Claiborne Farm

[Izvestia]

I had to share this because it's quite funny. I guess all of the Facebook animal abuse/veterinarians were accusing Claiborne of being cruel to their newborn foals, so they released this yesterday on their Facebook page:

Many fans have inquired about our foaling process and a foal's ability to handle inclement weather. Our resident veterinarian answers all of your questions below!
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Baby, It’s Not Too Cold Outside
Charlie Scoggin, DVM, MS, DACT
Resident Veterinarian
Claiborne Farm
If you’re like me, you prefer to watch snow fall from the warm confines of the indoors. However, horses are very different than us, which is probably a good thing since most of us are not near as fast or agile as a horse. At Claiborne Farm, we make an effort to foal mares in outdoor grass paddocks. Benefits to this approach include the following: mares have more room to position themselves to deliver their foal; the traction is better for the mares (which especially important in mares that frequently alternate between lying down and standing during active labor); the attendants have more space to offer assistance; and it is a cleaner and more natural environment. To further the last point, bodily fluids and other waste products are dispersed in a larger area in a paddock. Conversely, in a stall, these fluids become more concentrated, which can increase the risk of a foal contracting an infectious disease. We recognize that foaling mares is not without its disadvantages, such as the sudden onset of inclement weather, decreased lighting, and a lack of electricity. Consequently, mares are only foaled outdoors when weather permits and when the birthing process is proceeding normally. Fortunately, all of these issues can be mitigated by having experienced individuals attending the foaling and using good old fashioned commonsense.
In addition to foaling mares outside, we also believe it is extremely important to provide foals and their dams adequate exercise. Normal, healthy foals need exercise to allow for proper development of their bones, joints, and muscles. Indeed, studies have shown that foals receiving adequate turnout are at a reduced risk of developmental orthopedic disease, such as OCDs. Turnout also fosters proper bonding between the mare and foal, which is essential during the highly formative neonatal period. Furthermore, the mare benefits from turnout. Not only can she graze and move around to promote healthy digestive function, but it also helps her to quickly lose the “baby weight.” Finally, most horses—including foals—have evolved, from both a physiologic and anatomic standpoint, to withstand adverse environmental conditions. Their skin is the equivalent of a nice down Gore-Tex® parka, while the dams’ colostrum and milk is like a nice cup of warm cocoa (and much more nutritious!). So, even though certain weather conditions may seem unfavorable to us humans, our beloved equids are much more “at home” outside.

My response is simply...it's Claiborne farm. They know what they are doing.

[serenassong]

I saw the mini implosion about that on FB yesterday. Decided not to get involved this time- talking to half of these people is like having a conversation with a brick wall. They have been doing it for years, and only do it when it safe for Mama and baby. If the mare has no issues giving birth, what is the problem- it's better for both anyway.

[Life At Zen]

How dare these highly qualified professionals allow their mares to goal in a natural environment?!?!?

[Izvestia]

It is best to not read the comments.
My other favourite is people who bitch at Old Friends for not blanketing some of their horses.

[dustino140]

How dare these highly qualified professionals allow their mares to goal in a natural environment?!?!?

Soccer or hockey?

[DanLewis]

I saw the post and just rolled my eyes. One guy was like nice to see you use straw, lol.. The one shot of the foal while he/she was sleeping in the snow, the snow on him/her was melted and not even getting to the skin and the foal was just snuggled into the snow.. I wanted to put if the foal was miserably cold she would be tucked up near her mom shivering.. These are ANIMALS for heavens sake, the more you take them away from being "natural" the more you risk injury or sickness.. on any broodmare farm I worked at the mares were always allowed to foal outside. Its about common sense, and sadly not many out there have that.. Which is why the world is in the state it is in.. TO many people with no real knowledge wanting to get involved in places they have no IDEA about.. Thanks for being concerned folks, but 100 years of business I would venture to say they have things under control..

[Personal Ensign]

Some lady on this thread on Facebook commented "Nice pony!" I HAD to respond to that one with an "Uhh this is a foal not a pony there is a big difference!"

[Gato Del Sol]

The Hancocks are the best! If this sport had more people like them it would not be in the sorry state it is in.

[hadrianmarcus]

I compliment Claiborne Farm and the Resident Veterinarian for writing an articulate and patient response. Sometimes the worst ambassador's for this sport (and the thoroughbred industry) are the very people who are in a position to educate. Claiborne responded non-defensively with good explanation that informed a large number of 'pretty pony people' but also hopefully some budding new fans as well.

Forty five years ago, I remember a very young racing fan who asked a lot of 'uneducated' questions. I'm glad the railbirds and horsemen I pestered responded enthusiastically and patiently rather than high-handed snarkiness. Well done Claiborne.

[Somnambulist]

I compliment Claiborne Farm and the Resident Veterinarian for writing an articulate and patient response. Sometimes the worst ambassador's for this sport (and the thoroughbred industry) are the very people who are in a position to educate. Claiborne responded non-defensively with good explanation that informed a large number of 'pretty pony people' but also hopefully some budding new fans as well.

Absolutely.

I admit that sometimes the things people comment on are really tiresome, but there is nothing that pisses me off more than insiders and horse people looking down on people who don't know anything. Yes, some people don't want to learn, but, from my own horse exp., people are just uneducated. I had one guy express serious concern over a horse laying down sunning himself because he had no idea they even laid down. Horses are more inaccessible, I think, than most pets, so people are just confused. And knowledge of how anything works to an an outsider in racing is very difficult to come by.

[Kurenai]

On one hand you have people complaining about how it's against nature to keep horses in stalls etc. On the other hand they scream animal abuse if a mare foals outside in a paddock.

[Admin]

I didn't see but a couple negative comments, and they seemed pretty mildly negative at that.

I didn't know Claiborne foals their mares outdoors. I wonder if there are really any advantages -- I mostly think of disadvantages.

[Northport]

Not that the climates are very similar during foaling season, but I from what I have read, Australian farms foal almost exclusively outdoors.

[Ballerina]

Claiborne says they make an effort to foal outdoors. I would hope that effort stops at bitter cold, ice, and snow, howling wind, sweeping rain.

[Izvestia]

I think they listed all of the advantages on the Facebook post, and from that list, I think it's better for the horses to foal outside. I am not one to knock one of the leading farms in Kentucky.

[Ballerina]

I think they listed all of the advantages on the Facebook post, and from that list, I think it's better for the horses to foal outside. I am not one to knock one of the leading farms in Kentucky.

Even in adverse weather conditions such as I listed? I think that's rather arbitrary.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I occasionally watch foaling over on MareStare, and perhaps an Australian clinic (Gippsland) has a happy middle ground. Their mares foal in large, immaculate indoor stalls, but as soon as the foal is on its feet, the mare and foal are taken outside to a grassy paddock which is monitored by the vets, personally and/or by cameras.

[sweettalk]

Claiborne says they make an effort to foal outdoors. I would hope that effort stops at bitter cold, ice, and snow, howling wind, sweeping rain.

Consequently, mares are only foaled outdoors when weather permits and when the birthing process is proceeding normally.

i briefly wondered about that but it looks like weather too severe brings them inside.

[Izvestia]

I think they listed all of the advantages on the Facebook post, and from that list, I think it's better for the horses to foal outside. I am not one to knock one of the leading farms in Kentucky.

Even in adverse weather conditions such as I listed? I think that's rather arbitrary.

Did you READ it?

[Kay16]

I think they listed all of the advantages on the Facebook post, and from that list, I think it's better for the horses to foal outside. I am not one to knock one of the leading farms in Kentucky.

Even in adverse weather conditions such as I listed? I think that's rather arbitrary.

Did you READ it?

Guess not

Consequently, mares are only foaled outdoors when weather permits and when the birthing process is proceeding normally.