Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ellin McGinley Daum on March 15, 2010 at 11:03am

Yes, this is a possibility. A colt that I had to pull out with great force thought I was Momma very briefly. When I didn't have any milk, he decided to look for the real one. More likely, Pearl is a little confused about where this stranger in her stall came from and a little afraid of him. Sometimes distracting the mare with feed, tying her up or even tying up a front leg, if she tries to kick the foal when he tries to nurse, are methods to allow nature to take its course. One time I covered the foal's back with horse feed which the mare greedily licked off and then kept on licking the foal much to our relief. Some mares are not prepared to be mothers just like some people and then a surrogate or nurse mare must be found. Sometimes a mare that has lost its foal will take over the parental responsibilities as though it is her own. Difficult situation, but Heather is very experienced and will do what is necessary.

Permalink Reply by BarbaraAnn on March 15, 2010 at 12:41pm

Thank you very much Ellin you are very wise. I appreciate you getting back to me it does mean alot. I have a mare in-foal and am learning and was so worried and needed feedback. I need to be prepared and am trying to learn by watching. I have learned so much and now that Heather and her daughter are only doing what is best for their horses. I have to hand it to them, they are amazing.

Permalink Reply by Heather Troglauer on March 15, 2010 at 1:13pm

Barbara, our interaction in the stall is nothing different than we have done for 6 years and many many many foals. This mare is very people oriented and our presence in the stall was not the reason she has rejected this foal.

We had a maiden a long time ago - our first foaling - that did not like her foal and associated it (it seemed) with the pain she was having. It only took her a couple of hours to realize that she was supposed to allow the foal to nurse. She loved that foal from the time it was born, she just had issues with it touching her.

Pearl has been a totally different case.