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  Discussion on Lost mare 8 hours after foaling
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Member:
Delli561

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 1:20 pm:

Dr. O.,
I lost my beloved mare, Lady after she gave birth to a wonderful filly that we named Lucy. Unfortunately, Lucy was never able to nurse from Lady as she was down pretty much the entire time after birth. She was a very healthy 12 year horse, who had foaled 6 times previously, but after an autposy it revealed that she had a previous healed tear in her uterus and that Lucy being so big had put her hoof through a weekened area of the uterus too. Lucy weighed almost 130#, but of course our concern is her health now. We have brought her to a farm near us that specialized in the feeding and caring of orphan foals, but in the meantime have been in contact with a man whose mare gave birth to a stillborn colt and offered her as a surrogate. My question is this, do you prefer using a sarrogate or bottle/bucket feeding. It has been very hard on me to make any decisions because I miss my Lady so much. I never in a million years dreamt that Lady would have any problems. I'm crying as I'm writing this. Oh, of course we have had our vet out and she suggested the farm until such a time we could find a surrogate mare. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. The philly, Lucy is cute as a button and is almost the exact color of a white tale deer, including the white tail. Her mom Lady was a chocolate Rocky Mtn Saddle horse and her dad is a Black TWH.
Thanks for this wonderful forum.
Wendy Kissee
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 4:44 pm:

Wendy,

I am very very sorry about your mare, there is nothing that can be said in a case like this.

You are very lucky to have found a surrogate, when we lost a mare some time ago, we could not find a surrogate straight away. I would suggest that you keep the foal in the same stall where he was born (same smells etc) and bring the surrogate to your yard.

We made the mistake of moving the foal to the mares yard rather than bringing the mare to ours, and the trip to a new place, different smells and handling was too much for him and he just gave up he went down and refused to get up, and would not even take the bottle. I guess is natures way, after all an orphan foal would not survive in a different herd from his own.

I know nothing will replace Lady, but if feel that looking after her foal and watching her grow will help ease the pain.

Best of luck
Liliana
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 8:43 pm:

Wendy
So sorry for your loss. I lost a horse last year that broke my heart. I had a foal about the same time and that helped some. Only time can heal the pain.
I have had the opportunity to gain a little insite on orphaned foals since I joined Casey Creek Rescue group. Take the surrogate if she will nurse the foal and it is not a financial burden. Although a foal can due just as well with milk replacer bonding with another horse is important too. It will also be easier on you, due to the frequent feedings required(also milk replacer isnt cheap). There are losts of folks who raised orphaned foals by bucket feeding on the Casey Creek site if you care to look there for information and/or support. They changed the address and I cant remember it now, but you can do a search using casey creek.

The foal I had last May looked like a dear also. At least for a while. I was a little concerned someone would try to shoot him. His mother is a black saddle horse, but appears chocolate part of the year and the father was black/white TWH.

Good luck
Colleen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 9:46 pm:

Wendy it all depends on the mare. If she is calm and well dispositioned you could try, as Colleen says, it is easier in the long run. If the mare is nervous and high strung I don't think I would try. We have an article on orphans that has a section on foster mares at, Equine Diseases » Reproductive Diseases » Birthing Problems » Feeding and Caring for the Orphan Foal.
DrO
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 11:25 am:

Hello again Wendy,

Just a note that I remembered last night, (which may be a little late for,and it may sound grouse) dressing the adoptee with the skin of the dead foal is one way I’ve seen it done before, (it turns my skin but if it saves the foal...)

Also scenting the foal with the mares scent, this can be done by rubbing the surrogate´s saddle cloth or a rug on to the adoptee i.e Lucy, if that is not possible, then another way would be to use a cloth that has been washed with a none scented soap (if the soa has a strong smell it defeats the purpose) and then rube the mare down with it and then the Lucy. Mares recognize their own foal by smell, (the first thing they do when the foal comes out is smell it right)


As Colleen says although you could bottle feed the foal, it would be better all round if a mare brings Lucy up I see it as the difference between child care and foster parents

All the best,
Liliana
Member:
Delli561

Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 1:37 pm:

I wanted to thank you all for your advise and condolences. As it turns out, my philly, Lucy and the surrogate mare, Misty have bonded quite nicely. Lucy is nursing and is being supplemented on a bottle until Misty's milk comes back completly. I must say that the horseman's community is the best group of people I have every come across. The surrogate mare's owner will not take any money for the use of his mare and is allowing us to make any decision as to where to keep them or how long to keep her. The first couple of days after Lady died I was a "basketcase". My wonderfull husband and my family were all so worried about me because I just did not want to bond with Lucy. Well, I finally counted my many blessings and got it together and Lucy and I are becoming great buddies. Thanks again to all, I am so happy I found this great site!
Wendy Kissee
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 1:48 pm:

Wendy
So glad the surrogate is working out. This man is very kind (Fees can run 2-3 thousand for a nurse mare). Keep us updated on Lucys progress and we love pictures.
Colleen
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2004 - 4:43 pm:

This is great news Wendy,

Even in the darkest moments there is always a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Congratulations, love to Lucy and Misty, and kiss to the owner of the mare! He also sounds like a great guy.

Hang in there!
Best ofluck,
Liliana
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