Foal socialisation?

[Chromelotus]

I'd like to gauge your thoughts on mare and foal turnout. Is it preferable to keep mares and new foals completely separate from other horses so that they can't even sniff at each other over the fence? Is this safer for the foals in terms of preventing the transfer of disease from non brood stock which has been out hacking/at shows and to prevent accidents caused by overly-interested horses poking at the foals? Or, do you think it is preferable for foals to socialise with other horses over the fence, especially if they will eventually be integrated with the others in the herd? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what is most healthy and natural for the foal. :)

[Bay Mare]

Most people will separate mares with foals into a different field.

The one thing that I would be absolutely stringent about is that foals need other foals of the same age (ie not yearlings with 2 year olds) or thereabouts. I think that it's wrong to have just one foal in with older horses and even worse to have it on it's own with just it's mother.

Apart from that I really don't know. I'll be interested in what other people have to say :)

[Chromelotus]

Baymare, my question was slightly different :). In my hypothetical scenario the mares and foals are separated from the rest of the herd in another field. The question is should they be put just one field over so the foals can still sniff with the rest of the herd over the fence or should the mares and foals be completed separated into a field where they have no contact with any other horses other than their dam and other dams and foals.

[Kate F.]

I don't think it matters too much. I can't think of any reason why they shouldn't have the possibility of at least sniff and touch contact to other horses - in a natural herd not all mares would necessarily foal every season, some might lose foals, and the herd stallion would be around - so I don't think there's any particular reason to separate them completely from non-mums and foals so to speak, but if they were separated from the rest, I don't think it would necessarily be harmful.

As Bay Mare said, ideally there should be more than one foal in the group - and for me the only thing that is often done, but in my opinion is not good, is having all foals together with no older horses. These often turn into problem cases later, as they don't have the discipline instilled early on by their own kind.

If it's a case of just moving them one field over, I'd let factors like the size of the field (the larger the better) and quality of grass be the deciding factors.

[charmel2000]

Hi

Was just browsing through the threads and thought I would add my own experience to this one!!

I have bred my own foal for the first time this year (owned horses for nearly 20 yrs). My other horse is 26yr TBmare and although her and the dam were best mates before the new arrival, the dam became extremely intolerant of my TB coming any where near her pride and joy!!

The trouble is my TB hates being alone so although I put her in a seperate field she was always hanging around along the fence. Whenever the foal got too close to the fence the dam came flying over with ears back and on one occassion it was the foal that was accidentaly kicked in the face by her mother. Thank fully after a few days of a swollen nose she was absolutely fine and as a result I found some grazing elsewhere for the TB with some other horses.

I know Bay Mare says one mare and foal should not be alone and in an ideal world they should all exist in a herd environment but unfortunately this is not always possible for a "one horse breeder".

Where my TB has gone to graze the six horses range from just weaned yearling to 26yr old and the owner of the two youngsters thinks its great to have them with older horses because they are learning some "manners and respect".

So in response to the question about next field or further apart, in my experience had I had the facilities to put a field between them my foal would not have been kicked, but my TB would have hated it!!!! had the Tb had company in her own field it may not have been a problem.

I have read somewhere that some mares without foals may try to pinch other mare's foals if they are kept together. I know this happens in sheep but usually only when the ewe is very close to lambing herself.

[teabiscuit]

I have read somewhere that some mares without foals may try to pinch other mare's foals if they are kept together. I know this happens in sheep but usually only when the ewe is very close to lambing herself.

this happened to us- an older barren mare stole a first foal from her dam, horrible situation, we didn't expect it at all.

[l7oopys]

Ayt my yard we have 2 mares and 2 foals that share a field, right next to other horses and they are fine! :D

[Mehitabel]

i think over a fence is fine, as long as it doesn't stress mum out too much protecting baby - so i'd wait until she is less anxious about the foal - not as soon as it is born, for instance.

we would always try to have them with one other foal at least, and if not available, with other youngsters. if my prospective foal would have no chance of other baby/youngster company at all, i wouldn't breed - or i'd send the mare and foal to stud to run on, as i think it's very important they learn to socialise otherwise they end up with problems later in life, if they have no social skills and get injured all the time from offending their fieldmates.
it's a miserable life having to be turned out alone for 30 years becaue you never learned how to get along with others.

another the same age is best, but a yearling or playful adult is better than nothing.
ours go with the yearlings and 2 year olds once they are weaned - we stick to mares and foals together before weaning, along with sometimes the barren broodmares ina big herd together.

[skye06]

this happened to us- an older barren mare stole a first foal from her dam, horrible situation, we didn't expect it at all.


My mare before we put her infoal used to steal calves of their mothers.