GRIEVING MARE - ORPHANED FOAL
PROPOSED DIRECTORY

The 2007 foaling season has come to an end, but the next group of foals will be joining the world in a matter of months. Between now and then we are proposing the very beginnings of a new program where we can begin to match a grieving mare and an orphaned foal to create a new family unit. This is a huge undertaking with lots of foot work and research to get the word out. But a start could be made by January to help make a dent in a much needed area of equine need.

Every birthing season there are mares that lose their foals. They are full of milk but their hearts are empty with the loss of their little ones. Within days they will lose the capacity to produce milk, but their emotional loss will go on for far longer.

On the other hand, we have the orphaned foal who has just entered the world to find that it is truly alone and hungry for not only milk, but the warmth of another body to keep his spirits alive. Raising an orphan is now much easier with quality milk replacement, milk pellets, junior grains, and other products available. But although milk supplements are a blessing, it is expensive and must be, at least at first, given every two hours round the clock. Having a "real horse mom" is much better than any other alternative.

Thus, we are beginning to solicit the help of rescues throughout the country that are nurturing Nurse Mare Foals, and breeders and owners that may on occasion have a mare that would adopt a tiny foal. We would also need the help of those that publish and disseminate information to the public on topics of horse care, management and general information to help spread the word to horse owners around the US.

Beginning in late August we began our partnership with Germanna Community College as they launched their Equine Technology Program. We have taken a moment to discuss this problem with the classes and will continue with more discussions as the spring semester begins in January. It would appear to me that those who are planning to spend their lives working in the equine world would not only be intrigued by this idea but could become part of the spearhead in spreading the word.

Contacting local Animal Control offices might be another way of getting this information out to the public or at least letting them know that such a service might be available in their area.

There are major organizations in most states comprised of veterinarians who might be willing to spread the word about this proposed concept. If they were aware of such a list they would at least know who to contact if they had a sudden need to provide a "Love Connection" for one of their clients.

Thus, we believe this will become a grass roots group that could eventually spread throughout the country, with each member adding to the list of those aware of the ease in which most mares will accept another baby after the loss of their own or how to provide the needed care of raising a new born foal that will never have a "natural" mother.

Our thoughts are to establish an area on our sub-site www.GrievingMareOrphanedFoal.com where people could list the needs for a lactating mare or a foal that was in immediate need for an "Adoptive" mom. Locations of those in need could be listed along with a contact number and email address. Thus, by looking at these resources, people could see if there was a fairly close connection for their particular need. This would be a FREE service. We would only list those in need and it would be up to their owners to make contact and arrangements.

If an adoptive mare is not available we would also have listed those rescues that spend the first half of each year hand raising babies from the Nurse Mare Program to help provide a sibling to be raised along side their own tiny foal. Orphaned foals do so much better when being raised with a little brother or sister who will share their stall, and adventures, and to give each other the much needed security all little ones deserve. Even as very young foals they are still herd animals and need the friendship of others of their own kind and age. This year alone we have placed very young foals with 3 needy mares, all three are doing wonderfully. I feel certain that many of the other rescues have had similar experiences and would be delighted in finding just the right foal for the circumstance. Another foal was placed with a foal that lost his mother and they have become fast friends.

There are many large rescues that bring in many groups of new born foals each year to find loving homes for them on a one or two foal per family basis. These rescues may be willing to have their website listed thus adding to the emergency data base in case of need.

Please let us know if you would like to enter into a dialog about this and share your ideas as to the feasibility of establishing such a program. There are hundreds of ideas floating out there and if this could be the magnet to bring them together - Just think what good we could all do.

Annie Delp
Eagle Hill Equine Rescue
www.EagleHillEquineRescue.org
Email: EagleHillFarm@att.net
540-399-1982

 

Part of Eagle Hill Equine Rescue, an IRS Approved Non- Profit, Entirely Volunteer Organization