Filly Born 2-23-06 - 9:30 pm

" Indy"  Little Miss Independence

Article on Foal Rejection

Compilation of Suggestions from Mini Horse Breeders

I truly believe that in our case it was a hormonal imbalance with the mare. Possibly the mare needed to remain on the mild sedatives for at least 4-5 days and on banamine for several days for cramping.  Even while she was on a mild sedative, she still had to be restrained and monitored.  

2/23/06 (Thurs) - 9:30pm Smokey Black filly born  - mom unusually disinterested in baby.  Nurse mom tries to get mom interested in baby, using placenta scent and gives mom & baby time to bond.  As mom grew stronger after birthing, she became agitated and annoyed with baby and tried biting her.  When baby would try to nurse, mom would try to kick.  Nurse mom had to supervise and restrain mare all through the night. Baby did get her colostrom and seemed strong.  Mom was given some banamine for cramping.  Mare also allowed our Nurse mom to milk her and fed to the baby to make sure was receiving enough.

2/24/06 (Fri)- With help of another horse friend, Nurse mom rigged up some hobbles that kept the mare from kicking the baby, but she still had to be tied also so she wouldn't bite the baby.   The vet was  contacted and a mild sedative called 'Atri Vet' (sp) was given to the mare and the vet said she'd probably calm down in 2 days.  Wrong.

2/25/06 - 2/28/06 (Sat. - Tues)- Mom had to be constantly restrained and watch for baby to nurse.  Mom was basically only out of restraints when being exercised or Nurse mom in the stall.  Baby is feisty and strong and even gave mom what-for a couple of times, kicking at her for moving when she wanted to nurse.  During the Tues night, Nurse mom actually only had to go out 2 times to manage the mare.

3/1/06 (Wed.)  During morning feed and clean up, Nurse mom opened up the long aisle way and the door to the stall while she was in the barn.  Mom and baby trotted up and down the aisle TOGETHER and mom would nicker for baby and even let her nurse while munching on some hay bales, without trying to kill her. Later that night, they were let out again and monitored by video.  Mom was good again with baby and seemed to be bonding more with her.

3/2/06 (Thurs.) 1 week old -  Mom and baby had to be transported to the vet for a week long stay, nurse mom had prior traveling commitment.  Mare and foal traveled fine and settled in to the vet's (is a repro vet) stall.  We still weren't quite convinced mom had a total change of heart and wanted supervision while Nurse mom was away.

3/4/06 (Sat.) Made a call to the vet, mom and baby are doing fine.  Mom only has had one minor relapse, but seems to be catching on to this mom thing.  I will follow up with the vet on Tues.

3/07/06 (Tues) Call to the vet: last information was incomplete.  Mom is still rejecting and has to be restrained all the time when not with someone.  Baby is doing wonderful, growing, active and very feisty and spoiled rotten by all the help. Nurses in spite of mom's rejection.

3/9/06 (Thur) Same as above.  Discussed about possible changes in mare after foal heat if a hormone imbalance. -  Friday - actual improvement in mare, did not have to hobble, but kept tied when unsupervised.

3/15/06 (Wed) Good News!  Mom is finally accepting foal.  She still isn't the most nurturing mom, but she's not trying to attack here.  

Final entry: 3/20/06:  Mom is now totally into her baby! Only normal reprimands for her tenacious little daughter. Happy, happy ending.

Compilation of  Ideas and Suggestions

Here's a start:

• Make sure the mom smells the placenta and baby.  Some said to rub the placenta all over the baby.
• Don't put a blanket on the baby, use heat lamp instead so mom can smell the foal.
• If placenta is gone now, it was even suggested to rub some of mom's pee on the baby so it smells like her.
• Another method was to apply Vicks Vapor Rub to the mare's nose and rub it all over the foal.
• Another person said there was a spray out for the same purpose that you could get from Jeffers catalog.
• Of course, make sure baby gets the colostrum milk... try to milk out the mare and supplement the baby and refrigerate as much as you can for 2 reasons.  So the produces sufficient milk production and you have extra to give the baby.
• Try giving a low dose of sedative for a couple of days, some mares that's all they need. One quarter horse person even gave the mild sedative for almost 2 weeks - her vet called it mare hysteria.  Once the mare's hormones were back in whack, she accepted the foal.
• You may also want to give some banamine for cramping.
• I believe that this is a hormone problem, one suggestion,( which the article my website was provide by the same person), to give hormones to the mare... ask your vet.  The gal referenced 'DOM'  - I have not researched that yet.
• We had to hobble the mare. Just the back at first, but she is even hobbled in front today. Baby doing great, mom gets exercise a couple times a day. But still restrained (at the vets right this week while partner is away this week)
• I got a wide variety of milk replacer products, but all spoke highly of even the most common - Foal Lac  and also SAV-A-CALF and Mare's Match. People also suggested goat's milk as a replacer.
• If the baby is drinking water from mom's bucket can be a bad sign too.  It's better to have a small bucket of milk replacer that the foal can reach and hang mom's water.  Baby can feel full from the water and not drink enough and can starve.
• Some people divided their stalls so mom couldn't get at the baby (which is what I think we'll do when my partner gets back).  Otherwise the mare may have to be restrained and forced to allow the baby to nurse.
• One person put an older pasture mate (another PG mare) in with and another one next to the mare's stall for reassurance.