UPDATE #2 - Orphan Foal: Last Video, Last Post.

[Home_Again_Farm]

If you can, I’d go with a pony or horse. It can be anything from a gentle old one to a gentle young one. Do you have any at your farm that fit that description? I used one of my broodmares who did not have a foal that year and later got the orphan with the other babies from that year as soon as possible. Once she was with other weanlings, she really blossomed as a normal baby horse. She hid behind trees watching them play for a day and then had to come out and join the fun.

And jingles were sent unconsciously by me without specifying. Jingle, jingle, jingle…

[pwynnnorman]

Pictures start here: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2789425170066718914MKtpWD

Thanks so much, Mary Lou. The only one I would trust to be gentle and tolerant the big gelding (“big” compared to all the ponies, that is). Unfortunately, the edge I breed into my guys leaves makes equine-to-equine aggressiveness in the boys and bitchiness in the girls far more common.

I’ve posted on Craigslist for a goat – in trade for a yearling I think I’ll let go, if I can find her a good home. Annie’s needs have sort of bumped her off the plank in the “who gets the last slot” competition.

[spotteddrafter]

Oh, my - she is gorgeous!!

Congratulations on your new filly, and many condolences on the mare you lost. What a bittersweet time, I’m sure.

Good luck - many thoughts and prayers headed your way!

[laskiblue]

Annie’s a lovely filly. So sorry you lost your mare. It sounds like you are doing everything right to make sure Annie thrives.

What a wonderful store of collective knowledge COTHers have. While the circumstances of this thread make me sad, it has been fascinating to read and learn from it.

[rideagoldenpony]

So, so sorry about your mare, but it sounds like you are on the right track with the filly.

I had a bottle baby a few years ago – in her case it was her first 11 days, until she could get up by herself and then she figured out how to nurse on the mare herself, instead of waiting for me to milk her. (She used to watch over my shoulder while I milked the mare.) I fed her every hour from 6 am to midnight, then every 2 hours between midnight and 6 am. It was a brutal schedule, so I was very thankful when I was able to discontinue it.

I love that your Igloo is also chestnut. I think that will be a lifesaver!!! If I ever had to do another bottle foal again, it would definitely be an Igloo (though my one wouldn’t have worked with that)

My vet explained to me that with the cool/cold milk, they are much more apt to “sip” it frequently, which is more natural, rather than gulp it down all at once – which is not natural at all.

I would be leary of a goat as a companion. Make sure you get something withOUT horns. We have goats… they have horns… I would not choose one with horns as a companion for a foal. Make sure you get something pretty tame, but be advised they are HARD to keep in. One friend told me the other day (as I chased &^^%$& goats up and down the road in front of the farm) that if a fence couldn’t hold water, it couldn’t hold a goat. Kind of makes you laugh, except for how true it is. They are serious escape artists – and when they are out, then have this special sense that tells them where the ONE place is you definitely do NOT want them… and then they go there. So I wish you a lot of luck on the goat front!!

If you were able to find an elderly pony as a companion, that would be my first choice.

[Home_Again_Farm]

So true about keeping goats in. About 40 years ago I got a goat for a rather neurotic horse I owned. The horse didn’t like the goat, so I got another goat to be a buddy to goat #1. (I was crazy to do that, I know :yes:) I then spent days chasing escaping goats. It was an adventure, but not one I will ever repeat. :winkgrin:

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

So happy to hear your foal is doing so well! I had my first orphan last year as his mama passed 9hrs post foaling (thank goodness he had the colostrum!). Anyways, he was orphaned for a week before I found a nursemare for him and it was a lot of work but he did great. I lucked out that my neighbor just happened to have a cooler in his garage and was able to rig it up for him and it made life MUCH easier. Good luck with everythings sounds like you are on the right track!

He is now a yearling and totally normal in social behvaviour due in most part to having got a new mom. So if you can get him another horse for company that would be best. I only minimally handled mine until he got his new mom so he is not pushy in the least now or have the typical “bottle baby” behaviour.

Pic of my little boy and his igloo cooler

http://www.cindyswarmbloods.com/Foaleat2.jpg

[Nancy1]

OMG, she’s so sweet. I could be partial since my middle name is Anne after my grandmother Annie. :winkgrin:

Looks like she’ll do fine since you’ve got her on the igloo already. I vote for a companion horse if you can. Would be easier for her to learn horse manners and then she could go out with other mares and foals.

Nancy!

[ChocoMare]

Oh she’s a cutie-pie!!! :yes:

I’ll ditto an older horse for companion too… Let her learn to be a horse

[VirginiaBred]

Darling baby!!!

[Sugarbrook]

Lovely filly. I second and third all the advice about not getting a goat. She needs a pony mare or a nice horse mare that has had foals. My Emma would do the job but I just can’t let her leave our farm. Did you ever ck with Peterson/Smith to see their suggestions? Even my 26 yr old Donkey (Patty, you met her here) would fill the bill and would keep her in line. Ck for a Donkey mare. They are good, and no nonsence moms. Keep us updated. I have you and little Annie on my mind.

[Somermist]

Annie’s a doll.

When we had our orphan last year, we turned him out with two other mares and their foals. It worked out well for him, he had his own stall at night and turn out all day. Now I realize mine was a little older and eating well. It was stressful at first, but the little group settled in ok.

I would also try a little pony over a goat. Had one, interesting little creature, but would not stay out with the horses no matter what kind of fence. Loved to stand on top of the tractor and cause trouble!

Best of luck. There is no right answer, everyone I know who has had an orphan does it a little different. You know your animals and what will work for you.

[mp]

[QUOTE=Somermist;6252963]

When we had our orphan last year, we turned him out with two other mares and their foals. It worked out well for him, he had his own stall at night and turn out all day. Now I realize mine was a little older and eating well. It was stressful at first, but the little group settled in ok. [/QUOTE]

Ours was orphaned at 10 days. We fed him Buckeye Mare’s Milk Plus until he was about 3 months old.

For socialization, we put him in a paddock adjacent to the pasture with the other horses during the day. At night, we put him in a 12x24 stall next to a mare with a foal that had been born the day after him. There were bars between the stalls and mama did a LOT of squealing and ear-pinning when little orphan boy would pay too much attention to her and her baby.

After a week, she just ignored him. So we turned all three out into a 7 acre pasture. Mama continued to ignore him and the two foals played together. Eventually, the mare started mothering little orphan boy, too, even allowing him to nurse every now and then. Orphan turned out just fine, as did his “litter mate.”

Good luck, OP. So sorry you lost the mare, but I bet the little filly will be just fine.

[Nootka]

I know you said that you weren’t interested in a nurse mare but I came accross this mare on craigslist…

http://ocala.craigslist.org/grd/2953061764.html

She is located in Ocala and just lost her foal today.

Just in case

[ljcfoh]

[QUOTE=pwynnnorman;6252408]
Pictures start here: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2789425170066718914MKtpWD

Thanks so much, Mary Lou. The only one I would trust to be gentle and tolerant the big gelding (“big” compared to all the ponies, that is). Unfortunately, the edge I breed into my guys leaves makes equine-to-equine aggressiveness in the boys and bitchiness in the girls far more common.

I’ve posted on Craigslist for a goat – in trade for a yearling I think I’ll let go, if I can find her a good home. Annie’s needs have sort of bumped her off the plank in the “who gets the last slot” competition.[/QUOTE]

While I agree with the others that a goat will likely make your life even more difficult, if you were to go that route I would definitely look for one who’s been a companion for a horse – otherwise you’ll be chasing it around and it might not even get the gist of what the heck is supposed to be doing to help you. Have you tried any TB friends? The nurse mare posted sounds like a good route – I know its hard to upset the group but it seems like such a “natural” choice.

Good luck in whatever direction you go…and she is ADORABLE!!

[Sugarbrook]

Wynn…there is a nursemare who just lost her foal right in Ocala. Whats not to like about that?? It will make your life so easy and your Annie can get about being just a little normal filly.

[Mel0309]

Wynn if you don’t want a nurse mare I have a sweet old broodmare you can borrow. She hasn’t had a foal in a few years but was a great easy going mare. PM, email or get with me via Heather.

[pwynnnorman]

Ta-da!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3FHiXmpO8

[Laurierace]

She is even the right color! Fingers crossed!

[Somermist]

Excellent:)