My mare's attacking foal, I need suggestions?

AllRocky39 · 06-04-2008, 10:03 AM

Okay all went well the first day and night, if you all remember Allie had her filly at 10:00am on Saturday. Sunday morning breakfast rolls around and BOOM all **** breaks loose mare is attacking foal biting the you know what out of her and chasing her all over the stall. I was able to get the foal away from the mare and put her in our barn isle where she stayed all day and the following night. Of course I had the vet out and he checked them both out and made sure the fillys blood levels were fine. He was as surprized as I was that so much time had passed until Allie became aggressive. It's been just awful the last few days I finally rigged up a system where I can keep them together safely. I have Allie tied in the corner where she can get feed and water and the filly is able to nurse and move around without Allie attacking her. I just want to know if anyone has ever dealt with this and what are my chances of ever being able to untie the mare??? I have tried muzzling the mare and she still chases the foal so that won't work. I've tried tranquilizers and they take the edge off but not to the point I'd trust them alone.
The good thing is she's never been bad about letting the baby nurse, she stands great while she nurses and actually enjoys that. If the filly gets out of her sight she freaks and calls like a m=normal mare it just appears it's a feeding thing. Here's the clincher her mother was aggresive to her the first couple weeks but nothing like this according to the breeder. I'm just at my wits end my husband got laid off last month so timing is bad financially. I've asked the vet to keep an eye out for a nurse mare as I feel that would be the best at this point. But if that doesn't pan out I can't see leaving Allie tied up for the next few months but will if it comes to that.

Please help any with experience in this I'm sooooooo tired

charming · 06-04-2008, 10:18 AM

Sometimes if something traumatic happens to the mare after she's foaled, a day or two later or whatever, (say the vet comes out and she has a horrible experience) a lot of times that can be the cause of a mare rejecting her foal. You didn't write that anything happened, just throwing that out there. I really don't know what else to tell you, except that you're probably right about a nurse mare being the best option, since it's not really fair to moma to stand tied for any length of time, and baby needs lots of exercise.

Good luck & best wishes.

Spotted Mustang · 06-04-2008, 10:43 AM

That's odd. I've never heard of a mare getting aggressive with her own foal over food, at least not when the foal is very young.

She takes care of the foal like normal, except when you feed her? And then she gets aggressive and starts harassing the foal?

gigga · 06-04-2008, 10:48 AM

well if her mama did it to her... its the abused that abuse.. I wouldint breed her again.. maby think about bottle feeding the fole?

rileyboy · 06-04-2008, 01:41 PM

I can't offer any advice but I did want to add that when a little morgan mare foaled last year at my barn, she let baby nurse and was pretty much a good mom, but if the baby got near her hay or grain she'd freak out and chase him away. It was very odd but I guess she just couldn't get over being protective over her food even when it was just her baby who could care less about hay.

AllRocky39 · 06-04-2008, 01:46 PM

No I won't be rebreeding her!!!!! It really sucks to cuz I have a breeding to a top performance Paint stallion Special Invitation that I now have no mare for. But it's just not worth risking another foal.

She takes care of the foal like normal, except when you feed her? And then she gets aggressive and starts harassing the foal?

I wish all she did was harass it, no she has murder in her eyes. Not just over feed but if the filly looks at her face to face???
I miss my good broodmares that acted normal and protected their foals.

Miss Neigh · 06-04-2008, 02:44 PM

is it that she is bossy around feed? some horses become quite agressive with there feed and other horses, perhaps it's the same thing with this mare and her foal?

gigga · 06-04-2008, 03:18 PM

well I was thinking.. maby look into puting the mare and fole in a pasture where you dont have to feed, well then she really has no reason to attack the fole, she would have green grass to eat all day

rileyboy · 06-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gigga

well I was thinking.. maby look into puting the mare and fole in a pasture where you dont have to feed, well then she really has no reason to attack the fole, she would have green grass to eat all day

A nursing mother needs more than just "green grass". I also think there is more to it than just the food factor. The relationship between mom/foal isn't right.

shaiarabs · 06-04-2008, 10:48 PM

http://members.iinet.net.au/~mihrabi/

go to this site and click her email link and ask her for help and her rejector mare article, her name is Mel Steele

her mare is no longer rejecting after recieving medication, its a pshycopathic drug used on humans

she has had fabulous success with a few mares recovered now, make sure you tell her where you are from so she gives you the correct name of the drug for your country as well as she is in australia

good luck

06-04-2008, 10:03 AM	#1
AllRocky39 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 Images: 8	My mare's attacking foal, I need suggestions? Okay all went well the first day and night, if you all remember Allie had her filly at 10:00am on Saturday. Sunday morning breakfast rolls around and BOOM all **** breaks loose mare is attacking foal biting the you know what out of her and chasing her all over the stall. I was able to get the foal away from the mare and put her in our barn isle where she stayed all day and the following night. Of course I had the vet out and he checked them both out and made sure the fillys blood levels were fine. He was as surprized as I was that so much time had passed until Allie became aggressive. It's been just awful the last few days I finally rigged up a system where I can keep them together safely. I have Allie tied in the corner where she can get feed and water and the filly is able to nurse and move around without Allie attacking her. I just want to know if anyone has ever dealt with this and what are my chances of ever being able to untie the mare??? I have tried muzzling the mare and she still chases the foal so that won't work. I've tried tranquilizers and they take the edge off but not to the point I'd trust them alone. The good thing is she's never been bad about letting the baby nurse, she stands great while she nurses and actually enjoys that. If the filly gets out of her sight she freaks and calls like a m=normal mare it just appears it's a feeding thing. Here's the clincher her mother was aggresive to her the first couple weeks but nothing like this according to the breeder. I'm just at my wits end my husband got laid off last month so timing is bad financially. I've asked the vet to keep an eye out for a nurse mare as I feel that would be the best at this point. But if that doesn't pan out I can't see leaving Allie tied up for the next few months but will if it comes to that. Please help any with experience in this I'm sooooooo tired

06-04-2008, 10:43 AM	#3
Spotted Mustang Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: TX Posts: 383	That's odd. I've never heard of a mare getting aggressive with her own foal over food, at least not when the foal is very young. She takes care of the foal like normal, except when you feed her? And then she gets aggressive and starts harassing the foal? __________________ If all I did was teach you to think like a horse and truly understand their psychology, you'd have the keys to be able to do whatever you want with horses, and to win their hearts. ~ Pat Parelli

06-04-2008, 01:41 PM	#5
rileyboy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California Posts: 978	I can't offer any advice but I did want to add that when a little morgan mare foaled last year at my barn, she let baby nurse and was pretty much a good mom, but if the baby got near her hay or grain she'd freak out and chase him away. It was very odd but I guess she just couldn't get over being protective over her food even when it was just her baby who could care less about hay. __________________ ~My Pride and Joy~ Palomino Yearling QH Filly *~LILY~* "I Go Peppy Gold"

06-04-2008, 02:44 PM	#7
Miss Neigh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: qld, australia Posts: 1,934 Images: 59	is it that she is bossy around feed? some horses become quite agressive with there feed and other horses, perhaps it's the same thing with this mare and her foal? __________________ Happiness is like a butterfly... pursue it and it will be beyond your grasp, but sit down and it may alight upon you

06-04-2008, 10:48 PM	#10
shaiarabs Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manjimup Western Australia Posts: 577	http://members.iinet.net.au/~mihrabi/ go to this site and click her email link and ask her for help and her rejector mare article, her name is Mel Steele her mare is no longer rejecting after recieving medication, its a pshycopathic drug used on humans she has had fabulous success with a few mares recovered now, make sure you tell her where you are from so she gives you the correct name of the drug for your country as well as she is in australia good luck __________________ Death is not the end, but the beginning.

06-04-2008, 10:18 AM	#2
charming Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Canada, eh! Posts: 214	Sometimes if something traumatic happens to the mare after she's foaled, a day or two later or whatever, (say the vet comes out and she has a horrible experience) a lot of times that can be the cause of a mare rejecting her foal. You didn't write that anything happened, just throwing that out there. I really don't know what else to tell you, except that you're probably right about a nurse mare being the best option, since it's not really fair to moma to stand tied for any length of time, and baby needs lots of exercise. Good luck & best wishes.

06-04-2008, 10:48 AM	#4
gigga Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iceland Posts: 512 Images: 4	well if her mama did it to her... its the abused that abuse.. I wouldint breed her again.. maby think about bottle feeding the fole?

06-04-2008, 01:46 PM	#6
AllRocky39 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 Images: 8	No I won't be rebreeding her!!!!! It really sucks to cuz I have a breeding to a top performance Paint stallion Special Invitation that I now have no mare for. But it's just not worth risking another foal. She takes care of the foal like normal, except when you feed her? And then she gets aggressive and starts harassing the foal? I wish all she did was harass it, no she has murder in her eyes. Not just over feed but if the filly looks at her face to face??? I miss my good broodmares that acted normal and protected their foals.

06-04-2008, 03:18 PM	#8
gigga Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iceland Posts: 512 Images: 4	well I was thinking.. maby look into puting the mare and fole in a pasture where you dont have to feed, well then she really has no reason to attack the fole, she would have green grass to eat all day

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