Orphan Foal Project
The biggest challenge these orphans face is the myth that they are worthless or that they are less than perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth! These foals will grow and mature the same way any other horse would. They just need a chance! These foals make much calmer, relaxed, and bombproof horses due to the constant positive interaction LHER volunteers and visitors provide. The bond they share with people is usually unsurpassed as a result of human bonding and attention at such an early age. They have "been there and seen it all" by the time a regular foal is just being weaned.
WHAT IS A NURSE MARE FOAL?
Nurse Mare Farms evolved because there are times when a wet nurse MUST be found for a foal in need. What do you do if your very valuable mare dies and her foal is left motherless? You call a nurse mare farm and a mare is provided for you immediately and your foal has a new momma and you breathe a sigh of relief that though you have lost your mare, your foal will thrive! You have done the very best for your foal, but what about the nurse mares natural foal? Where is it? Good question.
Reputable farms find placement for their foals but this is rare. These foals are a lot of work to raise without a mother and are a money losing proposition. More often than not they are discarded, starved, simply left to die or dumped at auction at days old spelling almost certain death for these fragile babies. The Thoroughbred racing industry takes a lot of the blame as a large percentage of Nursemares are used with the racing industry, but what are they to do? The Jockey Club requirements stipulate that a thoroughbred mare cannot be artificially inseminated therefore she may have to be transported, as soon as 7-10 days after giving birth, to a stallions farm. The newborn racing foal is unable to accompany its mother because transporting it is far too risky, so a nurse mare is hired to raise the thoroughbred foal while the valuable racing mare is sent to be bred.
Now the numbers of orphan foals are raising into the tens of thousands each year and we have a very serious question that begs an answer. What do we do with these foals, and how do we raise public awareness of the horse industry's "dirty little secret"?
IT'S A START: COMMUNICATION
We are working with nurse mare farms that have agreed to keep the doors of communication open with us and allow us to evaluate their nurse mares and assured us that the foals will stay with their mothers for the first week of life. (It doesnt sound like a long time, but much better than the 1-2 hours these foals usually receive) They will also receive snap tests to make sure they are healthy enough to wean and will be weaned in pairs to reduce stress. This is an exciting first step to accomplish our mission towards more empathetic care of the foals on these farms.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO RESCUE AN ORPHAN FOAL?
Adopting a nursemare foal is an amazing experience! These babies are brought in and cared for by humans from their very first days, and have a loving and trusting bond with humans that is hard-won with most young horses. Initially, the babies are bottle fed and kept in groups to cut down on the stress that comes with being separated from their mommas at such a young age. Foals are on milk replacer and drinking from a bucket before they can be adopted out. We ask that foals be adopted in pairs unless you can provide a very sweet constant companion for your young foal to grow up with. The foals do require frequent and regular milk feedings until they are 4 months old and we request that adopters have appropriate facilities on site including a barn with stalls, proper fencing of paddocks and pastures, or an approved facility that will accept the foals. We are happy to come out and approve your facility!
WHAT IF I GET A HUGE VET BILL?
We highly recommend that all foals be insured mortality and major medical on adoption day. For a very reasonable fee, your foal can be covered for up to $7500 of critical care per incident with only a $250 deductible. This is such a good way to make sure your foal (and your pocketbook) is safe!! LHER works with Ziplow Insurance Agency who will give LHER foal adopters a special rate!
I LOVE THE IDEA OF ADOPTING A FOAL, BUT HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH HORSES, CAN I ADOPT?
That is wonderful, but unless you have an experienced horse person helping you every step of the way, you will want to learn first and adopt later! There are many ways to help though! We always need Angels for the foals and horses and if you want to learn, come volunteer! Also check out our events and see where you can help support our foals. We need all the help we can get!!
FOAL TRAINING COMMITMENT
We cannot stress enough how much time goes into training the foals and the volunteers! Typically, foal training is twice a week and all adopters and fosters are encouraged to participate. We are continuously improving our training program and curriculum for volunteers. Please click here for more about our foal training schedule
The Orphan Foal/Nurse Mare dilemma is complicated and sad. There is a need for these nurse mares, but how to ensure that these foals are cared for and not thrown away as a by product? To start, Lucky Horse hopes to do a thorough search into the problem one nurse mare farm at a time. We will be rating these farms as we go and keeping communications with them. We will also be letting the public horse community know who to support with their business, and who is starving, discarding and killing their foals. Stay tuned to find out what farms are Lucky Horse Approved.
In 2009, our first year of operation, LHER's goal was to rescue 6 foals. With your tremendous support and enough volunteers, we were able to rescue 9 foals. Please visit our Success Stories page for more information on their adoptions. In 2010, 25 foals have been rescued thanks to your tremendous support!
Caring for so many babies will take many hands and we are looking for more volunteers for the early spring season. Milk replacer (formula) and special feed are required for such tiny babies and your donations are of immense help. Contact Us now for information on our Volunteer Training Programs to have you ready for the arrival of the foals or visit our Contribute Page for other ways you can help. We would also be happy to pre-screen any potential adopter who may be interested in adopting a 2010 foal, click here to download an adoption application .
Contact Us
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Lucky Horse Equine Rescue. All rights reserved. c/o 185 Century Mill Road Bolton, MA 01740 978-293-6153. More.
