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Fiona Farrell (Lala)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 15, 2002 - 2:38 am: |   |
OK - here goes with first of many sets of foaling questions.
How should I prepare my mare's stall for foaling? She has a 12' x 18' stall that has rubber mats over stone dust with rough cut lumber walls and has one wall shared with another stall with panels of lumber that can be moved and at present many have chocks of wood in them to create gaps between boards for interaction between the stalls. The other stall has my yearling in it. The stalls have dutch doors at the back directly into a paddock. The stalls were newly built this fall and have only been occupied by either the mare or the yearling. Currently they are only in both at a time and only in at night. The companion pony lives out and spends most of nights in run in off back of barn that dutch doors open into. Depending on temps top of dutch doors are open at night as much as possible. Fronts of stalls open onto small 6' deep x width of barn area that has two large sliding doors, 12' tall x approx 8' wide to outside. These I close at night unless no wind and above freezing. Stalls currently have pine shavings.
I have heard about pseudomonnus and kalbsiella (spelling on both?) bacteria being a problem with shavings and intend to switch to straw and retain that for first several months after foal born. How soon before foaling should I make this change, and how long avoid shavings? What is best disinfectant and method of application to use in stall before switching to straw and in general before foaling? I have heard about using quaternary ammonia but in reading NebGuide article found via this site on selection and use of disinfectants wonder if should use others in addition or instead or if is really needed at all? What is best time frame for disinfecting if I do do it?
I have noticed a problem with traction on rubber mats. Racking my brain thinking of ways to increase traction for newborn without having to take up the mats (they are 6' x 12' and very heavy) which would be my last resort choice. Any ideas on using a couple hundred pounds of sand under the straw, could this cause inhalation problems similar to sawdust? Thought could then easily use sand outside on paths etc.
My mare is very shy of humans but very sociable with equines. When we just lowered the shared wall to about 6' she now likes to look over it at the yearling. We also put chocks in the panel inbetween where they eat and they both eat without any gnashing of teeth or faces at each other. but I am thinking she will probably want a lot of privacy, certainly from humans, in order to foal and I don't want her to hold onto the foal (is that a myth?) because of lack of privacy. Trying to balance privacy and her great need for social interaction with other horses. Should we elevate all three 6' panels of wall to 10' and eliminate all chock gaps?
Hope these questions make sense, any wisdom from you experienced breeders would be gratefully appreciated. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 18, 2002 - 11:28 am: | |
I think the straw will be fine on top of the rubbermats, no sand should be neccesary. Clean is fine for the stall I would not use an antiseptic and I would leave the walls as they are. Sorry this is so short, we are trying to get out of town today and I wanted to get an answer up.
DrO |
Fiona Farrell (Lala)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2002 - 1:06 pm: | |
Dr. O,
Trying for days to find my way back to this thread and getting waylaid with other posts -- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING SO SPEEDILY. I should have said she's only due mid-March so you didn't feel rushed before your vacation.
It is not only the helpful content of your information but how you present it(in this instance going the extra mile to answer before leaving town) that makes this such a nice site to be a member of. It's also what probably makes so many of us feel personally connected, that we have a lifeline out there when the Qs overwhelm. As a former expert witness on customer service you get top marks from a harsh critic.
Sidebar: Just got my renewal reminder, no wonder your re-up rate is so high.
So, please, consider this both a fan letter and a thank you note.
Fiona
PS Of course could be that "do nothing" answers are always a great solution for the lazy/poor time managers. heehee.
PPS Curious about your Secretariat son Romantico and how you came to stand him -- Would you post a picture of him? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 25, 2002 - 6:30 am: | |
Thanks Fiona,
I really should get his picture up, he is an impressive horse just to gaze upon. Let me see what I can do.
DrO |
Jordana Meisner (Presario)
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 25, 2002 - 9:09 pm: | |
Ahh Fiona you're in for a treat! There are 2 Romantico kids in my barn - just lovely creatures to look at too! |
Fiona Farrell (Lala)
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 27, 2002 - 10:46 am: | |
Are they TBs or crossed with WBs? I do love looking at lovely horses, had poster of Man o War up in my bedroom as teenager and Secretariat who was winning when I was entering teenhood was another idol, then in early-mid 80s rode Secretariat's first son who looked just like him except for the fingernail sizes spots from his Appie test mare dam. His name was Red Sea and he belonged to my teacher's brother who evented him. I exercised him and have fond memories associated with him of seeing my first wild turkeys riding him when they were still very rare in the NE. A rambling post, anything to avoid doing the work left over from sightseeing yesterday -- drove about an hour north of here to see one of Giant's Causeway's first foals out of an Affirmed mare. That filly was adorable, big, solid, straight and oh so confident and friendly. Lovely mare too. Just can't outgrow that young girl in love with horses -- hint hint re picture of Romantico. |
Jordana Meisner (Presario)
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 27, 2002 - 9:50 pm: | |
The mare is actually 3/4 TB, 1/4 Perch (could be more TB, but only 1 generation more). The gelding and mare are full siblings, but different as night and day - quite interesting. The older gelding is much more dressage built, while the mare is very much a hunter type. Both very elegant, and much improved over the dam. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 28, 2002 - 7:30 am: | |
This is a nice picture of him having fun:
 |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 28, 2002 - 7:34 am: | |
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CHERYL GALL (Sctamaus)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 - 10:58 am: | |
Hi Dr.O,
He's beautiful!!!!!!
Cheryl |
Fiona Farrell (Lala)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 - 8:43 pm: | |
Thank you so much, he's a feast for the eyes. |
Janette M. Oglesby (Janette)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 - 8:50 pm: | |
Hi Jordana & all,
I remember the mare those two are out of, big grey mare (Downbeat I think was her name). I've seen the gelding as a 2 or 3 yr old and the mare not since she was a foal. I'm glad to hear that they have turned out so well.
ROMANTICO is a truly fine, aristocratic old gentleman. He's still fertile and happy at 23 years of age. You would never guess him to be 23. His babies are very hard to find for sale. Their owner's tend to keep them. We're not far from you, come to see him sometime.
Janette Oglesby |
Jordana Meisner (Presario)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002 - 9:46 pm: | |
Hi Janette! I really should come see Romantico - I've meant to do that for a long time now. You really should come to Sedgefield and see Solo and Aria. Yes, Downbeat is her name - she's still kickin'! Solo and Aria are such expressive horses, in EVERYthing they do - is R like that? |
Janette M. Oglesby (Janette)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2002 - 7:23 pm: | |
Jordana, Yes he is very expressive also, he has quite a personality. He is always a pleasure to be around. I'd love to get by to see Solo and Aria sometime.
Janette |
