Ridecamp: [RC] Late Foal

Guest belesemo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Since we have so many dowager mares, we have had foals arrive from July through October for years.
We are not at your elevation, but do get some snow off and on and quite a bit of frozen ground and
ice.  We try and keep foals out around the clock unless we have a particularly nasty night of rain, sleet
or snow coming in.  Then we will put them in the barn for the night.
Foals are much healthier even in the outdoor cold by growing a long shaggy coat, in addition to the
great bone and muscle they are building by exercise.  If kept inside they have a much greater chance
of developing foal related pneumonias, etc. in addition to possible joint/tendon problems from lack of
exercise.
Having said that however, we did have one little guy born in the middle of a snowstorm in November and he 
did have to stay in for about a week before the weather cleared off and we could turn him out in the
bright sunshine and snow. Most foals under three months and below 20 degree inclement weather we do
put in the barn at nights - otherwise they stay out just like the big horses.   Just keep a good eye on them
 and exercise common sense but let them be horses.
Kim J.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=