Would this foal have a chance of survival?

[JadeWisc]

I have been informed of a person local to me who is under the impression her little mini mare could be foaling in January. It is bitter bitter cold in Wisconsin that time of year ( often hits -30F or even colder) and she has no indoor facilities for this mare...only a field shelter. I felt sick when I heard about it.


What would it take to have this foal survive? I would assume it would have to be inside blanketed under heat lamps at the very least when first born? I may be wrong though and I know many wild animals birth in the bitter months of early spring.



I may be willing to offer this person indoor accomidation for the mare if she desires this. ( and then never give them back

)

What are the chances for this foal and what would it take to keep it healthy?

 

[Chestnutmare]

blimey that is cold!!
I would think personally that the mare and foal would def need somewhere indoors and poss of heat lamps for foals sake, I'm no expert though has the person had the mare scanned or anything and it's def in foal?
have they spoken to vets too as I'm sure in those temps the foal really wouldn't survive i iwouldnt of thought but like I said I am no expert.

 

[Shilasdair]

Hard to guess.
I know my last foal (to make about 16hh) was born outdoors here at the end of April, so about 10cC but it rained all day.

I did have a very nice field shelter for mare and foal, but the vet insisted on checking them/giving the foal its vaccinations in the field shelter, out of sight of the mare (I know

).

This had the not entirely unpredictable result that the mare would not take the foal anywhere near the shelter, and I had to buy it a NZ rug to keep it warm instead.

I'd offer shelter if I were you - but foals do better if they can move around, so turnout in a field or barn is essential at some point.
S

 

[JadeWisc]

The likleyhood this mare has been or will get scanned is unlikely and I am under the impression she is judging this by the time she saw the stud mount her and the fact she is starting to show.


Shils...I would have a sheltered outdoor turnout area when needed. Not sure If I should be getting myself all involved and wrapped up in this worry! My heart tells me to do it though and offer the space.

 

[Alibear]

Seeing how the two mini youngsters on our yard feel the cold I would say yes it's definitley needs some shelter.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
The likleyhood this mare has been or will get scanned is unlikely and I am under the impression she is judging this by the time she saw the stud mount her and the fact she is starting to show.


Shils...I would have a sheltered outdoor turnout area when needed. Not sure If I should be getting myself all involved and wrapped up in this worry! My heart tells me to do it though and offer the space.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, Jade, like we don't both know you are going to offer...

S

 

[JadeWisc]

I *may* have already put the word out there that I am willing

I just have a sick feeling of getting emotionally ( and financially) wrapped up in this deeper than I should be.

 

[Enfys]

"May" have put a word in. Right

I think Jade, that as long as the mare actually FOALS DOWN inside so that the wet baby isn't frozen into a block of ice in the first 10 minutes it will be fine as soon as it is dry. If the mare is a silly one and forgets her foal is in a mound of snow just keep her in the shelter for a bit. Mini = maybe 32", baby mini will be 18" ish, snow 18" + . Hopefully the foal won't be white!

Upside is, as you know of course, minis eat - not a lot in the grand scheme of things, get the owner to supply feed etc, or gift the pony to you?

Or, Fed Ex them up to ON for me.

...and here was I was thinking that I was going to have more fuss than usual with a late March foal!

 

[kerilli]

well, if the mare is bright/experienced enough to start licking the foal immediately to keep it warm (they come out toasty warm, of course, it's the wet that'll be the problem if it's 30 below) and to stimulate the blood flow etc, then it might be okay. i wouldn't chance it though, i'd have them in a barn no matter what it took... go on, be an angel, sometimes it's worth more than ££s.

 

[JadeWisc]

I will keep you all posted as to what tranpires here.

I always volunteer to get myself into these things ( I have too much time on my 'hands" eh Enfys? My heart is just too 'gloving')

 

[Enfys]

You'll glove it Jade

As long as babies are healthy they take up very little time, what clocks up the hours is the actual foal watching

Better idea!

Bring her inside, just like a big dog, or two!

Piccy for you. Evie was about 3 years old, the foal was 4 weeks. 18" at birth, mare 31". How can you resist it?

 

[JadeWisc]

[ QUOTE ]


Better idea!

Bring her inside, just like a big dog, or two!

[/ QUOTE ]


SHILS you did NOT read this!

No way would I do that

*gets straw in front bedroom and adds a doggie door*


I do have a full scale bar/saloon in my barn though so I am more than prepared to spend hours out there if needed

 

[JadeWisc]

Oh how did I miss that pic when I first read that post? Did you just add it? How adorable!

 

[Enfys]

Go on Jade, you know you want to, and the children would love it.

...and 10 years later, different pony though>
Spooky how similar the ponies are!

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Better idea!

Bring her inside, just like a big dog, or two!

[/ QUOTE ]


SHILS you did NOT read this!

No way would I do that

*gets straw in front bedroom and adds a doggie door*


I do have a full scale bar/saloon in my barn though so I am more than prepared to spend hours out there if needed

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you have a friend whose knee you can drape it over?

S

 

[JadeWisc]

Yes, but only if she is sitting on comfy living room furniture

anything else would be mad

 

[Grey_Arab]

As the others have said, I would have thought that they needed shelter?! My boy is full bred arab, born in Sweden at the end of Jan, and he is fully healthy and won prizes as a youngster, so it's possible