Turning a foal out for the first few times?

mynutmeg

mynutmeg

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My mare is due in May (I know I've got ages to wait yet) but am looking at how I'll manage the foal to start with - the question going round my head at the moment is whether to leave the foal slip on the foal when turned out for the first week or two until it's used to having a headcollar put on?
I'm a bit concerned about the foal getting caught in or on the foal slip if left unattended in it.

Any other advice on the early days would be appreciated as this is my first foal although I do have experienced people around me.
 
JanetGeorge said:
I never turn foals out in foal slips! When you've seen as many foals as I have scratching their ear with a hind foot you'll know JUST how easily a foot would get caught under the foal slip. And of course if the slip gets caught on a fence .....
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Oh, this post made me cringe.... I can just see that dainty little back leg going up towards the head and snap... Broken foaly :(. Not worth it op :(
 
If a headcollar is correctly fitted then there is very little to worry about as long as it's leather and most of the big studs will leave theirs on all day while they're out for safety and convenience especially when you have more than one mare and foal to bring in at a time. Mine have them on from day one even though they won't be used to lead from until I can lead them while in a stable; they're not on while they're at stud and then when they return they are back in use if they are coming in daily, if they are out 24/7 then they stay off. This was Kitty at a week old.
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Foal slips are a complete waste of time and badly designed and very easy for a foal to get a foot stuck in it; a foal headcollar is much better and will last you most of the summer if it's a decent adjustable one and definitely not nylon. Mine have holes every half inch which gives the adjustability you need and most of mine are nearly twenty years old. Get a decent one from a proper saddler and it will last you years http://www.gibsonsaddlers.com/category/horses/head-collars/leather-collars/
 
Part of the reason for asking now is my mom got me a really nice leather foal headcollar for Christmas which I want to keep nice for showing in so am wondering if I need to get something else to turnout in or not
 
mynutmeg said:
Part of the reason for asking now is my mom got me a really nice leather foal headcollar for Christmas which I want to keep nice for showing in so am wondering if I need to get something else to turnout in or not
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Nope! When he's VERY young, you shouldn't use a headcollar to lead him in anyway IMHO - I've known of too many foals turn themselves over when pulled on a headcollar! I lead mine out with the mare with a rope around the neck and a bum rope. We don't put a headcollar on for a week or two, and don't lead off it until the foal is at LEAST a month old and leading well with neck rope and bum rope. You can do it earlier - but you need to be very careful. We have a strict rule on my yard - if a foal goesover on the concrete while being led, the person leading had bloody well better be underneath them to cushion their fall!:D
 
JanetGeorge said:
Nope! When he's VERY young, you shouldn't use a headcollar to lead him in anyway IMHO - I've known of too many foals turn themselves over when pulled on a headcollar! I lead mine out with the mare with a rope around the neck and a bum rope. We don't put a headcollar on for a week or two, and don't lead off it until the foal is at LEAST a month old and leading well with neck rope and bum rope. You can do it earlier - but you need to be very careful. We have a strict rule on my yard - if a foal goesover on the concrete while being led, the person leading had bloody well better be underneath them to cushion their fall!:D
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I plan to have a headcollar on within 24 hours to help get the foal used to it but don't dream of leading from it for a good few weeks - just pulling on the headcollar isn't going to teach the foal to lead. From my understanding it needs to understand about pressure and release before risking leading from a headcollar, plus I would want it leading in a safe environment like the stable before trying it on concrete - that would make a mess of the foal :eek::eek: I like bum/neck ropes to start with from my reading/looking online etc - seems a much safer way to lead the foal. I also don't want to just let the foal trot loose alongside mom - there's way too much farm machinery on the yard for that and I want it learning to lead well asap. I'm planning on showing once the foal is old enough (assuming it's nicely put together and everything goes to plan :rolleyes::rolleyes:) so the sooner it learns to lead nicely the better.
 
My foals all wear leather headcollars within an hour or so of being born. Mine wear these 24/7. I don't use foal slips as, like Janet has mentioned above, they are too dangerous for little feet or legs to get caught up in. I can see my foals at all times and their fields have very safe fencing. You will probably need a few headcollars as foals outgrow them quickly.
 
My foal was born at Groomsbridge and Sally didn't put a headcollar on him until he went out for the first time, which was a couple of weeks old as he was poorly when born. She said that it is no big deal and he was confident being handled, she just walked up and put it on him and he didn't turn a hair.
He wasn't led from it though, although when he came home a few days later I did have a rope through it, but dodn't use it for anything. He was turned out in it for a day or two, it was a proper headcollar like Maesfens pic and I didn't worry about him getting caught up in it.
 
Next question is how tight or snug do I have the headcollar to be safe - it will be taken off at least every night when mare and foal are stabled and once turned out 24/7, if still wearing the headcollar tightness will be checked every day to prevent it getting too tight
 
Reason I ask is that my mare's headcollar is usually fitted reasonably loose to the point I'd be concerned about a foal catching a foot and the ones you see photos off always seem very tight to me :confused::confused: I'm fusing a bit I know :D
 
If you look at my picture above you can see that Kitty's H/C is quite snug all over. I put it with just one finger width between head and leather; snug enough that she can move her jaw to eat/suckle but not loose enough to get a foot through it. You do have to check the fit every day as they grow so quickly, it's been known to go down two holes in just a week; I also have holes punched every half inch on nose, throat and head so there's plenty of room for adjustment.
 
Thanks - thats the sort of fit I was thinking from looking at photos, I certainly wouldn't have it as loose as my mare's is but she's never left or turned out in it that loose. The headcollar will be coming off every day at least - I've seen too many photos/video of ingrown headcollars and dog collars to risk that happening!
 
I never put headcollars on anything no matter what age when turned out - too many risks to be worth it and no real need!! I get babies used to headcollars being put on and off if needs be in the first few weeks or so when they baby comes up of it's own accord - I never force them or you end up fighting with them - most will come up within a day or 2 of their own accord and you just start handling them from there onwards a little bit at a time and never more than a few minutes in one go.
Mynutmeg - I recognise the mare in your pic or at least her shoulder anyway - I seem to remember odd things!! - are you Louise that I sold Jazz too in Carlisle?!!:D - sorry if you're not!!:o
 
Alexart said:
I never put headcollars on anything no matter what age when turned out - too many risks to be worth it and no real need!! I get babies used to headcollars being put on and off if needs be in the first few weeks or so when they baby comes up of it's own accord - I never force them or you end up fighting with them - most will come up within a day or 2 of their own accord and you just start handling them from there onwards a little bit at a time and never more than a few minutes in one go.
Mynutmeg - I recognise the mare in your pic or at least her shoulder anyway - I seem to remember odd things!! - are you Louise that I sold Jazz too in Carlisle?!!:D - sorry if you're not!!:o
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Hi, yes it's me :D:D Sarah still has Jazz

have pm'd you
 
I really would'nt worry about putting a headcollar on so that it gets used to it.

I had a foal this year who wasn't lead until he was weaned and he just followed us. My friend faffed around picking up her foal's feet and leading it when my foal turned out just fine.
 
Prince (the foal my mil bred) had his on from day 2, it was a foal headcollar with a bit of string hanging down - something to grab).. it was fitted snuggly - so no room for feet to get in or for it to catch on anything and it was leather. They never had any issues with him at all, however he wore one 24/7 until he was around 8/9 months old -which i didn't agree with, as i like to introduce the youngster to being caught very quickly.

My foal who i bought last year was delivered on October 20th and by october 25th he was out of a headcollar (leather one) and was able to be caught. To get him used to it, i caught him with a bigger headcollar over the top of his field one, and eventually i just took it off and risked it - it was fine, caught him firs time. :) Was very pleased with myself!
 
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