Foals of 2015

[Admin]

The conversation at the BH article on Groupie Doll makes me a little insane, yet there are legitimate questions being raised -- it's just too bad it can't be discussed more amicably.

One week doesn't seem to qualify usually as premature, yet the baby clearly wasn't a strong one. The mare could've gone to the clinic with the foal, but apparently someone has made the decision to not keep her with the foal and we don't know what those reasons were -- one would think it's likely they want the mare to not be confined to the clinic stall and instead get ready to be bred.

As for nursemares, you won't ask anyone at any farm about nursemares and be told anything different than they use reputable nursemare providers. Yet does anyone really know what happens with all the nursemare foals? If they're all going to be just as well being bottle raised, then why wouldn't that be good enough for our Tb foals? Clearly, it's not the same.

As for the idea that the "reputable" ones only have nursemares who happen to have lost their own foal, doesn't that strike them as absurd? What are the chances of just happening to have nursemares available at any time who happened to lose their own foal?

The practice of using nursemares does make me uncomfortable. At best, it seems to me to be a necessary evil.

I certainly wish this baby well.

I heard elsewhere that the only reason Groupie Doll was not transported to the clinic with the foal is because the foal was born during the massive snowstorm that blanketed Lexington in early March (22 inches of snow at my house and I don't live far from where Groupie Doll does). Under those conditions, the trailer at the farm could not be gotten out to transport the mare. Of necessity, the foal was put in the back of a car and driven to the clinic by itself.

Ah... interesting, and certainly would explain.

[Life At Zen]

I heard elsewhere that the only reason Groupie Doll was not transported to the clinic with the foal is because the foal was born during the massive snowstorm that blanketed Lexington in early March (22 inches of snow at my house and I don't live far from where Groupie Doll does). Under those conditions, the trailer at the farm could not be gotten out to transport the mare. Of necessity, the foal was put in the back of a car and driven to the clinic by itself.

This is something that could've been reported with the article as to diffuse the crazies that were sure to appear. When I first heard about it I knew Groupie Doll wasn't separated just because it was the easier thing to do. Either she was very overprotective or the complete opposite. But, turns out it was neither. I know the owners don't owe the public anything and have a right to privacy, but it would have avoided the shit storm that I've seen happen all over the internet. If anything, the real story makes them look like fricken heroes. Kudos to them for braving the snowstorm to get that foal the care it needed.

[swale1984]

The conversation at the BH article on Groupie Doll makes me a little insane, yet there are legitimate questions being raised -- it's just too bad it can't be discussed more amicably.

One week doesn't seem to qualify usually as premature, yet the baby clearly wasn't a strong one. The mare could've gone to the clinic with the foal, but apparently someone has made the decision to not keep her with the foal and we don't know what those reasons were -- one would think it's likely they want the mare to not be confined to the clinic stall and instead get ready to be bred.

As for nursemares, you won't ask anyone at any farm about nursemares and be told anything different than they use reputable nursemare providers. Yet does anyone really know what happens with all the nursemare foals? If they're all going to be just as well being bottle raised, then why wouldn't that be good enough for our Tb foals? Clearly, it's not the same.

As for the idea that the "reputable" ones only have nursemares who happen to have lost their own foal, doesn't that strike them as absurd? What are the chances of just happening to have nursemares available at any time who happened to lose their own foal?

The practice of using nursemares does make me uncomfortable. At best, it seems to me to be a necessary evil.

I certainly wish this baby well.

There are at least 15 "orphan" foals (whose mothers were taken to be nurse mares) for adoption at a rescue in Athens, OH.

[Admin]

The conversation at the BH article on Groupie Doll makes me a little insane, yet there are legitimate questions being raised -- it's just too bad it can't be discussed more amicably.

One week doesn't seem to qualify usually as premature, yet the baby clearly wasn't a strong one. The mare could've gone to the clinic with the foal, but apparently someone has made the decision to not keep her with the foal and we don't know what those reasons were -- one would think it's likely they want the mare to not be confined to the clinic stall and instead get ready to be bred.

As for nursemares, you won't ask anyone at any farm about nursemares and be told anything different than they use reputable nursemare providers. Yet does anyone really know what happens with all the nursemare foals? If they're all going to be just as well being bottle raised, then why wouldn't that be good enough for our Tb foals? Clearly, it's not the same.

As for the idea that the "reputable" ones only have nursemares who happen to have lost their own foal, doesn't that strike them as absurd? What are the chances of just happening to have nursemares available at any time who happened to lose their own foal?

The practice of using nursemares does make me uncomfortable. At best, it seems to me to be a necessary evil.

I certainly wish this baby well.

There are at least 15 "orphan" foals (whose mothers were taken to be nurse mares) for adoption at a rescue in Athens, OH.

Last Chance Corral?

[Catalina]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Last-Cha ... 5502380989

Currently available foals: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 989&type=1

Edited to add link to 15 photos of "currently available foals".

[Le Beau Bai]

Do you not have a National Foaling Bank?

In the UK, there is a company that basically lists mares who are available as a foster mare due to losing a foal or foals who need a mare because the mare died / couldn't nurse the foal...We had a foal at work last year who had to have a foster mare because his dam died of colic within 24 hours of foaling him and the next day the foster mare who had lost her foal was collected and they managed to bond them.

The problem with bottle-feeding is that the foals generally become bolshy and over-friendly because they associate people with food. Unless you keep them in line as a foal, then you have issues when they are 16hh+. The foal at work was bottle fed for 12 hours max while they got the mare, but that made him overly friendly with less regard for personal space than the others because associated all people with the possibility of food.

[Ziggypop]

The conversation at the BH article on Groupie Doll makes me a little insane, yet there are legitimate questions being raised -- it's just too bad it can't be discussed more amicably.

One week doesn't seem to qualify usually as premature, yet the baby clearly wasn't a strong one. The mare could've gone to the clinic with the foal, but apparently someone has made the decision to not keep her with the foal and we don't know what those reasons were -- one would think it's likely they want the mare to not be confined to the clinic stall and instead get ready to be bred.

As for nursemares, you won't ask anyone at any farm about nursemares and be told anything different than they use reputable nursemare providers. Yet does anyone really know what happens with all the nursemare foals? If they're all going to be just as well being bottle raised, then why wouldn't that be good enough for our Tb foals? Clearly, it's not the same.

As for the idea that the "reputable" ones only have nursemares who happen to have lost their own foal, doesn't that strike them as absurd? What are the chances of just happening to have nursemares available at any time who happened to lose their own foal?

This group rescues over 100 babies every foaling season. I have learned they are several other groups that also take in nurse mare babies.

The practice of using nursemares does make me uncomfortable. At best, it seems to me to be a necessary evil.

I certainly wish this baby well.

There are at least 15 "orphan" foals (whose mothers were taken to be nurse mares) for adoption at a rescue in Athens, OH.

[Catalina]

That rescue is, presumably, Last Chance Corral which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue in Athens, GA.

[Flanders]

That rescue is, presumably, Last Chance Corral which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue in Athens, GA.

Its in Ohio.

[Catalina]

That rescue is, presumably, Last Chance Corral which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue in Athens, GA.

Its in Ohio.

My mistake. You are correct. It's in Athens, OH:

5350 US 33 South, Athens, Ohio 45701

[BaroqueAgain1]

Le Beau Bai, it's possible that a foaling bank works in England because the country is fairly small, which means that mares are not a great distance away from where they're needed. Quite different situation here in the much-larger US.
I do think that a foaling bank would at least be a good idea for a single state, like Kentucky.

[Sparrow Castle]

This little cutie has an interesting pedigree. Colt by Denman (AUS)-Flak by Malibu Moon foaled March 28 (from Landaluce Educe Stables FB).


Denman

[SCharm456]

That explains the whole Last chance corral thing. I couldn't understand why there were all these young foals for adoption with no mares attached.

[Le Beau Bai]

Le Beau Bai, it's possible that a foaling bank works in England because the country is fairly small, which means that mares are not a great distance away from where they're needed. Quite different situation here in the much-larger US.
I do think that a foaling bank would at least be a good idea for a single state, like Kentucky.

I think it could probably work if they set one up by State? Because 6 months or so of the year, say January to June, there would be a demand for foster mares / foals because you have the Thoroughbreds first, then you move into the sport horse foals later on towards summer...Shame they can't set up one as it's a really great system to have in the event of an emergency.

[swale1984]

That explains the whole Last chance corral thing. I couldn't understand why there were all these young foals for adoption with no mares attached.

Sorry, it's hard to access the site and comment from my phone, and hubby had commandeered the only working PC in the house yesterday. Yes, I was referring to Last Chance Corral. They had a couple additional foals listed that were Rocky Mountain Horse crosses too.

[TapitsGal]

Without You Babe(dam of Tamarkuz) and her Frankel foal

[TapitsGal]

Colt by Etched out of Phantom Storm

[Ziggypop]

That explains the whole Last chance corral thing. I couldn't understand why there were all these young foals for adoption with no mares attached.

Sorry, it's hard to access the site and comment from my phone, and hubby had commandeered the only working PC in the house yesterday. Yes, I was referring to Last Chance Corral. They had a couple additional foals listed that were Rocky Mountain Horse crosses too.

There is a documentary that is being made about Last chance. Every year, they rescue over 100 babies.

http://borntodie.org/

[swale1984]

Thanks for letting me know about that Ziggy! I'll keep an eye out for its progress.

Side note:
Have we still not seen pictures of the Animal Kingdom/Honey Ryder foal? I really REALLY want a look at that little one! :-/

[mariasmon]

c. Kitten's Joy x Balance