Caring for Orphan Foals
No account yet? Register
How to handle your orphan’s diet challenges and behavior issues
When breeding farm owner Nicole Walden lost one of her broodmares to a slow, imperceptible hemorrhage about 10 hours after foaling, she found herself struggling with the best way to handle the orphan filly.
In the past she’d leased nurse mares, but this year Walden wanted to spend less. The $3,500 mare rental plus $1,000 in shipping each way from Pennsylvania to her Total Quarter Horses, in Farmersville, Texas, yielded a disappointing cost-benefit analysis. So, because the foal had nursed for at least eight hours before the mare died, negating the need to find a colostrum (the mare’s antibody- and nutrient-rich first milk) source, Walden called up some experienced colleagues and a reproduction specialist to discuss her options. She then formulated a plan and worked with her veterinarian to ensure a good outcome for the foal.
That filly is now 8 months old and, although slightly less socialized due to being raised outside the group, on par with her peers and doesn’t exhibit negative “orphan foal behaviors.” Read on to find out what worked for Walden, along with two veterinarians’ recommendations for managing orphans TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com. Already have an account?Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.
Start your free account today!
and continue reading.
Related Articles
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with