This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Vaccines, Vaccination, Coggins Test » Vaccines an Overview » Foal Vaccines »
  Discussion on Vaccinating Orphaned Foal
Author Message

Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2000 - 6:37 am:

Hello Dr O
I just adopted an orphaned foal from a nurse mare farm. He is 6 weeks old and I have no history on his mom's vaccinations. Do I vaccinate now or when he is 3 months. He will get a tetanus now, but what do you think about the other shots?
Thank You in advance. =)
~barbara

Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2000 - 2:20 pm:

I think you can just follow the schedule in Vaccine Schedules for newborns and weanlings.
DrO

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2000 - 4:17 pm:

Barbara-
I just wanted to say GOOD FOR YOU on adopting your new baby. I only recently read about the nurse mare farms and it really upset me what those poor babies and mares go through. I can't wait for a place of my own so I can go get a couple to save. I'm currently looking for a way to make more people aware of those places. Any suggestions? I would like some information if you wouldn't mind emailing to me. I'd like to know where you adopt these babies from, etc. Thanks in advance, maybe I can help one or two. :0) Here's my email address.
justgottaride@hotmail.com

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2000 - 10:19 pm:

Just wanted to give anyone interested in learning more about these nurse mare farms a website to start with:
https://www.homestead.com/cchra/foals.html
~b

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 4:02 am:

Barbara,
I also want to say good for you - I've never heard of these nurse mare farms before. I actually think it is scandalous - the power of money again.

Claire and Helen - are there similar farms in the U.K.? I know there's nothing like that in S.A.

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 7:21 am:

Here I go stepping in to it again....but I have seen this comment twice this week:

Come on guys, money does not make folks evil. Money allows us to trade freely and easily in a well established, dependable fashion. In other words, it allows capitalism to flourish. How else could this site be possible if we could not trade easily. There was evil long before there was a generally accepted currency and one could argue that money actually helps maintain lawfulness by providing a standard of value everyone accepts.

Perhaps I am overreacting, if what was meant was the "love of money" is the cause of problems, I have no quarrel,but I often see the term "money" substituted for "capitalism".
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 8:35 am:

Hi Alexa, I've certainly never heard of anything like this over here. There is a charitable body which will try to advise owners with an orphan foal or bereaved mare and if possible pair these two sad situations so that there is a happier outcome for both parties, but it isn't a commercial organisation.
Am I correct in assuming that 'expensive' foals such as racehorses and show horses are fostered and the cheap unwanted foals are sacrificed to this end? I suppose its no different in the end from the dairy industry - cows bear calves in order to provide milk for us while the poor babies are removed from their mothers, lead miserably short lives and then, thanks to BSE disposed of at a financial loss.

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 8:38 am:

Hi Alexa, I've certainly never heard of anything like this over here. There is a charitable body which will try to advise owners with an orphan foal or bereaved mare and if possible pair these two sad situations so that there is a happier outcome for both parties, but it isn't a commercial organisation.
Am I correct in assuming that 'expensive' foals such as racehorses and show horses are fostered and the cheap unwanted foals are sacrificed to this end? I suppose its no different in the end from the dairy industry - cows bear calves in order to provide milk for us while the poor babies are removed from their mothers, lead miserably short lives and then, thanks to BSE disposed of at a financial loss.

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 9:22 am:

Dr O - I agree with Alexa's sentiments, and I belive that what she was referring to was not capitalism in the strict sense, but rather the love of money to the detriment of another being, whether this be in relation to nurse mare farms, vivisection, or any other institution which makes money out of the suffering of an innocent animal.


At the risk of sounding like a "raving liberal" - again - I must also voice my disgust at this practice. Which brings me to another discussion, which I shall post under General Interest Questions .... watch this space!

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 9:30 am:

Hi Everyone,
From what I have learned these nurse mare farms provide mares with milk to orphaned foals. The mare in turn orphans her foal. Seems bazaar. The mare is returned to the nurse mare farm in foal or clients are charged a higher fee. The farms that I know about are in Kentucky and are mainly used by TB breeders.
I have also seen in the US the charitable pairing of mares and foals due to the loss of one or the other.
I must add that the foal I adopted is so sweet. He was not handled before being rescued and it took only a few hours for him to trust us completely. He was obviously beat up by other horses. He has many bite marks and is quite fearful and submissive of any other horse or foal. Poor little guy, he has at last come home.
~barbara

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 3:34 pm:

Hello everyone-
I have been reading these posts and had a need to throw in my 2 cents. I know what they say about opinions, but here it goes...*grin*
I have been reading about these nurse mare farms and am, frankly, quite disgusted by it.
IMO, it's all based around greed. Anytime you want to make money as the result of hurting someone or something innocent, it's greed. I see no sense in this practice.
Those poor babies are literally called "by-products", I don't know how those people can live with themselves.
DrO-
You're right, money isn't evil...but the things people will do to get it sometimes are.
DrO and everyone-
Whatever happened to letting nature be nature and allowing the mothers to raise their own babies? As I understand it, the owners of these race mares are anxious to get them back on the track and that's the result of the need for a nurse mare. That's what I call GREED, pure and simple. The nurse mares babies in turn are left in a holding pen where if lucky, they are adopted. Many, however, are not. It's a sad, sad practice that I would think shames the racehorse industry, which is why not many people are aware it goes on.
Barbara-
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS on your adoption. I hope to someday, be able to get a couple of these little guys and bring them home, too. I wish I had know this before I bought my colt. I have a very nice little one, but he easily would have been bought by another good home. Although, I'll never sell him, for he, too is home and I am very happy with him.
Good luck to anyone who ever adopts any of these babies and God Bless You!

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 4:19 pm:

Well, Dr. O, I guess Tracey and Stephany said it for me in more detail - greed, I meant; the love of money above all ethical considerations. This is nothing to do with capitalism at all.

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 6:04 pm:

Hi Barbara,
I too just adopted a 6 week old orphan from the livestock auction 2 weeks ago. We weren't sure if he was going to make it but now, "Riley" is doing reat. Finally starting to trot and canter.Feeding was our first issue as he only knew hay and wasn't interested i milk either from a bottle or bucket. We offered him a variety of free choice grass hays and a small bit of alfalfa. We pt in a creep feeder and finally after a week he began eating some Equine Jr and Animax. I have used Parelli Natural Horsemanship with him, and he leads, ties, trailers, and faces all sorts of scary monsters. He is so trusting because I am his Mom. Have great fun with him. Lisa
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC