T/B's and foals - Please read

P

paul_exe

Active Member
Joined
7 March 2007
Messages
38
Visit site
Taken from another site, but I am disgusted that this practice is acceptable

http://www.arabianlines.com/forum1/topic_new.asp?TOPIC_ID=16799

Paul
mad.gif
 
i ent to a yard very similar to that the other day so much so it sounds like the very yard and i think it is discusting but as with most things in racing money talks,the yard was a tip too
 
Sadly it is but one of many undesirable practices that is reputed to take place in the world of racing. I suppose the demand for foster mothers for racing foals must vary, so it is not something I imagine you could plan for...
 
My uncle worked on a stud in Argentina where they kept draught mares for fostering orphan foals. He managed to have 2 foals on the same mare though (mare's own and fostered foal) as they produced so much milk and he explained they will produce as much as it took to feed 1 OR 2 foals. Can anyone explain why this isn't more common?
He had little 'pyjamas' which he put on original foal then put on orphan so mum would accept it, then reintroduce original foal...
 
Interesting! Then please explain to me why the stud I work on found the foster mare that we have via me using this website, as there is such a shortage!!

Other than the above I have little actual experience of this in the UK, but a competition horse stud that I used to work on used to have the foster mares from a HUGE operation, sent to their stallions (we're talking some VERY decent WB's here) from Oct through to March, that way their foals would be at least 3 or 4 months old and weanable (with milk replacer pellets etc....), if the mares were needed. Also meant that by using decent stallions on decent mares, these babies were also being bred for a purpose!!

In Kentucky, we used a guy who provided Belgian Heavey Draft mares as Foster mares. He too, would have the foals born, so that they would be weanable and bucket raised from 3/4 months old if necessary!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Interesting! Then please explain to me why the stud I work on found the foster mare that we have via me using this website, as there is such a shortage!!


[/ QUOTE ]

Glad you answered this one SN.
One only has to watch the racing channels every day, and see the frequent appeals the big studs make for foster mares, to know that the above mentioned is not standard practice.
I have never known of it happening, but then I dont exist within the 'sheik' circle. Its daft to suggest the foals are weaned so the mares can go for coverings. A high percentage of the time the stallions are put straight back on, and the mares travel and foal down at their stud.
Perhaps someone with more time than me can whip up some stats on how many mares with a (USA) foal (but with Irish/British breeding), have a (USA) bloodline foal the next year(and vice versa)?
 
Can I just reassure everyone that Echo (the mare taken down to Sportznight) still had her 9 month old filly at foot! I tend to let her wean late. Foalie (well, yearling) is very much alive and kicking - I have a bruise on my buttock to prove it!
 
While I can see why it is frowned upon, specially IF the foal is killed so the mare can be used as a foster. But what is the difference between this and cows that calf and have them taken to be hand/machine raised so WE can have their milk? Often the boy calfs end up as veal.
 
You are quite right Irishcobs. Cow mums love their calves just as much. My old cow has her two grown up daughters still with her and even after being seperated for 6 months they knew each other and mum spent ages licking her big child.
 
At the risk of being bombarded, this was posted on an arab enthuiasts forum,
wink.gif
. I have seen mares fostering foals and most often it is mares who lose a foal or as said, some mares will take an additional foal on. I don't think there is the need for mass press hysteria just yet! Maybe when we have righted other wrongs, for example CHILD ABUSE!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top