Now that we know...pasture or stall foaling

Aussiesnapps · 01-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Ok, Several Hundred bucks and lots of labor from the guys we now have a solid foaling stall 11x24 that is pretty safe. We hung a new 10" mesh gate and put ply wood from floor to about the 4 foot level, put up lights, stripped stall, added straw, and tucked her in for the night. it's yotie proof. So she'll go out for the day and be in for the nights...

marybear06 · 01-12-2008, 09:05 PM

We have a coyote problem in our area, but we keep a couple of donkies around to protect the herd. I've never seen one close to our property since we got them. I personally would feel better having my horse in a stall on surveilance, because then if something goes wrong you can intervene.

paintedquarters · 01-16-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussiesnapps

Ok, Several Hundred bucks and lots of labor from the guys we now have a solid foaling stall 11x24 that is pretty safe. We hung a new 10" mesh gate and put ply wood from floor to about the 4 foot level, put up lights, stripped stall, added straw, and tucked her in for the night. it's yotie proof. So she'll go out for the day and be in for the nights...

Great Job!
Can't wait to see pics of the foal!

Aussiesnapps · 01-17-2008, 02:57 PM

thanks all! still no baby

DrewMillerBrown · 01-17-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussiesnapps

So know that we know that we are having a foal we have a dilemma...

Do we let her foal in the 300 by 150 pasture or do we put her in a stall that's 12x12? Why

I've had a few vets that say leave her in the pasture to foal. I've had some breeders say stall her for foaling.

What's your thoughts?

I agree with the other vets! Leave her in a paddock so she/he has more room to move and get used to it's legs but if it's cold bring them in at night.

Aussiesnapps · 01-18-2008, 06:18 PM

well, she out during the day and in at night. it's been dropping below freezing at night so for now we want her in at night. plus the wind here never stops...it gives her a break and keeps her feed from blowing all the way to LA

Equine Repro · 01-19-2008, 04:36 AM

If given the choice, I will foal a mare outside BUT (and it's a HUGE "but") it must be a clean, grassy paddock, with excellent lighting at night and small enough that the mare can be observed easily during the night. While mares certainly have foaled out on their own for thousands of years, approximately 2% will result in a dystocia. And, unless you've witnessed a dystocia, it's difficult to imagine just how bad things can go. It just takes one to make a mare owner a believer in attending foalings!

We actually have a large grassy paddock area that is used for nothing but foalings that has spotlights set up for observing the mare at night. Mares are turned out during the day and at night, when close to foaling, brought into the paddock for observation. Sunshine is the absolute best at disinfecting and grass doesn't stick to wet foals, get into nostrils and eyes, or stick to the umbilicus. Mares are kept in the paddock for the first 24 hours so that we can watch to make sure everything is "hunky dory", foal is nursing well, IgG test(s) are taken and then turned out with other mares and foals of appropriately close age. If it's cold or wet, mare and baby are brought in to a clean, dry stall or if the foal has any issues.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com
Equine Reproduction Short Courses

Aussiesnapps · 01-19-2008, 07:10 AM

We do not have very good lighting out in the pasture and the grass in meager at best. We had a friend that needed a place to keep three horses and they had the pasture stripped down to nothing. Now it's all weeds and mesquite and needs to be tilled, weeded/fertilized and replanted before it will be much good. the upper pasture it the best but still no good lighting and it has no wind break. last night it was 18 and windy. I will have to have her in at night. She has a fresh stall every night the walls are all new wood and the floor is stripped daily. Plus it get direct sunlight in the AM and as we get closer I'm going to get my pump sprayer filled with 1 to 10 bleach solution and spray it down every day or so (will the bleach solution be ok for disinfecting the stall walls and floor?)

CJ · 01-19-2008, 09:27 AM

Raps breeder lost a foal once to+- a pasture birth. Vet said mare wasnt ready to drop/ turn her out. Vet was wrong, baby was dropped in cold wet grassy field andn ultimately died of exposure complications. So I think youre doing the right thing making the effort & preparations to have a more controlled environment ready. Could save a lot of heartache.

StormysGirl · 01-19-2008, 12:17 PM

I think the stall that you've modified will get you through. Especially with the coyote threat.

View Poll Results: pasture or stall for foaling
pasture	28	63.64%
stall	16	36.36%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll

01-12-2008, 07:19 PM	#21
Aussiesnapps Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Central, Texas Posts: 2,058 Images: 199	Ok, Several Hundred bucks and lots of labor from the guys we now have a solid foaling stall 11x24 that is pretty safe. We hung a new 10" mesh gate and put ply wood from floor to about the 4 foot level, put up lights, stripped stall, added straw, and tucked her in for the night. it's yotie proof. So she'll go out for the day and be in for the nights... __________________ Aussies n Apps is a Proud mem of HGS Appy Club It's terminology, perception and mood that can be the spark that lights the fuse to a thread gone wild. Pro Slaughter-But let's do it right and keep in mind it's a life we're end'n.

01-12-2008, 09:05 PM	#22
marybear06 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: A tiny little farming town in MI Posts: 615 Images: 55 Blog Entries: 3	We have a coyote problem in our area, but we keep a couple of donkies around to protect the herd. I've never seen one close to our property since we got them. I personally would feel better having my horse in a stall on surveilance, because then if something goes wrong you can intervene. __________________ Journal of Lexi's pregnancy and foaling: Foal News --- WildAss Acres

01-17-2008, 02:57 PM	#24
Aussiesnapps Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Central, Texas Posts: 2,058 Images: 199	thanks all! still no baby __________________ Aussies n Apps is a Proud mem of HGS Appy Club It's terminology, perception and mood that can be the spark that lights the fuse to a thread gone wild. Pro Slaughter-But let's do it right and keep in mind it's a life we're end'n.

01-18-2008, 06:18 PM	#26
Aussiesnapps Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Central, Texas Posts: 2,058 Images: 199	well, she out during the day and in at night. it's been dropping below freezing at night so for now we want her in at night. plus the wind here never stops...it gives her a break and keeps her feed from blowing all the way to LA __________________ Aussies n Apps is a Proud mem of HGS Appy Club It's terminology, perception and mood that can be the spark that lights the fuse to a thread gone wild. Pro Slaughter-But let's do it right and keep in mind it's a life we're end'n.

01-19-2008, 04:36 AM	#27
Equine Repro Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wynnewood, Oklahoma Posts: 584 Images: 16	If given the choice, I will foal a mare outside BUT (and it's a HUGE "but") it must be a clean, grassy paddock, with excellent lighting at night and small enough that the mare can be observed easily during the night. While mares certainly have foaled out on their own for thousands of years, approximately 2% will result in a dystocia. And, unless you've witnessed a dystocia, it's difficult to imagine just how bad things can go. It just takes one to make a mare owner a believer in attending foalings! We actually have a large grassy paddock area that is used for nothing but foalings that has spotlights set up for observing the mare at night. Mares are turned out during the day and at night, when close to foaling, brought into the paddock for observation. Sunshine is the absolute best at disinfecting and grass doesn't stick to wet foals, get into nostrils and eyes, or stick to the umbilicus. Mares are kept in the paddock for the first 24 hours so that we can watch to make sure everything is "hunky dory", foal is nursing well, IgG test(s) are taken and then turned out with other mares and foals of appropriately close age. If it's cold or wet, mare and baby are brought in to a clean, dry stall or if the foal has any issues. Hope that helps! Kathy St.Martin Equine Reproduction Short Courses http://www.equine-reproduction.com Equine Reproduction Short Courses

01-19-2008, 07:10 AM	#28
Aussiesnapps Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Central, Texas Posts: 2,058 Images: 199	We do not have very good lighting out in the pasture and the grass in meager at best. We had a friend that needed a place to keep three horses and they had the pasture stripped down to nothing. Now it's all weeds and mesquite and needs to be tilled, weeded/fertilized and replanted before it will be much good. the upper pasture it the best but still no good lighting and it has no wind break. last night it was 18 and windy. I will have to have her in at night. She has a fresh stall every night the walls are all new wood and the floor is stripped daily. Plus it get direct sunlight in the AM and as we get closer I'm going to get my pump sprayer filled with 1 to 10 bleach solution and spray it down every day or so (will the bleach solution be ok for disinfecting the stall walls and floor?) __________________ Aussies n Apps is a Proud mem of HGS Appy Club It's terminology, perception and mood that can be the spark that lights the fuse to a thread gone wild. Pro Slaughter-But let's do it right and keep in mind it's a life we're end'n.

01-19-2008, 09:27 AM	#29
CJ Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 5,697 Images: 48	Raps breeder lost a foal once to+- a pasture birth. Vet said mare wasnt ready to drop/ turn her out. Vet was wrong, baby was dropped in cold wet grassy field andn ultimately died of exposure complications. So I think youre doing the right thing making the effort & preparations to have a more controlled environment ready. Could save a lot of heartache. __________________ One Mare Can Make a Difference Pinky Ribbon

01-19-2008, 12:17 PM	#30
StormysGirl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central California Posts: 346	I think the stall that you've modified will get you through. Especially with the coyote threat.

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