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Discussion on Foaling Stall Size
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New Member:
prouille
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 4, 2007 - 10:25 am:
Is a 9x12 too small a stall for a 15 hand mare? what is the minimum size for foaling?
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Member:
eoeo
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 4, 2007 - 11:08 am:
My personal feeling is that is way too small. We foal ours out in about a 18X 20. A horse stretched out would have her butt too close to the wall on the 9ft side and the foal could end up with its head against the wall when it is being born. Sometimes a mare will end up that way even in a bigger area but at least you have some room to move her away from a wall.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 4, 2007 - 11:18 am:
I agree. IMO the bigger the better. Our current barn's stalls are 14x16 and our mares are relatively small, but I liked our old barn better. It had a foaling stall that was 12x24, which gave the mare a lot more room. Not only is a larger stall good for the actual foaling, but it give the young foal a little room to move around, and give you and the mare a little room to manuver when you want to work with the foal, or medicate either foal or mare.
Are you able to move a wall to combine two stalls? Or, do you have a safe, dry area outside? If so, you could move the mare and foal inside after the mare has foaled and they'd be o.k., especially if they get turned out or can go in and out. I don't know what your temps will be when the mare is due though.
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Member:
karent
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 4, 2007 - 6:39 pm:
I absolutely agree with the above Pat, 9X12 is way too small. Sara is right, hopefully you can move a wall and combine two stalls, or let the mare have the foal outside (as long as it is dry enough).
If you can't combine stalls or have her foal outside, maybe you can move her to a place with a larger foaling stall or outside facilities.
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New Member:
elsa722
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Posted on Monday, Mar 5, 2007 - 12:54 am:
I agree too - my mare had a 12X12 open shed and she kept lying down too close to the wall. I dragged all the straw outside while she was standing (foals feet out) and led her out, when she laid down again there was lots of room and all went wonderfully! Good luck
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