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Lori
Member
Username: Lccsi
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005 - 9:20 am: |   |
Hi.. How old do you think a foal needs to be before shipping to it's new home.. I am purchasing a foal in Texas and want to figure out when the earliest is that I can safely ship with out over stressing the foal.. |
Lori
Member
Username: Lccsi
Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005 - 9:35 am: | |
-- This is a repost.. the 1st one did not show up --
Hi.. How old do you think a foal needs to be before shipping to it's new home.. I am purchasing a foal in Texas and want to figure out when the earliest is that I can safely ship with out over stressing the foal |
Christine Holmes Bukowski
Member
Username: Canyon28
Post Number: 118
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005 - 3:30 pm: | |
I have shipped or hauled several foals in the past few years, one all the way from western CO to SC. The foal should be weaned for at least one month before shipping and I dont wean until they are 5 months old or so. So that means the foal will be at least 6 mo old when shipped. Also start them on their vacines before shipping, but not just a day or so before, they need time to get over the shot. I also use my whole three horse trailer to haul them in, like a rolling stall, they are loose inside with no halter on.I have also hauled them in my stock trailer which would haul four horses since it doesnt have a tack room. I put sawdust or shavings down, then cover with grass hay. Do not use straw, it is too slippery. i put a flat backed plastic bucket in the back of the trailer just inside the door, and attach a short string to it so that it isnt dumped over very easy. I keep this about half full of water all the time. When you stop for fuel and meals, the foal can lay down and rest, it may even lay down while you are moving. If you pay for a transporter, have them haul the foal in a box stall, in the same manner. You would never want to haul a foal in the slants of a slant load. I also use probios paste on the foal for several days before hauling, and also on the morning of pickup and during the haul if possible , this keeps them eating and keeps their gut working. If possible ask to have the foal loaded in a trailer at the farm several times, so that it is used to being inside of a trailer. I put my stock trailer in the fence line of a large pen and tie the door open and feed the weanling in there after weaning if they havent been hauled at all. they get used to hopping in and out to eat and the noise of the metal banging around, etc. The probios paste will really cut down on stressing the foal. www.canyonrimranch.net |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 12572
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 - 6:21 am: | |
Christine presents a very careful method of moving foals. Considering your goals to minimize stress, I think the points of having been well weaned and vaccinated and boostered are very good to prevent the stress of moving from compounding these stresses. However this could happen earlier than 6 months of age and anytime after the weaned foal has has settled in to their new routine.
DrO |
