mum more than colt!) and out with uncle only. Eventually mum went with the girls and colt with uncle. Uncle taught him manners and the eff off ques. Young herds are great for them as its more natural, but at the same time they need an older wiser (and in some cases tougher) nanny/uncle to show them the ropes but its helpful if that nanny/uncle is also a little playful too or they just get bored. My uncle and colts playing had my heart in my mouth many times! The filly never was playful with anyone lol

 

[[139672]]

He is beautiful ?. You could join Richard Maxwell’s FB page, he sells videos about foals and I think he published a book few years ago about foals?

 

[SmallSteps]

Im not a breeder/stud but i had two foals on my small yard so no other babies about kind of thing. My first foal was very independent and didn't much care if mum was not near or out of sight, mum would check where she was then toddle off to do her own thing. I had an older mare and "uncle" gelding they were out with and she got along with uncle a little more than the older mare so one day i just put them out on each side of a fence and there was no drama and thats how they stayed until a few weeks later (mare dried up) then they just went back together no issue. I did leave it probably a lot later than many would the filly was probably 10 months and i only split cause i wanted to show her and didnt want her panicking when mum was not there which she didn't. Second foals mum was a lot more involved and he was a bit of a mummies boy so they got to be in the herd up until he started mounting his sister about 7 months then he and mum went into a split stable at night (which upset mum more than colt!) and out with uncle only. Eventually mum went with the girls and colt with uncle. Uncle taught him manners and the eff off ques. Young herds are great for them as its more natural, but at the same time they need an older wiser (and in some cases tougher) nanny/uncle to show them the ropes but its helpful if that nanny/uncle is also a little playful too or they just get bored. My uncle and colts playing had my heart in my mouth many times! The filly never was playful with anyone lol

This is really helpful thanks! ive put them into separate stables to feed a couple of times (but our stables have viewing windows) and he just lies down and goes to sleep in the extra space. That’d be the dream for them to just eventually separate with no fuss. I am looking forward to having the mare back in work.

As is typical luck, the kids’ pony which I thought would be a good nanny (and was a broodmare in the past) is not great with him but my young competition mare (who already tends to clingy & herd-bound) is his favourite ever aunt ?‍

 

[SmallSteps]

Congratulations, now that’s a freebie I wouldn’t mind having !

Quite a rollercoaster from “oh no she’s dying of colic“ to “oh we’re getting a foal“ to “oh, a nice foal” lol

 

[SmallSteps]

He's lovely. Does he have a name?

Now this is the tricky question!!

Currently called Idris the Dragon but not yet passported. Vet calls him Lazarus (because they’d recorded him as dead)

Cornet Obolensky * OBOS Quality * Aldatus Z

 

[ihatework]

Well that is a nicely bred surprise foal. Bet old owners are gutted!

 

[mini_b]

Aw god ? - congrats. He is lovely though. Would be nice to know how he gets on and what name you settle on!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Oh wow, that’s quite the surprise! What a stunning chap! I swear by Richard Maxwell’s books, either From Birth to Backing or Train Your Young Horse. They were invaluable when I bought my weanling a couple of winters ago.

 

[Xmasha]

Now this is the tricky question!!

Currently called Idris the Dragon but not yet passported. Vet calls him Lazarus (because they’d recorded him as dead)

Cornet Obolensky * OBOS Quality * Aldatus Z

Cracking breeding...it would be an amazing story if he went on to be a superstar. Good luck with him, as IHW says, i bet the old owners are gutted. That wouldnt have been cheap using Cornet. Im assuming they had some sort of discount as she scanned NIF, will you have to pay to get the covering cert ?

 

[Shilasdair]

I asked a very good stud manager for some tips when I bred mine...her advice was;
1. Wean it late (up to a year)
2. Don't feed it much hard feed despite what the feed companies tell you.
3. Front legs that point outwards straighten up as the chest grows.
4. Leave it out in company as much as possible

 

[SmallSteps]

I asked a very good stud manager for some tips when I bred mine...her advice was;
1. Wean it late (up to a year)
2. Don't feed it much hard feed despite what the feed companies tell you.
3. Front legs that point outwards straighten up as the chest grows.
4. Leave it out in company as much as possible

Thanks, this is really helpful. I bought the mare to jump (expensive schoolmaster to help me recover from a hospital stay) so I'm a bit gutted and hovering over her wanting to get her back into work, so it's really good to have this sort of reality check!

 

[SmallSteps]

Cracking breeding...it would be an amazing story if he went on to be a superstar. Good luck with him, as IHW says, i bet the old owners are gutted. That wouldnt have been cheap using Cornet. Im assuming they had some sort of discount as she scanned NIF, will you have to pay to get the covering cert ?

They old owners covered it all (once he'd survived the first month). It's not a great situation for any of us, they wouldn't have sold if they'd known and I certainly wouldn't have bought, but he's a lovely foal.