Re: Advice wanted for foal

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

Kathy, if this mare doesn't claim this foal, try to get the foal drinking from
a bucket instead of a bottle.  You can start to space out feedings much sooner
this way, and within a week or two can get to every 6 hours, which sure beats
getting up every hour or two, which is how often young foals need to eat.
Meanwhile, to try to get the foal back on the mare, I would tranquilize the
mare, and also get some oxytocin (pituitary hormone) and give her 1 ml in the
muscle every hour or two to help her feel maternal and let her milk down.
Have had good results with this in several mares.

A piece of advice--I would discourage you from breeding this mare again, as
maternal instinct is a very heritable trait, and you are likely to get
daughters that are the same way.

Heidi