Vet reckons little feral pony might be in foal - if she is, what do I need to know?

the foal slips that cross over through a metal ring under the jaw and have nose and head buckles are very adjustable for starters and have a short grab piece underneath
 
that sounds like the ones my YO uses.....if you are using the stable you could get one and get her used to having it put on and off....do lots of wither scratches etc and get her used to you touching her all over before you try headcollar, shes only just arrived and seems to be doing very well already..i love getting toknow the foals and making sure they only have positive experiences with humans, it makes such a difference when they need the farrier etc,,,just take it slowly and remember we need lots of piccies :):)
 
splashgirl45 said:
i love getting toknow the foals and making sure they only have positive experiences with humans
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I've enjoyed this SOOOOO much myself esp compared to all the un-learning my other crackpots have had to do, starting with a total blank canvas is so lovely, you get a chance to get it all right from the start.

Echo the request for more pictures ?
 
Mum is chilled enough to groom Auntie now and lets me walk past without shepherding baby away. Otherwise every day is the same - eat, sleep, play, repeat!
 

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I need to start handling Mum more. She is not scared, just 2yo and sassy. Her feet need trimming and she will need a second vaccination in 3 weeks. My husband adores her but he is too hesitant about it all so she trusts him but does not respect him. So this weekend we will start the discussions… gently but insistently. I do not need her to bond to me, I have enough of them following me around. I just need her to respect me and let me handle her - for her own good!

Foal and Aunty think she is nuts when she is all grumpy with us!
 
I have noticed over the last few days that the foal is relying on Auntie more and becoming much more independent - no longer stuck to her mum’s side like glue. Mum is obviously the milk bar, but she is young herself and cannot offer the quiet reassurance and guidance that Auntie can. Little foal is making her own choices already at only a week old!
 
maya2008 said:
I have noticed over the last few days that the foal is relying on Auntie more and becoming much more independent - no longer stuck to her mum’s side like glue. Mum is obviously the milk bar, but she is young herself and cannot offer the quiet reassurance and guidance that Auntie can. Little foal is making her own choices already at only a week old!
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My foal had Auntie Mys, who he was with at all times unless he was drinking. They aren’t stupid!
 
Trying to eat grass…chewing without teeth - don’t know if any is going in!

She tried to steal Auntie’s dinner today. Doesn’t try to steal mum’s food though. Auntie picked her bowl up with her teeth and moved it out of the way ?!
 

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mine was chomping away at stuff at a few days old, i think it's fine, i'm not sure when she started actually getting anything from it per se but she seemed to enjoy having a good go!
 
foals will nibble away very early on which allows their digestive system to "accept" solid food. She'll probably start showing an interest in hard food and be able to eat it soon too. Watch out Aunty!
 
She is eating quite a bit of grass - you can see it in her droppings and she is constantly nibbling and chewing bits of grass (as well as possible without teeth!). Wondering whether to give her a bit of speedibeet in a bowl when everyone else has theirs. Just a tiny handful so she can play with it and leave everyone else alone.

Mum wouldn’t come in when it rained today, so baby stood in the entrance to the stable on her own, watching from a drier position. The disapproval was clear on her face!

She is drinking water well now.
 

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She is now very good at cantering circles around mum!

My daughter came in while I poo picked today. She makes a good foal - follows me around and skitters from one place to the other like baby. Baby was very interested in her, but they were both wary of each other when it came to actually touching. Mum came over to say hi to my ‘foal’ in a curious sort of way. Auntie stood guard in a ‘everyone needs to behave nicely now’ sort of way (child was wearing a hat and was right next to me)!

Sometimes I really don’t understand Pepper (Mum). She follows me around, gets so close I have to shoo her away, wants my attention - but not to be touched. I touched her muzzle with my arm today, after she had approached me and come so close she was centimetres away. She opened her mouth at that, all teeth. So I told her to get a grip and we tried again. Better behaviour the next time, so the polo arrived. She will follow me and stop on command, as many times as I want - for the end reward.

Baby is enjoying her evening bit of mushy ‘feed’. My husband couldn’t find the spare feed bucket so…yes it’s a old supplement tub!
 

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She was doing laps today of her paddock and Auntie is beyond tired. She has also figured out how to rear (but loses her balance so likes to rear up onto Mum’s back).

She will be about 12.2hh in the end I would guess (legs almost as long as her dam who still has growing to do). So a kids’ pony. How about Tinkerbell/Tinkerbelle for a name?
 
I am rubbish at getting pictures because I always have my hands full of horses/wheelbarrows/whatever when little one is running around. She runs around a lot though, and managed to rear without leaning on mum today.

In other news, I walked down mum today. Gently, so baby wasn’t worried and there was no stress, but insistently. She isn’t very fit so it didn’t take long. Her feet really need doing, aim is by the end of this week even if I have to walk her down every day to get her to behave and accept contact. We have established beyond reasonable doubt that she is not at all afraid. Just bolshy and two and full of her own opinions. I stood there after she gave in, scratching her withers and stroking her all over her back and up her neck. She will also pick up a front foot if I ask (have not tried with the back ones). Just need to get rid of the tendency to bite when she has had enough (she didn’t bite after I walked her down, but has form) and all will be good!
 
Just a thought after browsing other threads - all this stress (being passported as a feral pony (in a crush or chute of some sort maybe?), journey from Ireland, first one home with a few familiar pony faces then another with none, then foal…) could she have ulcers? It might explain her general grumpiness. Are any of the supplements suitable for a lactating mare (or would they even make a difference?). Obviously cannot scope in the present state of partial handling…
 
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