What to do about company for the foal?

[Marigold4]

Mare is now 320 days. She is at a local stud for the foaling, turned out in a herd of broodmares during the day and in at night to be watched by cameras. She is getting quite beaten up in the herd. Every day she comes in with a new bite and lumps of fur taken out of her. So I'm questioning my plan of leaving her at the stud in the herd over the summer so that other foal has someone to play with. I'm thinking of taking her home if all is well with foal after a month, but then foal has no other youngster to play with. Would it work to get a yearling pony (about same size as foal) for her to play with? Would the age difference matter? Don't really want to wait till autumn or deal with a recently weaned and untrained foal over the winter, so I was thinking a well-handled yearling pony might do the trick? Any thoughts gladly received.

 

[ChipsChaps]

You could also speak to a local or national rescue and see about fostering another mare and foal if you've land at home? I've known people who've put yearlings out with foals with success, but I've not personally done it, and cannot speak fully to it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I fostered a year older filly from the RSPCA to be my homebred's companion, it worked very well. They took my foster back when she was 3 and rehomed her permanently after taking her to Your Horse Live. All very amicable, and I was offered first refusal on her.

 

[Clodagh]

I bought a funny little thing, he was 2 actually so older than ideal but he was very cheap and well handled.
He was a bit rough with the foal I admit but foal had mum on his side so he went to her if he needed time out.
Charity sounds a good idea, or I did consider buying a New Forest from the sales.

 

[tda]

Getting something from a charity sounds like a good idea, hopefully it will be well handled.
If your mare is getting that much stress you need to have a word with the stud owner!

 

[Marigold4]

You could also speak to a local or national rescue and see about fostering another mare and foal if you've land at home? I've known people who've put yearlings out with foals with success, but I've not personally done it, and cannot speak fully to it.

Good idea about a charity. I think I would just like the one rather than a mare and foal so that the grazing lasts all winter. Trouble is I use a trimmer rather than a farrier so I think I will be unsuccessful if I apply for one though. My trimmer is excellent and trained in America but when I spoke to WHW a while ago, they would only consider a farrier.

 

[Marigold4]

Getting something from a charity sounds like a good idea, hopefully it will be well handled.
If your mare is getting that much stress you need to have a word with the stud owner!

I have thought of having a word, but I'm not sure what they could do if she's out in a herd? There's a livery yard there too, perhaps she could have her own field? But then that all adds to the expense.

 

[Marigold4]

I fostered a year older filly from the RSPCA to be my homebred's companion, it worked very well. They took my foster back when she was 3 and rehomed her permanently after taking her to Your Horse Live. All very amicable, and I was offered first refusal on her.

Thanks, that sounds like it would work then, as long as I choose the right size. Do you have a farrier or a trimmer? I was once turned down for an adoption by WHW for using a trimmer

 

[ihatework]

See how things settle when the foal is here. Hopefully the mums will be too preoccupied with their little darlings to be too much of a cow bag.

 

[Marigold4]

You could also speak to a local or national rescue and see about fostering another mare and foal if you've land at home? I've known people who've put yearlings out with foals with success, but I've not personally done it, and cannot speak fully to it.

Good idea about a charity. I think I would just like the one rather than a mare and foal so that the grazing lasts all winter. Trouble is I use a trimmer rather than a farrier so I think I will be unsuccessful if I apply for one though. My trimmer is excellent and trained in America with

 

[AmyMay]

I’d be very, very unhappy that the mare was getting so much grief. And would very concerned about the welfare of both the mare and foal going forward. I’m afraid she’d be coming home to foal.

As for company. Yes, a lovely quiet little yearling would be perfect.

 

[nagblagger]

I agree Amymay, the last thing before foaling is for the mare to be stressed. I to would be bringing her home or paying extra for the individual /paired turnout. What happens if she foals out in the field with mares that she doesn't get on with?

 

[paddi22]

would they ask to speak to your farrier? could you get away perhaps using one just for their horses? and keep your normal one for your own?

 

[AmyMay]

I agree Amymay, the last thing before foaling is for the mare to be stressed. I too would be bringing her home or paying extra for the individual /paired turnout. What happens if she foals out in the field with mares that she doesn't get on with?

Exactly. Or even if she foals in her stable, when she and the foal are then turned out.

 

[Marigold4]

I'll talk to the stud owner tomorrow about a separate field. I think the problem may be that the others have been together for longer and she is the "newbie". No new bites today. I'm not experienced enough or around 24/7, so she can't foal at home with me, although I'm dying every day to bring her home.

 

[Marigold4]

would they ask to speak to your farrier? could you get away perhaps using one just for their horses? and keep your normal one for your own?

Trouble is it's difficult to get a farrier to come out to me for just one barefoot trim. I've got the horses at home rather than on a yard, so it's not really worth their while.

 

[Xmasha]

If you are going to get a companion , get a good one. It costs the same to keep, and will be easier to sell once the companion has done the job. When ive bred just the one ive bought a weanling of similar breeding to run with the homebred. So far has worked out well, and ive sold on to good homes afterwards

 

[eggs]

Some years ago I had bought a foal to keep mine company. He wasn't going to come until he had been weaned which was due to be at around the same time as mine. Due to various circumstances I had to wean my foal unexpectedly early and a friend leant me her yearling pony who was a similar height to my foal. It worked well and then he stayed for a bit once the foal I had bought arrived. They seemed a happy little gang.

 

[millikins]

I would be very concerned about the situation currently for your mare in case she has her foal stolen by the others. Our dales mare was a rather hands off mother who was entirely chilled about her foal spending more time with auntie Ruby, the connie mare. But the dales was the alpha mare and in no danger of being chased off her foal.

 

[Marigold4]

I would be very concerned about the situation currently for your mare in case she has her foal stolen by the others. Our dales mare was a rather hands off mother who was entirely chilled about her foal spending more time with auntie Ruby, the connie mare. But the dales was the alpha mare and in no danger of being chased off her foal.

I only live 2 mins away from the stud so can keep a careful eye on her once foal is born. I can bring her home if things get difficult and have her in her own field within the hour. I just don't have the experience to do the foaling myself and would like the foal to be a bit bigger and stronger before it comes home, ideally. But thank you for the warning - I will look out for foal stealing!

 

[Marigold4]

If you are going to get a companion , get a good one. It costs the same to keep, and will be easier to sell once the companion has done the job. When ive bred just the one ive bought a weanling of similar breeding to run with the homebred. So far has worked out well, and ive sold on to good homes afterwards

I think that's a good idea. The charities won't consider me because I use a trimmer rather than a farrier so will probably buy one in. I'll look for a yearling that will end up smaller than my foal so that the year's age difference won't mean my foal gets bullied by the yearling. Fingers crossed all goes well with the foaling and we get a strong and healthy foal!

 

[Marigold4]

Some years ago I had bought a foal to keep mine company. He wasn't going to come until he had been weaned which was due to be at around the same time as mine. Due to various circumstances I had to wean my foal unexpectedly early and a friend leant me her yearling pony who was a similar height to my foal. It worked well and then he stayed for a bit once the foal I had bought arrived. They seemed a happy little gang.

Thanks for replying. That's useful to know that a yearling worked well with a foal.

 

[honetpot]

I think company for the mare is more important than the foal. I turned my mare and foal out with another mare for a couple of weeks before they went in a mixed group. The other mare was auntie and then when they went in the larger group the foal just went off with the others, so when it eventually weaned it was almost totally independent, so neither was bothered. I usually use a small pony for foals I buy in, I think size doesn't really matter, something that is already used to coming in and confident teaches the foal confidence. Mum is usually glad to be rid of them.

 

[Marigold4]

I think company for the mare is more important than the foal. I turned my mare and foal out with another mare for a couple of weeks before they went in a mixed group. The other mare was auntie and then when they went in the larger group the foal just went off with the others, so when it eventually weaned it was almost totally independent, so neither was bothered. I usually use a small pony for foals I buy in, I think size doesn't really matter, something that is already used to coming in and confident teaches the foal confidence. Mum is usually glad to be rid of them.

Doesn't the foal need another youngster to play with though? I thought that was pretty essential to foal's well being?