A Horse, of Course with Don Blazer

With spring busting out all over, foals certainly are.

Every year now there are more and more mama horses, and more and more baby horses. (Is this great technology, or just folly? I’m not sure artificial insemination, transported semen and sex pre-selection in horses is a good thing. Blood is being diluted. Prices are weak and some of the crosses just don’t make sense. It’s strange to me that what we so treasured in the natural selection of the best to the best has given way to greed and commercialism.)

The other thing I’m not sure of is how much the human population should increase around the increasing foal population. It’s not that I don’t want people to see the new arrival. It’s just that most mares and most babies are much happier and healthier if the visitors are relatively few and far between.

Of course, I’m not worried about the foals born on big ranches or out in the country. I’m thinking of the city kids; the ones born at the local boarding stable. They’re the ones who suffer too much oooohing, goooooing and "Isn’t he cute."

It’s not that I’m against handling the bouncing bundle. I think every bouncing bundle should be taught early in life just when it’s okay to bounce and when it isn’t.

I’m against too many handlers.

My recommended number is three: mama, the owner and the veterinarian. Mama will take care of most of the post-foaling work. The owner and the veterinarian should interfere as little as possible.

A health check for each--the mare, the foal and the owner--and then the veterinarian can give the recommended vaccinations and leave. Onlookers, friends, the curious, the nosy and the jealous should not be tolerated. They should be sent away so the mare and foal can get a little rest following a big effort.

I’m not even in favor of immediate "imprinting." The latest fad is to imprint within minutes of the birth, but I’m against it. I believe it is best to leave mom alone with her foal for several days, then start working with both.

Foals learn to trust humans and tolerate handling if the handling is consistent and frequent. If early handling is stressful to mom or baby, the benefits aren’t worth the risks.

Halter breaking--without neck, back or leg breaking should be undertaken early. If it is started within the first week, and done with a plan and patience, it can be done very gently.

It is not necessary to show the little one who is boss, it is only necessary to show the little one.

Hoof care should begin at the age of two weeks. A good farrier can be relied upon to gently, carefully and very subtly shape and level the tiny hoofs. If the farrier and owner work together on a two-week schedule, the little tike should remain free of many leg and joint problems common to yearlings.

An exercise program which starts within 24 hours of birth, providing health and weather are good, should be implemented. Little horses were designed to move with the herd. They need to get out and get going. It builds their appetite and their bodies.

The excuse, "There isn’t any room" or, "It’s too crowded at the stables," won’t wash with me. Those are feeble excuses for laziness. Find a way! Anyone who has a mare in foal and wants all the joys of a new baby can rise and shine early enough to assure the baby sufficient exercise before breakfast. And they can turn the tube off and spend their evenings in a playful romp.

It’ll do every-body a lot of good.

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