This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: jaimie benoit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, May 21, 2007 9:37 am Subject: foal that slipped under fence To: [email protected] I keep my mares with foals together in a small herd, but not with any other horses until they are several months old, even though I have all mares in the larger herd. Even with mares that have been together prior to foaling, be very careful about reintroducing them. A friend of mine swears that they go through a hormone surge during the 3 day to one week post partum period and act totally crazy. My older mare will try to steal any one elses baby during that time. After a week, she is the picture of the hippie mom, letting the other mares baby sit. There may be something to that hormone surge. I know I probably overprotect, but I have had friends who have suffered some tragic losses during that early period-especially from attacks by seemingly mellow horses. Once they are a few months old, then they learn valuable lessons by being in a larger herd, and have learned enough from their moms to stay out of the way. In a natural herd, with unlimited room and no corners, their behaviour would be different, but few of us have that amount of land to run our horses on. Kathy in SE Idaho It has been hot all May but tonight it is going to frost and possibly snow. One way to get much needed water.
> This message is from: "jaimie benoit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Hi Kate, > > Is there another pasture where the mare and foal can be > kept? Did the foal > slip under the fence easily or was something broken? A > mare and foal > shouln't be kept in a pasture that this can easily happen in > especially with > other horses nearby. > > > away from where mom could get to either one of them. > Does this happen > often? > Is there a particular amount of time that you keep > the babies away from > any > other horses? > > > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
