While
your inclination might be to coddle and protect your mare’s new foal, it’s
really not good for him.
Several
recent studies have shown that foals raised on 24/7 turnout have significantly
stronger bones, joints and ligaments than stall-raised foals or foals that spend
part of the day confined in stalls. In fact, the ones confined part of the day,
then turned out were more likely to injure themselves letting loose that pent-up
energy. Raising foals outdoors also reduces the chances of respiratory
infections or allergies developing.
The
ideal setup is a generous-size field, preferably at least two acres, for the
foal to play, graze and roam in, with access to a roomy run-in shed as needed to
avoid the sun, bad weather and bugs.
Stumble It!
