Nursing an orphan?

Heavenly Jumper · 04-09-2007, 07:44 AM

I was wondering...if a mare passes away or abandons a foal can ANY lactating mare (provided she accepts it, or at least being milked) nurse an orphan? Is there anything special that you have to do when you have a mare take on another mares baby?

lvmypnt · 04-09-2007, 08:19 AM

Yes, any mare can feed another horses foal as long as the mare accepts the foal and no there isnt anything you need to do except let nautre take its course.

However, if the foal is just born, you will probably have to get colostrum to feed the foal.

Kicks · 04-09-2007, 09:18 AM

I personally have never seen a maiden mare take an orphan foal but I've seen brood mares that will. I've had several mares myself that would with a little 'work'. Hubby's mare (that he has now), I was told that when she was still in the broodmare band that she would take any orphan foal or even steal a foal from a mare who was lower on the pecking order, in years she didn't have her own foal. She always has some milk (of course no colostrum) and it only takes a little massage for her to start bagging up and seeing a baby is all she has to do to want it. Luckily so far she hasn't had to take one but she's been 'gotten ready' several times in the the 4 years since Kicks was born.

Actually there is quite an industry/demand for nurse mares.

MyBelgianAzzy · 04-09-2007, 09:29 AM

I'm trying to find it... there was a liquid sold years ago that breeders could apply to the mares nose and to the foal's back made of herbs (smelled like mint to me) that was supposed to trick the mare into thinking the foal was hers... I'm trying to find it now...

Mare · 04-09-2007, 09:44 AM

If a mare dies you should milk her out to get the colostrum for the foal. Sounds sick but its best for the baby.

Kicks · 04-09-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyBelgianAzzy

I'm trying to find it... there was a liquid sold years ago that breeders could apply to the mares nose and to the foal's back made of herbs (smelled like mint to me) that was supposed to trick the mare into thinking the foal was hers... I'm trying to find it now...

I've been told (if you need to) to milk out a little milk from the mare and use it on the orphan foal.

lvmypnt · 04-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicks

I personally have never seen a maiden mare take an orphan foal but I've seen brood mares that will. I've had several mares myself that would with a little 'work'. Hubby's mare (that he has now), I was told that when she was still in the broodmare band that she would take any orphan foal or even steal a foal from a mare who was lower on the pecking order, in years she didn't have her own foal. She always has some milk (of course no colostrum) and it only takes a little massage for her to start bagging up and seeing a baby is all she has to do to want it. Luckily so far she hasn't had to take one but she's been 'gotten ready' several times in the the 4 years since Kicks was born.

Actually there is quite an industry/demand for nurse mares.

Mia was a maiden mare and she took on nursing 2 other foals when she was nursing Belle and the other foals mothers were in the field with them. Those foals would nurse off their moms but perfered Mia for some reason and she didnt have a care in the world.

sorrell · 04-09-2007, 10:31 AM

We've raised two orphans and could not get another mare to take the foal. We would let it nurse by holding the mare's head, blindfolding her and holding up a front leg on the same side the foal was nursing.
Then when it got a bit older we switched to milk replacer in bucket.
With the other foal we found a goat and milked her and bottle fed, but you have to feed several times during the night, so it is very time consuming.

Kicks · 04-09-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvmypnt

Mia was a maiden mare and she took on nursing 2 other foals when she was nursing Belle and the other foals mothers were in the field with them. Those foals would nurse off their moms but perfered Mia for some reason and she didnt have a care in the world.

How to better explain what I meant (and better words to use) - ? Yes a mare is a 'maiden' with her first foal. I was talking about a mare who has never been bred and carried a foal. Her body has not gone through the horomonal changes required to produce millk. Does that make explain what I meant any better?

04-09-2007, 07:44 AM	#1
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camden County GA Posts: 14,753 Images: 1301 Blog Entries: 243	Nursing an orphan? I was wondering...if a mare passes away or abandons a foal can ANY lactating mare (provided she accepts it, or at least being milked) nurse an orphan? Is there anything special that you have to do when you have a mare take on another mares baby? __________________ My husband is away...if I am crabby, whiney or generally unpleasant, I apologize. Being a Navy wife is the hardest thing I've ever done...and I do it for you. .'~'. epi tan e epi tas .'~'.

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04-09-2007, 08:19 AM	#2
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,670 Images: 67	Yes, any mare can feed another horses foal as long as the mare accepts the foal and no there isnt anything you need to do except let nautre take its course. However, if the foal is just born, you will probably have to get colostrum to feed the foal.

04-09-2007, 09:18 AM	#3
Kicks Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Beautiful Black Hills of Dakota Posts: 2,066 Images: 17	I personally have never seen a maiden mare take an orphan foal but I've seen brood mares that will. I've had several mares myself that would with a little 'work'. Hubby's mare (that he has now), I was told that when she was still in the broodmare band that she would take any orphan foal or even steal a foal from a mare who was lower on the pecking order, in years she didn't have her own foal. She always has some milk (of course no colostrum) and it only takes a little massage for her to start bagging up and seeing a baby is all she has to do to want it. Luckily so far she hasn't had to take one but she's been 'gotten ready' several times in the the 4 years since Kicks was born. Actually there is quite an industry/demand for nurse mares.

04-09-2007, 09:44 AM	#5
Mare Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,847 Images: 10	If a mare dies you should milk her out to get the colostrum for the foal. Sounds sick but its best for the baby.

04-09-2007, 10:31 AM	#8
sorrell Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,808 Images: 32 Blog Entries: 1	We've raised two orphans and could not get another mare to take the foal. We would let it nurse by holding the mare's head, blindfolding her and holding up a front leg on the same side the foal was nursing. Then when it got a bit older we switched to milk replacer in bucket. With the other foal we found a goat and milked her and bottle fed, but you have to feed several times during the night, so it is very time consuming.