Will do can’t re-, and thanks for your input. We’ve spoken with a driver who is experienced transporting foals. The dividers will be removed, some hay will be spread…and a few treats to hopefully assist in what will be a stressful time for our little guy. Any obstructions of gaps will also be addressed too…and he will not be tied.
Carl
Just got back home. He had his second deworming treatment today - I did it myself and he was perfect…took it like it was nothing, which we were obviously happy for. Gave him a higher dose (used Fenbendazole this time, previously it was Ivermectin) and we’ve also collected his ulcer prevention treatment too, ready for when the time comes. Later, he dozed off with his head in my hands…as he often does…when he isn’t using my head as a chin rest 
Carl
You are a great “dad.” Keep us posted!
Thank you for your kind words Didi, I will certainly keep you posted.
Carl
Please be sure to let us know when he is in the new place, so we can stop worrying about you and the colt. If you are willing, you might tell us, after Woape has been moved successfully, what country and town you are in. There may be other CoThers in that area, as CoTh is International in scope.
Will certainly do that sdlbredfan.
Thank you,
Carl
Another brief update…
He is still at the original stables/yard, appears well…has quite a thick winter coat coming through already…just as well as we’ve already had a few cold nights…and constant rain for about a week - which he is not remotely impressed by!
We’ve been feeding him a foal starter granule, each time we visit (several days a week), to get him started and prepared for when he leaves his mum. Staff at the horse supply store suggested to do this for preparation (prior to weaning) and continue until he is about a year old. No issues at all with the granules…he’s always happy for something to munch - certainly no issues with his appetite. When he was born, he was quite small and pretty weak - had me worried at the time - but now, he seems to be catching up and growing nicely. His mum is small…but she has certainly taught him how to eat! And he still nurses regularly too…and even gave a little burp when he finished a drink a few days ago :lol:
Carl
Glad all is well. Sounds like things are moving along quite smoothly!
Thanks Didi, we are trying to stay positive.
Carl
Next week, he’ll be six months old. We’ll be making the transport arrangements soon. All being well, his new home - a quiet, relatively new and somewhat secluded area with a lovely big sprawling pasture and a nice, clean large open fronted shelter - they only have one box at the site, will be full of gentle boys and girls ready to welcome our little guy into the mix without issue.
This past week saw one of the mares (who is kept with our guy and his mum) have a dose of colic - I reported the signs immediately to the staff when I noticed her irregular behaviour shortly after my wife and I arrived on site. Since then, the vet has been out and treated her, she seems to be doing much better now…but obviously, I am concerned…and watching our foal as much as possible.
For those still kindly following the thread, can I ask you to take a moment and browse the check-list below for things to consider regarding his forthcoming transportation?
Journey will take approximately 1 hour, maybe slightly more.
He will travel alone, during the day.
Vehicle/box will be checked for anything he can catch himself on.
Driver says he has experience transporting foals.
No halter or rope, he will be free in the box.
Some hay, grass, few granules and bits of carrot will be spread out for him inside, to keep him occupied during the trip.
As yet, we have not introduced him to any form of vehicle…apart from when he did so himself one night after he broke through the tape fencing and followed our car when we left! Is this something better left til the last moment…?
When he gets to the new place, he’ll obviously be stressed…so I will be on hand as much as possible, especially for the first few weeks…fortunately, I am my own boss, so work can wait…he is number one and his well being is all that matters right now.
Any thoughts will, as ever, be gratefully received.
Thanks again,
Carl
I think it doesnt matter that he is not introduced to beeing trailered. He is probably more thinking about his missing mom then the trailer anyhow. Try to remove everything inside from the trailer which might injure him. The best thing would be to convert it to one big empty stall.
And please do not put him into a group of other foals and weanlings who know each other already. I have friends who lost their foal when they did this. He ran into a wall because he was in panic when the others were chasing him.
Introduce him to one other weanling and keep them together for some time. Then after some days you might introduce them to a bigger crowd. So your foal will have a friend already. This is really really important!!! DONT put him all by himself into a big crowd…
Thanks Manni, I appreciate your comments.
The herd at the new place is perhaps 15 strong. Various ages, only one foal - six months old, as yet not weaned. There are no stallions and from what I could tell when we were there, mostly mares present with a couple of ponies too. We plan on speaking at length to the girls that run this place, hopefully later this week. Personally, I would love to have him separated for a short while, so they can introduce themselves through the fencing…before actually making any real contact with each other.
Thanks,
Carl
p.s. The story of your friend’s lost foal is tragic…what a sad loss…
I agree with Mani, but it sounds like you are on it already. A large group can be overwhelming for a foal and learning the “pecking order” can be stressful and dangerous. Your plan sounds good, but I would put him with one other if it is possible. Being isolated would be stressful, too - even if the herd is just over the fence!! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Didi,
Earlier today, we spoke with the girl who is running the new place. She said we will not expose him to any potential risk until he seems comfortable there and the horses there seem OK with having him around. He will likely be either a) alone but next to other horses, or b) with the other foal, for a day or two…then he will be monitored closely…and any issues, he will be taken somewhere safe, i.e. another section of their land, immediately.
Carl
That sounds great. My colt was weaned with another colt and they are the best of buddies.
Sad news today…the beautiful black/white oaint horse that has been living with our foal and his mum passed away last night. She was only three…staff found her early this morning in the box, her five month old foal was with her and very distressed…still in shock and quite upset to be honest…but have a few questions regarding her passing…
Last night, her owner rode her…this was only two weeks or so since the vet said she had colic. I just wondered about recovery time…how long should it be…? Also, they have not done any internal investigation…that poor beautiful creature is still laid out in the box…but we were told the colic was so bad, her intestines could have been so entangled that the pressure caused her heart to give out…I have so much to learn…and you guys and this wonderful forum are really helping us with that…but I just don’t understand how they could state that already…how would they know…? We are obviously very concerned for the health and safety of our litle guy, who is due to move on Saturday…I saw him drink from the mare who has just passed away, maybe several weeks ago…and they shared the same filthy living space for months…our guy seems good…even checked him a couple of hours ago and have the vet coming out tomorrow just to look him over before his transport…but I am worried…
Sad news today…the beautiful black/white paint horse that has been living with our foal and his mum passed away last night. She was only three…staff found her early this morning in the box, her five month old foal was with her and very distressed…still in shock and quite upset to be honest…but have a few questions regarding her passing…
I just heard that last night, her owner rode her…this was only two weeks or so since the vet said she had colic. I just wondered about recovery time…how long should it be…? Also, they have not done any internal investigation…that poor beautiful creature is still laid out in the box…but we were told the colic was so bad, her intestines could have been so entangled that the pressure caused her heart to give out…I have so much to learn…and you guys and this wonderful forum are really helping us with that…but I just don’t understand how they could state that already…how would they know…?
We are obviously very concerned for the health and safety of our litle guy, who is due to move on Saturday…I saw him drink from the mare who has just passed away, maybe several weeks ago…and they shared the same filthy living space for months…our guy seems good…even checked him a couple of hours ago and have the vet coming out tomorrow just to look him over before his transport…but I am worried…is there any way to tell how long (once he leaves that place) before we know he is safe…?
Thanks again, I know I ask a lot…and often…
Carl
Colic is not contagious. With a simple colic there is not much recovery time - it is very usual to ride the horse the next day. If she had a torsion (twisted intestine) as a result of that colic she would have never recovered enough to be ridden at all. Most likely (if that is the cause), she colicked again and no one was there to stop her from rolling. (They roll to alleviate the pain since horses cannot “throw up,” but this causes the torsion. This is why you must always hand walk a horse that is colicking until it poops or the vet comes and NEVER let it lie down.)
I do not think this should be a concern for you unless it comes out that she had some kind of disease. Your foal drinking her milk is fine if it was a torsion. The filthy living space is much more of a concern, but you are getting him out of there.
Keep asking, Carl - you are trying to be responsible!!! We like that!!
Love you Carl! Such an intelligently inquisitive mind you have, and that is a wonderful thing.
Nothing to add to what Didi said. Colic is a terrible thing. 2 weeks is long enough for most colics, all but the worst ones. If she had been acting fine in those 2 weeks, this might have not even been related. Or, the one 2 weeks ago could have been the very start of some strangulation somewhere, it resolved enough to be outwardly fine for this long, then she rolled just wrong and it got caught badly enough to cause her demise. It’s a truly sucky thing 
Didi, JB…
Thanks again for your thoughts and kind words.
I’ll be heading over there shortly and will likely spend most of the day with our little guy. The vet is due out later, she’s going to check him over. Also, I will give him his ulcer prevention treatment this afternoon too, prior to his upcoming transport…I am going to be watching him closer than ever now.
Carl
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