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Post by sajane on Sept 23, 2014 23:26:30 GMT 1
Hey everyone,
New to the forum..so hello! I've been round horses since I was about 8, I'm now 42, but did have a huge break from horses whilst I was raising my family (20ish years). I was in a position to take up horses again last year, and bought Tilly, a 15.3hh, 5 year old Irish Cob. She had not long come from Ireland to be sold, so didn't know too much about her. I only wanted a happy hacker so wasn't too fussed she'd not done much. As long as she was ok to hack out and safe in traffic (which she was, I trialled her lots of times, and the one hack alone I had with her, must have been the windiest day last October, and she was a super star!) I had lost my confidence from when I used to ride, whether we grow more wiser of our mortality as we grow older, but when I was younger, I would get on anything
So we were starting out journey, we had a few blips (Tilly was very leg and head shy and had never been mounted from a mounting block (Typically an Irish thing!?) Once these were addressed all was going well until February when she came in hoping lame from the field. After the usual scans, xrays and other test, it was found that she had a huge peritarsal infection in her hock. She had huge amounts of steroids and antibiotics and was on box rest. A very worrying time, but thankfully after 6 weeks she was showing improvement and we started walking out in hand and eventually back to riding. Over the next couple of months we starting building up the amount of work and Tilly was getting fatter... restricted grazing and increased her work, still getting fatter. End of June whilst checking her and poo picking, I had to double look, was she 'bagging up'?
Nah, impossible, played on my mind for the next week so I called the vet and asked her to come and check her for me. The vet arrived and the long gloves went on and the arm disappeared.."oh" the vet exclaimed, I feel something, yes she was with foal!
Various expletives later and a few tears and the realisation of, what the hell do I do, I've never dealt with a pregnant mare, let alone a foal. And the amount of drugs she had whilst lame. The vet said she should've aborted with the amount of steroids Tilly had.
On August 26th, Kira came into the world, the most perfect little filly, Tilly was a super mum, all went ok, she gave birth in the field, no complications and so far, so good.
Now comes the confidence crisis, having never handled a foal, I feel completely out of my depth!
Little Kira has been so good, She has had a foal slip on and off several times. She will have all legs picked up. She will allow us to touch her pretty much everywhere. The only thing we've not been able to do is starting to lead her, or put the figure of eight rope round her. We've managed the arm round the bum and a few steps forward in the stable I cant do much with her in the field)
I'm worried that I'm not doing enough, or I'm doing too much 
Advice, similar stories all very welcome  |
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Post by marychick on Sept 24, 2014 9:21:00 GMT 1
Welcome to the board!  How nice of the sellers to give you a 2 for 1 offer  Not enough is always better than too much with foals it's over handling that can be a real problem. But that being said there are things that you can be doing, handling wise, that might make your life easier in the long run. There are a few breeders on the DG that might be able to give you advice but I'm afraid this particular board doesn't get much traffic so might be worth posting on general if you don't get many responses. Personally I would definitely recommend getting practical help from someone. Ordinarily I would recommend going on the handling the young foal IH course but the next one isn't until July. However if you gave Ian Vandenberghe a ring he might be able to give you a one on one lesson or recommend someone. How close are you to Oxford? Otherwise an RA might be a good way to start, they all have to go one the foal handling course and pass an exam in stud and foal practice before becoming an RA but some RAs will have more experience than others. All depends where you are really? |
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Post by crazycolt on Sept 24, 2014 9:23:14 GMT 1
Oh bless you, that must have been a shock! Can't help with any sense, but good luck, you'll get a lot of sense and help from here, they're a great bunch. x
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Post by happysnail on Sept 24, 2014 9:29:18 GMT 1
Sounds like a roller coaster of a year sajane. I would see if you have an RA nearby to set you on the right path with foal handling. Great sources of information are Monty's textbook from my hands to yours and Sarah Weston's no fear, no force. The IH course on foal handling is very informative and practical too. Would love to see pics  x |
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Post by sajane on Sept 25, 2014 15:42:54 GMT 1
Welcome to the board! How nice of the sellers to give you a 2 for 1 offer Not enough is always better than too much with foals it's over handling that can be a real problem. But that being said there are things that you can be doing, handling wise, that might make your life easier in the long run. There are a few breeders on the DG that might be able to give you advice but I'm afraid this particular board doesn't get much traffic so might be worth posting on general if you don't get many responses. Personally I would definitely recommend getting practical help from someone. Ordinarily I would recommend going on the handling the young foal IH course but the next one isn't until July. However if you gave Ian Vandenberghe a ring he might be able to give you a one on one lesson or recommend someone. How close are you to Oxford? Otherwise an RA might be a good way to start, they all have to go one the foal handling course and pass an exam in stud and foal practice before becoming an RA but some RAs will have more experience than others. All depends where you are really? Hi MaryChick, Thanks for taking the time to reply You know, I can't fully blame the sellers, it is always a risk buying a horse not knowing the history (Found out history eventually!) and wouldn't change foaly for the world, just so glad she's healthy. I will copy this post to DG. Yes, I looked at the handling the young foal course, but then realised the date BUT i'm not too far from Oxford (North Hampshire) so will drop Ian a call (or another RA) Thank you |
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Post by sajane on Sept 25, 2014 15:44:22 GMT 1
Sounds like a roller coaster of a year sajane. I would see if you have an RA nearby to set you on the right path with foal handling. Great sources of information are Monty's textbook from my hands to yours and Sarah Weston's no fear, no force. The IH course on foal handling is very informative and practical too. Would love to see pics x Great advice...thank you Mum and Kira are my two in my profile picture x |
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Post by happysnail on Sept 25, 2014 17:33:06 GMT 1
Gorgeous |
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Post by portiabuzz on Sept 25, 2014 23:18:41 GMT 1
Welcome to the forum xx what a year indeed ! Sent from my SM-G800F using proboards |
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