My mare wants to be a nanny

[FindersKeepers]

Is there use out there for nannies in the horse world?

I have a 25 year old TB mare. She has had 5 foals of her own, but is done having babies now due to complications with her last baby ( I did not own her at the time, rescued after, but there was significant tearing during delivery and post partum infection that has caused a great deal of scar tissue.)

Anyway, she has assumed the role on the farm as nanny. We recently had 2 rescues come across our path, both under a year, and she adopted them the moment they were off the trailer and assumed all mothering duties, well aside from nursing, obviously. I have owned her for 13 years, and this is always her go to response with young horses. She immediately adopts them and cares for them as if she gave birth to them. Grooming, teaching manners, offering protection, etc.

So it got me thinking, maybe this could be a new job for her. She is pasture sound only, can’t be ridden anymore without getting sore, and she’s bored. She hates not having a job. Of course an orphaned foal’s best shot is a surrogate mare that can nurse, but if one does not exist, would having a “mom” that handles all the rest of care be of use?

I figured I’d go straight to the source here on COTH to see if I’m just making this up before contacting our vet and local rescues to let them know she’s got some special tools to lend.

[KBEquine]

Actually, some TB breeding farms have an older mare out with the weanlings to give them a little ‘mama discipline’ and teach them herd manners.

There was an antique mare with the orphan foals at a local breeding farm, too. She gave them a sense of stability, mostly.

Most breeding farms have their own old mares to baby-sit. But occasionally you will see a post on this forum where someone has an orphan, will raise them on formula, but would like a mother figure to live with & raise the baby.

You might want to keep an eye on this forum for that situation.

[Polydor]

Yup definitely!

We have a small herd of 7 babysitters, 6 geldings and 1 mare ( all retired OTTB group 1 winners ). They go out with the weanlings mainly but also the racehorses who are to valuable to go out with other racehorses. Or in with the younger colts to put some manners on them.

Worth their weight in gold!

P.