Re: Advice wanted for foal

["arikara appaloosas" <arikaras@iafrica.com>]

Hi Heidi,
Thanks for the advice,its really appreciated.This mare is actually a good
mother,her last foal she never left alone at all.I think perhaps too much
time passed before her foal was returned to her.We are now tying the mare
up and letting the foal drink from her,cant hobble the mare neither Rob or
myself can risk being kicked(the last time she was hobbled she kicked my
wrist broken)
Will perservere today but I will probably land up being mother to the
foal.She lashes out at it all the time,will supplement the foal with a milk
formula as well.Will certtainly never buy another wild horse in my life
again.Have her tied up in a small paddock,even in the stable she is a
problem to catch one has to be extremely patient with her.(and causious as
well)Checked the mares milk she has plenty so have been holding th emare
while the foal drinks,I really do hope she accepts this foal.Thanks again
for the advice any more advice will be more than welcome.
Regards
Kathy

----------
> From: CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com
> To: arikaras@iafrica.com; ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: Re: Advice wanted for foal
> Date: Tuesday, September 01, 1998 7:07 AM
> 
> 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
>