| Saving a Horse | | | | fashion and textile industries, and the meat is |
| There are many equestrians around the United States | | | | considered a delicacy in some foreign markets. |
| and in foreign countries. Some compete with their | | | | This is where a lot of rescue organizations come in. |
| animals and some just ride for fun. However, most | | | | They rescue these foals by purchasing as many as |
| probably do not know about the cruelty that is | | | | they can, tend to their needs, and find them loving, |
| happening throughout the equine industry. | | | | secure homes. Please help us help them. |
| A nurse mare foal, is a foal who was born so that its | | | | What Is Involved in Rescue? |
| mother might come into milk. The milk that the nurse | | | | The needs of orphan foals can be overwhelming. |
| mare is producing is used to nourish the foal of | | | | Even at their healthy best, they need lots of milk, |
| another mare, a more "expensive" foal. Primarily these | | | | nutritional support, and daily hands-on care until they |
| are thoroughbred foals, though certainly not limited to | | | | are adopted into their new homes, when their new |
| the thoroughbred industry. The foals are essentially | | | | families take on these responsibilities. |
| byproducts of the mare's milk industry. A thoroughbred | | | | Some healthy foals are quickly taken into their new |
| mare's purpose is to produce more racehorses. A | | | | homes, but many stay with us for longer periods of |
| mare can give birth to one foal each year provided | | | | time, struggling to survive. |
| she is re-bred immediately after delivering a foal. | | | | Foals in severely compromised heath have advanced |
| Because the Jockey Club requires that mares be bred | | | | needs that can exceed $75 to $100 a day per foal in |
| only by live cover, and not artificially inseminated. The | | | | veterinary and intensive care. Once a foal is in in stable |
| mare must travel to the stallion for breeding and may | | | | health, these costs decrease dramatically, and are |
| be shipped as soon as 7-10 days after giving birth to a | | | | readily manageable by their new surrogate families |
| foal, but a period of 3-4 weeks is generally allowed. | | | | (caring for one or two is a breeze compared to eight |
| Traveling is very risky for these newborn racing foals, | | | | or twelve!). |
| and insurance costs are prohibitive for the foal to | | | | So, if you are an equestrian, love horses, and would |
| accompany the mother to the stallion farm. At this | | | | like to rescue a baby in need, look in your area for |
| point a nurse mare is hired to raise the thoroughbred | | | | nurse mare foal rescue organizations. Saving a life of |
| foal. In order to have milk, the nurse mare had to give | | | | these wonderful animals can be very rewarding. |
| birth to her own baby. When she is sent to the | | | | Regardless of your interests, whether it be barrel |
| thoroughbred breeding farm, her own foal is left behind. | | | | racing, hunter jumper, dressage, trail riding, competition |
| Historically, these foals were simply killed. Orphaned | | | | trail riding, rodeo, calf roping, western pleasure, anything |
| foals are difficult to raise and no one had tried to raise | | | | that involves the majestic horse...save a life, and adopt |
| large numbers of them. Now, these foals do have | | | | a nurse mare foal for your next champion. |
| value ... their hides can be used as "pony skin" in the | | | | |