| Author |
Message |
    
Amber Tedford
Neonate
Username: Amber
Post Number: 9
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 08:58 pm: | 
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Hey guys, I was at my vet's barn today checking on my mare and I noticed that one of the other mares had had her baby (@12:00 p.m. today). i peeked in her stall to look at the baby and noticed she was lying on the ground and shivering. I felt so bad for her!! So here's my question-do you guys blanket your babies when they're that little if it's cold out? My hubby thinks I'm crazy! |
Kris Moos
Breeding Stock
Username: Kris
Post Number: 171
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 06:16 am: |
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if its shivering and trembling a lot i did, but only on COLD days (for me like under 30 degrees (f) )while inside and keep a close eye one it, those little turds get wrapped up pretty good at times. |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 350
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 09:43 am: |
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Normally, we just do a real good bed of straw, and they are kept inside -with cold weather- that way they can start to regulate their body temp. Shivering is a way for the body to warm itself. Their body is working correctly when you see them doing this.
blanets can be dangerous for little ones. |
Amber Tedford
Neonate
Username: Amber
Post Number: 10
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:21 am: |
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Those were some of my concerns. We live in Arkansas, so it doesn't get too terribly cold here. Yesterday, though, it was in the 40's and we have had a cold spell the last week (low 30's). We try not to breed early in the year as to avoid the colder temps for not only the babies but the mares as well. I have never blanketed any of our horses. But then again they have never "looked" cold. Kim, you're advice on the straw is good. My vet's stalls have shavings in them and this concerns me a little. She has been there FOREVER (2 months) due to us not having an accurate breeding date on her (the mare is my father in laws, the baby is mine)and being on fescue unknowingly. The vet guessed her due date to be the end of Dec and she still hasn't foaled. To be honest, I'm getting a little worried. Here's a pic of her about a week and a half ago. Tell me what you guys think. Jan guessed about 2 more weeks then.
http://photobucket.com/albums/e232/arhorses/ |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 351
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:49 am: |
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Amber,
I think that you will have a nice size foal.  -you mare seems to have a nice big build to her.
Suprizes me that the vet has her on shavings for foaling.... that is sortta a no no due to infection could happen in the mare and respitory problems that can arrise in a foal from being in the dust of it all, althought shavings tend to be a bit better in the dust--- not so much.
I would question him.
If she was bred by someone doing some breeding then she would be bred in the states for a jan-june baby, not dec. although there are some that will bred whenever. In most registries--for the states-- a baby is a year old the following year in jan no matter what month they were born in . A breeder does not want a baby born before Jan. 1 and normally not past june. If its a unregistered then I guess it really dosn't matter... Just giving you some insite as to when she might have been bred , depending on where you got her from |
Amber Tedford
Nursing Foal
Username: Amber
Post Number: 12
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:15 pm: |
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Kim,
She is actually my father-in-law's mare (although I'm not sure he's getting her back )His stallion "accidentally" bred her at some point. My father in law didn't think he was able to breed yet. It was one of those I told you so moments  . Needless to say, he has given me the foal. You are right about the breeding, though. Usually the breeders around her try for spring babies; although there are several that breed all year. You were also right about the registration. With AQHA (we mainly deal with Quarters)all babies turn a year older Jan 1. We were desparately praying that she wouldn't foal Dec 31. Guess we worried needlessly! |
Kim Winter
Breeding Stock
Username: Clafairy
Post Number: 144
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 06:20 am: |
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My friend used to breed minis and last year she had a foal that she rugged up and the mare attacked it real bad... Apparently they seem to think it was the smell of the rug and that the mare didnt recognise it as her foal...? Is this something that you should be catious of with blanketing babies? Have you heard this before? |
Jenn
Breeding Stock
Username: Jenn
Post Number: 120
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 09:49 am: |
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I have never known anyone who blanketed foals, but around here due to cold winters nobody I know foals before mid April. I could see the smell of the blanket being a huge concern. To be honest I have more experience with birthing calves than birthing foals, and with cattle scent is everything (especially in the beginning). |
Amber Tedford
Nursing Foal
Username: Amber
Post Number: 13
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 09:58 pm: |
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Thanks guys, for the info. Still waiting . . .  |
Joanna
Yearling
Username: Joanna
Post Number: 71
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 09:35 pm: |
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I breed for late April babies to avoid the cold and rain. In Montana, those are both HUGE spring factors. Although, I will add that I got a new mare that was already bred for a March baby last year, and it was born during a big, three day rainstorm. We did blanket him for the first twenty four hours, but as soon as the sun came out, we took it off of him. Both mare and baby seemed to have no problem with it whatsoever.
Joanna |
Emma
Breeding Stock
Username: Emma
Post Number: 155
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:51 am: |
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I know that if you do blanket a foal it should be with a proper foal rug (they don't have leg straps just a big belly flap) And it should be new/washed. If it has been on lots of different foals/horses then don't use it. |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Jos
Post Number: 10477
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:15 am: |
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One can make a cheap and effective foal rug from a woolen blanket (e.g. army surplus type).
Cut to a suitable size, and then cut a "U" out along the front edge - this will fit over the foal's withers and around each side of the neck to meet in the front. You can secure it in front with a piece of baler twine. You can make a surcingle using another piece of the blanket or an old leg wrap.
I have used these many times over the years and found them to work well (as long as they are made correctly of course). The advantage is that you can make a new blanket every few weeks as the foal grows (or the blanket gets disgustingly dirty! ) and not go broke having to repeatedly buy a commercially made one! |
Amber Tedford
Nursing Foal
Username: Amber
Post Number: 16
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:09 pm: |
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Excellent suggestion, Jos! I'll have to try that one if I need to. Thanks again guys! |
Lisa Weir
Breeding Stock
Username: Pals_pal
Post Number: 150
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 09:24 am: |
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We had a premmy foal a couple of years ago and had to keep it warm. Since it's rarely cold enough here to warrant rugging foals in general, we had nothing on hand. So we hunted through the boss's cupboard and found a nice woollen jumper that his wife was nagging him to throw away. We cut around the neck to make more room and cut the front up from the bottom a little way so as not to bother the cord stump and just slipped it over babies head. It went nearly all the way down her front legs and we bandaged the rest of her legs. She looked sooo cute and was toasty warm.
Of course she was little and this was a short term thing.
We have since invested in a proper foal rug for any future premmies, so using Murphy's Law as a guide, this means we will never have another as we are now prepared. lol |
Amber Tedford
Weanling
Username: Amber
Post Number: 22
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 09:49 pm: |
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LOL! How true this is, Lisa! |
Elena Vieira
Weanling
Username: Opheliaimmorttal
Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 09:52 pm: |
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I've seen a lot of people put sweatshirts on their baby horses. its cute? Any one else do it?
Elena |
