>>>> That's the way it's been done in the past - this showing of baby foals is >>>> a pretty >>>> new thing not yet adopted throughout the Icelandic horse world. I, for >>>> one, do NOT >>>> agree with it. Show new foals running with their mums, OK (but even then I >>>> would put >>>> a limit of, say, minimum age of foal 3 months). Separate them? No way!!!
I basically agree, Mic, but I even have some questions about moms of unweaned foals being shown. Yes, I know that other breeds show moms with foals. My QH, Sundance, had a full sister who won a national conformation class with their mom when she was very young - some sort of breeding class at the QH World Congress. God knows, the last thing I hope we start to emulate is the halter portion of the QH shows. The part I don't like is that mares need to be producing milk for their babies, and not undergoing any sort of extreme diet or exercise program. Sure, they can exercise, but I hear too many Icelandic owners who obsesss about "fat" horses. When I mentioned losing my baby weight to my obstetrian many years ago, I got a stern look from him. He told me to eat what I needed, exercise when I could, but that the nursing period takes a lot of energy - physical and mental - and that it's the worst time in the world to even consider a diet. Mares that have small foals are prone to being overweight....yet just a couple of months later they may be a little thin. Managing the weight of a nursing mare is tricky enough when you're only worried about the health and nurtrition of the mare and foal. I wouldn't dream of trying to get my mare into show-shape while she's nursing. Hauling a mare and foal to a show - even a local show - is bound to be somewhat stressful, and for what? Hauling them across the country is downright nasty - not unless there are dire circumstances to remove them from. What's the hurry? Karen Thomas, NC
