This is for those who have lost a foal. This is NOT me.
An aquaintance who breeds National Show Horses sent her mare to one of the best stallions in the region. This summer she had a beautiful healthy colt that was handled daily and developing perfectly (physically and mentally).
At a little over 3 months, he was getting his first real farrier trim. He was cross tied and calm. The farrier had trimmed 3 feet with no problems at all. When the farrier picked up the fourth foot, the foal fell over dead. She didn't pay for autopsy, but the vet is guessing an anurism (sp?). There were no advanced signs and the colt was under no stress at all.
So to those who have lost a foal, more proof that sometimes it is just not under our control, no matter what we do.
(And a big rasberry to the friend who couldn't wait until my currently 3mo colt was at least 6mo old before telling me about this! My guy has already survived the farrier twice, so I'm thinking he's safe)
Kami
You can do EVERYTHING right and still loose the foal
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KamiBrooks
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Nice to know - and you couldn't pay me enough to be a farrier!!! One of my colts literally almost lies down when he gets his feet trimmed - we have to poke him in the stomach a dozen times to keep him from going down. Doesn't kick or cause any other problems, just tries to lay down. Gotta love their personalities don't you?
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KamiBrooks
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- Joined: Sat May 07, 2005 12:00 am
I've been working with my little guy to make sure he knows to support his own weight.
Had a yearling+ come in that thought the extra human was a leaning post, was very hard to teach him that he could actually stand on three feet. To his credit, once he learned, he was great. A farrier w/helper accidentally had him standing on two feet (farrier was still finishing hind left when helper decided to clean/prep right front) and neither knew they were doing it because he stood so quietly (mostly confused and focusing on not falling). I on the other hand almost freaked when I turned back to see him balancing like that and quietly asked them look at each other. They immediatly gave him his feet back and stuck to one foot at a time after that.
Had a yearling+ come in that thought the extra human was a leaning post, was very hard to teach him that he could actually stand on three feet. To his credit, once he learned, he was great. A farrier w/helper accidentally had him standing on two feet (farrier was still finishing hind left when helper decided to clean/prep right front) and neither knew they were doing it because he stood so quietly (mostly confused and focusing on not falling). I on the other hand almost freaked when I turned back to see him balancing like that and quietly asked them look at each other. They immediatly gave him his feet back and stuck to one foot at a time after that.
Geez, sorry about your friends horse. That's tough. Babies are just so much fun for the blacksmith! Ours are pretty good, but they have to have the odd go. My BS is very good because he always says, they are just trying to get their balance.
I've seen foals in the safest of environments which kill themselves and see foals in scary paddocks that never have a problem. If they want to do themselves in they will.
Terri
I've seen foals in the safest of environments which kill themselves and see foals in scary paddocks that never have a problem. If they want to do themselves in they will.
Terri