breeding question

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

That retired polo pony, Durante, is really a good baby sitter.
It's so funny. He is like the "Protector". Just grazes, lifts his head once in a while to see who's winning the race along the fenceline.
He keeps them calm, and doesn't take any "back talk".

You have some interesting stories, but some of the weanling colts are lunatics and do whatever they want.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Hoisttheflag

You have some interesting stories, but some of the weanling colts are lunatics and do whatever they want.

Yup! Some are complete lunatics. Bite and kick for fun. That's how they "talk" to each other.

[whorstman]

That's really fasinating. Very discriptive too. I was picturing these little guys and gals out racing eachother in the field, bragging like kids on a playground. Funny how the boys fight and bicker. Do they have one that picks on the others, knd of like a bully?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

have you heard of mares not taking to thier babys and refusing to do the dutys of mom.....

hooves, don't worry dude, your mom loves you, it's just tough love and it's for your own good.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by whorstman

That's really fasinating. Very discriptive too. I was picturing these little guys and gals out racing eachother in the field, bragging like kids on a playground. Funny how the boys fight and bicker. Do they have one that picks on the others, knd of like a bully?

Just my take...colts, they're ALL bullies.
They don't stop with each other.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

hooves, don't worry dude, your mom loves you, it's just tough love and it's for your own good.

lol ateam ..tough love running around fast so my mare doesnt geld me..

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

have you heard of mares not taking to thier babys and refusing to do the dutys of mom.....

Yep, this is one of the reasons that there is such things as nurse mares....a lot of nurse mares are just cheap Belgium horses that can really provide good natural nourishment to foals if the original broodmare dies or does the rare refusal to take on her foal....

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Yep, this is one of the reasons that there is such things as nurse mares....a lot of nurse mares are just cheap Belgium horses that can really provide good natural nourishment to foals if the original broodmare dies or does the rare refusal to take on her foal....

the ideal nurse mare should be a draft cross as opposed to a pure draft. That way one can get the benefits of the draft horse easy going nature while NOT getting a mare that will produce so much milk that it puts the TB foal at risk for excessive growth and therefore OCD...
And in my experience the foal will only accept one or the other--meaning if it goes on a nurse mare it won't bottle/bucket feed or if it's on a bottle too long it won't go back to the mare to feed.

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

have you heard of mares not taking to thier babys and refusing to do the dutys of mom.....

Like some human moms, equine moms can be derelict in their duties.

My mare used to go out with a mom and foal. The mom wasn't very good at being a mom so my mare was sort of like the surrogate aunt. She would put the baby in line if it was acting up. I'm sure most places do not recommend putting a mare with no baby out with a nursing mare, but in this situation there were no adverse effects.