As an owner, ensuring the safety and well-being of your horses during foaling is paramount. This involves understanding the dynamics within your herd and implementing appropriate management strategies, especially when dealing with young colts.
Understanding Foaling Risks with Young Col ts
When a young colt, even one designated as the sire, is present during a mare’s foaling, it poses several risks. Colts at this age often lack the developed instincts to understand the delicate nature of birth. They may exhibit behaviors like pawing or scraping at the mare and foal, which can cause distress or injury to both. It’s crucial to recognize that these young colts are still essentially “babies” themselves and may not comprehend the situation. This is why proactive management, such as separating the colt before the foaling occurs, is highly recommended. If not managed, the colt might need to be removed repeatedly, creating a stressful loop for all involved. Furthermore, allowing a young colt to witness or participate in foaling can inadvertently encourage early sexual behaviors, which is not conducive to responsible horse management. Therefore, a decision must be made: either separate the colt or consider gelding him to manage these behaviors.
Proactive Management and Contingency Planning
While the ideal scenario involves separating the colt well in advance of the mare’s foaling date, unexpected situations can arise. Experienced horse people understand that mares can sometimes show signs of foaling with very little warning, potentially within a couple of hours. Therefore, even with constant monitoring, there’s a slim possibility that a foaling could occur before the planned separation.
To mitigate this, a robust monitoring system is essential. Regularly checking on the mare’s location and condition in the pasture can help identify the signs of impending birth. In this specific situation, the mare’s normal group does not include the young Arab colt. They are currently separated at night, though their daytime pasture area is limited. The current shortage of pasture and paddock space has created a complex management puzzle. An unplanned 15-year-old Arab stallion, recently gelded and lacking social skills due to years of solitary confinement, occupies the paddock intended for the young colt. This stallion cannot be safely integrated into other existing pastures due to his poor social behavior.
Addressing Pasture and Paddock Limitations
The paddock designated for the Arab colt is currently occupied, and there’s no immediate alternative for the un-socialized stallion. Placing the young colt in another large pasture is also not feasible, as it is already populated with four mares. The owner’s philosophy is to allow horses to be out 24/7, weather permitting, and while most have run-in shelters, bringing them in during severe weather is standard practice. This necessitates careful planning to ensure the safety of a mare and foal.
The owner is actively seeking a community placement for the grey stallion. However, if a solution isn’t found before the mare foals, the stallion and the young colt will have to share a paddock and be stalled at other times. Efforts to separate the mare from her current pasture mates have been met with distress, so they remain together for now.
Colts and Breeding Intentions
Regarding the colt, the intention is to keep him intact for breeding purposes with the owner’s Thoroughbred mares. To manage his behavior, he will continue to be turned out with suitable geldings and barren mares, which helps keep him “in line.”
Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety and Responsible Management
Managing foaling risks requires a combination of diligent observation, proactive planning, and adaptable strategies. While the presence of a young colt during foaling presents unique challenges, understanding their developmental stage and potential behaviors is key. Addressing pasture limitations and ensuring the safety of all horses, especially the mare and newborn foal, should be the top priority. Continuous community outreach and flexible management of available spaces are vital to navigate these complexities and ensure the best possible outcome for the herd.
