Thanks Manni, I will keep you updated.
Jingles!!! Keep us posted!
[QUOTE=WOAPE;8252008]
Thanks Manni, I am still trying to work out how and why we were misinformed but yes, the most important thing is that he gets his treatment as soon as possible.[/QUOTE]
Please, do realize that the " how or why" you were misinformed does not matter at this point in time. You have a foal in a bad situation (a farm with bad management and staff) as well as a mare owner who you believe will not care enough to move her mare from a badly managed farm. (If a person is more concerned with the drive to visit the horse than they are about the care the horse is receiving, there is a big problem.)
Two strikes against your foal already. Get on it, and good luck. :yes:
I would move the foal now before something permanently damaging happens. Sounds like the perceived risks of weaning at 3-4 months do not outweigh the actual risks of waiting until 6 months at a bad stable.
Exactly.
nobody is gung-ho about weaning a 3 month old.
The OP doesn’t own the mare. The breeding contract apparently states a few things that make this a predicament - that the mare is to stay there, and the foal will stay with the mare for 6 months. AT least I think that’s what I remember, and some of that may be on the thread the OP started in Horse Care.
Ideally, mare and foal would move to a better barn, both environment- and staff-wise, for both their sake, then weaning can go on at 6+ months.
Next best is wean the foal now, for his safety. That is worth fighting the contract for, especially since the OP now owns the foal.
Quick update as just about to leave for the stables…
Yesterday, I met the vet - fortunately, her English is very good…far better than my efforts at her native tongue!
woape was dewormed for the first time…prior to weaning, we will arrange at least one more treatment (alternating between the two mentioned earlier in the thread)
He was nursing from mum and eating plenty of grass and a few bits of carrot. Also had a good afternoon nap or two with my leg as a pillow
It is again very hot here so been checking his vitals (all fine) and his gums (quite sticky)
The staff told my fiancee that his mum often wanders off chasing after her “boyfriend”, and when this happens, she said woape has nursed from another mare who has a foal a few weeks younger than him…but I have not seen this despite spending many hours there every week…anyway, the vet said he seems to be doing OK, that is the main thing.
Hello all, time for another update…and to ask for your thoughts again…
The last two days have been quite an ordeal. Basically, to cut a long story short, we (my wife and I) erected a small section of wooden fencing (with the knowledge of stables staff) as the foals were constantly leaving their “mud patch” in search of grass on the other side of the tape. The manager, not exactly a lady who thinks well of us, decided enough was enough and went into a foul-mouthed near violent attack on my wife and I which ended with us basically being kicked out. Her husband informed us today that "the foal must go before October 1st!"
As our little treasure is currently four and a half months, we are not exactly delighted with this but can’t do anything about it…especially as the mare’s owner refuses to cooperate with us…despite the fact that she visits her own horse about twice a year, she seems to believe that everything at the yard is OK…well, the truth is far from it…and she wants her horse to stay there. The buying contract states that the foal will remain with the dam until at least 6 months of age…but this now seems impossible.
So, his new place, which we had organized months ago, have been great - they’ve even said they’ll prepare some granules to assist with any nutrients he’ll miss from mum. As I understand it, foals can be weaned early…the stressful period cannot be avoided, but I am concerned all the same…especially with regards to the transport (although the new place is only one hour away).
Any comments would be welcome, thanks again for your time.
Carl
Is he weaned now or he will be when you move him? Either way he should be treated for ulcers for at least a week before and after the move in my opinion. I am not familiar with products available where you live so can’t help you with specifics. Sorry this has been so awful for you, this is supposed to be the fun part.
Thank you Laurierace.
No, he has not been weaned yet…we actually went to the horse supply store and picked up granules for preparing him to be weaned just before we went to the yard…and immediately found out that the we now need to arrange to move him on within the next week or so.
The vet speaks English well so any help with products for preventing ulcers would be of use if you can suggest something…I’m sure the brand name will be different over here but obviously, the contents list is what is important.
Carl
Gastrogard or ulcergard are the only products proven to work. That is omeprazole which is super easy to get but hard to get through the stomach intact so just having the active ingredient won’t help. Glad to hear he isn’t weaned yet actually, that makes it a little easier.
Four and a half months is much better than three. Ship him loose in a boxstall (take out all the dividers and anything he can get caught on/ into, and put a little bedding/ hay on the floor)-- and I would talk to your vet about tranquilizing him. It will take several people and you may have to just push him on the trailer. When you get there, I would probably put him in a stall next to whoever his new buddy is going to be, where they can see each other and touch noses-- hopefully you have one, right? and let him chill for the rest of the day/night and then put him out the next day with the buddy.
Laurierace, thank you again, I have noted the names and will speak with the vet regarding the appropriate product. Was just doing some reading up on the subject too.
Highflyer, thanks for your thoughts, it is much appreciated. The new place does have one foal - a beautiful colt of similar age, so we are hopeful that they will become buddies soon enough
The area where woape will move to is light years better than his current residence…and thankfully, only about an hour or so by road…nevertheless, I intend to take aboard the measures you suggested regarding his transportation so that the move can be made with as little danger or stress as possible.
Thanks again guys!
Carl
I personally wouldn’t tranq him unless he was absolutely losing his marbles. They need to be able to shift their weight to balance on the trailer and you run the risk of him falling down and injuring himself if he is tranquilized. I normally remove the mare and leave the foal where he is used to being but that isn’t always possible. One poor colt was literally led out of the stall with his dam and loaded on my trailer for a two and a half hour ride where he encountered not one but two nasty thunderstorms on the way. He was a little wide eyed but otherwise made the trip fine.
I agree with Laurierace on the above. Don’t train him. Perhaps they would let you transport the mare with the foal and then bring the mare back alone? Of course, if the new place is getting him then it might not work that way. What if they brought a buddy with them to travel with the foal? If not, I am learning that foals are way more resilient than we give them credit for - he will likely be fine with the transport.
I think he is well into the “safe” zone for weaning. I weaned my guy at 4 months and was not real happy about it at the time, but that was how it worked out. Turns out that both he and the mare we ready for it and the transition was smooth. He now has a colt buddy and they are doing extremely well together. Let us know how it goes!!
Thanks again for the replies.
Sadly, there is no chance that the mare can come along, even if it was just for the ride then send her straight back. The mare’s owner is proving very difficult to deal with…she believes she knows best…despite being completely unaware of the conditions. Staff at the stables basically went out of control when they learned we would like to move the mare…because although we don’t pay for our foal…they do receive money for the mare…and they were afraid of losing the fee.
Honestly, I believe if I posted images of this place…some of you would be brought to tears. The only issue for me is the health and safety of our foal, for me, NOTHING else matters now…I just hope that he’ll be OK, as due to his weak condition and small size when born, I guess for a while at least, I will still see him as fragile. He is four and a half months now, and seems to be doing well…so hopefully strong enough to cope with the stress that will come. As soon as he is at the new place, I am arranging to meet his new vet and organise a full check-up.
The most important things are a safe buddy and ulcer prevention, if you have those under control you should be ok. Poor guy, he is so lucky to have you from the sounds of things.
Hopefully, the little guy who is already there will become his buddy soon enough…and the ulcer prevention treatment has already been ordered…hoping to have it by tomorrow.
As for him being lucky to have me, that is good to hear…thank you…but I feel I am the lucky one to have him in my life
Carl
Maybe it would be helpful to get the foal and his dam to a place where they know something about breeding?
That would have been great…but we have always had the mare’s owner against us…she fails to see the failings of the current site (and management)…sadly…she trusts them and what is going on there…despite only visiting once every six months or so :no:
I am sure you can’t wait to have your foal out of that place, it sounds terrible. Just be sure the trailer he goes in has nothing he might think of going over or under. No half dividers that don’t go down to the floor or low walls.
