Who wants to join me on foal watch?

Feeling like I have no experience at all clodagh! Cows and calves are much simpler.

Vet is here and has tubed him. I also syringed 100-150mls into him before that. He's staying for an hour then tubing him again.

Foal is bright and very strong just doesn't seem to latch on. Her teats are very small.

Couldn't fault the mare she is behaving impeccably despite about 6 injections so far and us milking her. She's just stood loose letting us do it. (That aspect is easier than cows!!).

If she was a ewe I could coup her up and suck him and it would be sorted. As it is, I'm snookered. Trying to get someone more experienced with horses to come and have a look but no success as yet.

Thanks guys. Very stressful day.
 
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Could you put her on higher ground? May not be possible. I only had one foal and he was stud born. And that was a nightmare!
 
Clodagh said:
Could you put her on higher ground? May not be possible. I only had one foal and he was stud born. And that was a nightmare!
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I must admit I was wondering about that but discounted the idea. I think I will try it before we tube him again. The shed is on a slope anyway so a couple of mats would raise her an inch or two.

This is going to our only foal that's for sure.
 
Still not cleansed but Dick vet say not to worry and keep giving oxytocin so...

Managed to get the foal sucking a bottle if it's held between her legs and it's his idea. He's pretty opinionated! Going to milk 200mls 2 hourly and feed with bottle tonight.

Luckily I forgot to enter my horse in that event tomorrow cos im going to be chained to the mare!
 
Congratulations on a super foal.

My mare wouldn't let ours suckle at first , threatened to kick him around he stable. Once first stuck done , all was good. Boy was that stressful. Hopefully, he will get the hang of it soon.
 
congrats FF gorgeous foal thank you for sharing them - I love foaly pictures.

My mare did not know what to do and every time he tried to suckle she moved back and continued to lick him so the poor wee lad had to work hard to get the milk.
 
Latest news is I can get him to drink from the bottle and he's getting more into her teats each feed. She has a very small very hard and full of milk udder and tiny teats which is the main issue. Mare is being extraordinarily well behaved which is good. I can milk her loose in the stable and always could which is funny because when she was in foal I wasn't really even allowed to look at her udder.

She still hasn't cleansed but hoping another shot of oxytocin will help.

Feeling less worried about the foal. Would like her to sort herself out so I could maybe start to enjoy the situation lol.

Thanks for all the nice posts. Sorry I can't reply to everyone.
 
Your mare sounds very patient. She probably senses that you're trying to help her. Hopefully you will all be able to relax and enjoy the foal soon
 
mule said:
Your mare sounds very patient. She probably senses that you're trying to help her. Hopefully you will all be able to relax and enjoy the foal soon
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She's been absolutely wonderful. She is a mare I got out of a very bad situation and after a lot of sorting out what other folk had done to her, I was show jumping her before I had an accident on my other horse and as I was going to be off for a long time, decided the foal I was going to have "one day" might as well cook this year. Quite amazing how she has changed in the two years I've had her. :)

I think the foal is going to be called Epic.
 
This is why I always say 'never again' when people ask if I'll get another foal from Mary. Flower has turned out to be absolutely cracking, and everything was textbook for me, but just the thought of anything going wrong petrified me - I couldn't stomach that a second time. Horses - who'd have them!

Hope everything resolves itself for you quickly though, FF, because once it does, you have so much foal watching to enjoy. They really are a marvel, and yours looks like such a beautiful little boy.
 
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My foal had long legs and couldnt find the milk bar so had to be bottle fed forfuately she was a star at it she finally found the milk bar after 24 hours of bottle feeding when she followed me down when I was milking her mum she latched on and that was it she did really well. Had a precautionary IGg test done but she was fine and has gone from strength to strength and it a straping 8 year old now. Hope all goes well for you from now on and the little fellow is nursing which will also help the mare to cleanse. I love his name
 
Asha said:
Congratulations on a super foal.

My mare wouldn't let ours suckle at first , threatened to kick him around he stable. Once first stuck done , all was good. Boy was that stressful. Hopefully, he will get the hang of it soon.
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Mine had to be sedated, twitched and wear a chifney, you had to hold her with one hand and a stick in the other to make her let him feed. Thank goodness that only lasted 24 hours.
I am so glad that he has worked it out, fw, where Piper was born they said colts are more stupid and stubborn than fillies.
 
Thanks all!

Excellent update this morning. Peaches now dunged, cleansed and fed the foal herself all night so things are looking up! Thanks for all the advice and support you're a great bunch!

Think the vet is coming again today to wash her out but hopefully that will be the end of her being stuck with needles. She was still perfect to let me jag her tho. She knew I was going to do it but stood like a rock. She has been an utter super star throughout!
 
Clodagh said:
Mine had to be sedated, twitched and wear a chifney, you had to hold her with one hand and a stick in the other to make her let him feed. Thank goodness that only lasted 24 hours.
I am so glad that he has worked it out, fw, where Piper was born they said colts are more stupid and stubborn than fillies.
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It's really scary isn't it . Also shows the importance of being around when they are born. I had to push her bum into the corner of the stable, and stroke her to calm her down. She was genuinely worried. Vet was on his way out to sedate her, when she relaxed and let him suck. Nice call out charge that was !! My girl was the same as yours and within 24hrs all good. My get said the same, colts not quite as bright as fillies ��

Glad all sorted FW. Time for a nap for you and then some foal watching .x
 
Epic is doing brilliantly. Really healthy and bouncy. Which makes it a bit of a surprise that he does have to get a plasma transplant as he didn't get enough colostrum. Hoping to get it done tomorrow, just waiting to hear back from the vet.
 
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