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Coping with the loss of a foal

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Last activity 2017-01-04 9:37 PM
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BigMomma
Reg. Nov 2013
Posted 2017-01-01 11:01 PM
Subject: Coping with the loss of a foal




1002525
My mare foaled early and although the baby looked healthy, he was stillborn. The mare is doing okay, as to be expected given the circumstances. I must admit, I'm having a hard time with it myself. Does anyone have similar experiences and how did you deal with the grief? I keep trying to problem solve in an attempt to find closure for myself, playing the would have, could have scenarios.
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jake16
Reg. Apr 2006
Posted 2017-01-01 11:07 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal


Go Get Em!


Posts: 13503
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Location: OH. IO
We don't breed here but I can only imagine the pain.Dont beat yourself up.Im sure if there was anything you could have done you would have.Im sorry for your loss :(
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BarrelRacing4Christ
Reg. Sep 2010
Posted 2017-01-01 11:08 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal


Military family

Ms. Marine


Posts: 4641
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Location: Texas
I don't have any experience with this. So sorry for your loss. I am praying for you.
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streakysox
Reg. Jul 2008
Posted 2017-01-01 11:10 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



Take a Picture


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I am sorry and can't really help much. I grew up on a ranch and we often had favorite animals die. I learned that you can't replace them but having another animal to fill the empty space helps. I did lose a foal a couple of years ago and I tried to concentrate on working with my yearling and two-year old and that helped a lot.
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Chandler's Mom
Reg. Jan 2015
Posted 2017-01-01 11:24 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



My Heart Be Happy


Posts: 9159
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Location: Arkansas
I'm so sorry for your loss and sending prayers up for you.
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BigMomma
Reg. Nov 2013
Posted 2017-01-01 11:35 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal




1002525
Thank y'all very much.
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Fun2Run
Reg. Jul 2005
Posted 2017-01-01 11:53 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



A Barrel Of Monkeys


Posts: 12972
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Location: Texas
Yes, I've had it happen, and it's normal to go thru all the woulda, shouldas, along with the grief, and the sadness I felt for the mare. I guess it's just part of our experiences - the bad part.


 
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cutnrunqhmt
Reg. Oct 2010
Posted 2017-01-02 12:07 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



Expert


Posts: 2258
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I have a mare right now who will more than likely lose her foal. She is not due until April but is bagged and dripping milk. I had the vet out and opted to not spend a bunch of money but let nature run its course. That was a tough choice to make but I have large vet bills from this year and lost 3 horses this year. I keep wondering if I would have noticed sooner maybe we could have got it stopped . It is normal to have all those feelings and doubts but these things happen and usually not much you can do to stop it. Sorry you lost your colt I know how much hope we have for them even before we see them.
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Chandler's Mom
Reg. Jan 2015
Posted 2017-01-02 12:31 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



My Heart Be Happy


Posts: 9159
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Location: Arkansas
cutnrunqhmt - 2017-01-02 12:07 AM

I have a mare right now who will more than likely lose her foal. She is not due until April but is bagged and dripping milk. I had the vet out and opted to not spend a bunch of money but let nature run its course. That was a tough choice to make but I have large vet bills from this year and lost 3 horses this year. I keep wondering if I would have noticed sooner maybe we could have got it stopped . It is normal to have all those feelings and doubts but these things happen and usually not much you can do to stop it. Sorry you lost your colt I know how much hope we have for them even before we see them.

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Delta Cowgirl
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2017-01-02 9:27 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



The Vaccinator


Posts: 3810
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Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo.
So sorry for your loss.... hugs.
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SaraJean
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2017-01-02 9:48 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal


Military family

Northern Chocolate Queen


Posts: 16576
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Location: ND
Sending a big hug your way. Losing a baby is so hard, I've lost 3. The first 2 I lost, where literally the first 2 foals I raised. The first was a yearling, he went through a fence in a storm, hit a t-post and broke his leg on it. Three months later I found his baby brother laying dead in the middle of the pasture. That was so hard to accept and I seriously considered giving my mares away and quitting. But since I have raised 7 healthy gorgeous young horses!

The last one I lost was fall of 2015, the mare aborted, and honestly it was my fault. My mare was not 5 panel tested at the time & we had pulled hair on the stallion but had not gotten the results yet. The results came back on the stud & he carried GBED. I tested my mare after she lost the foal, she is also a GBED carrier. Knowing I could have prevented losing that baby made that one dang hard to accept.
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rodeomom3
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2017-01-02 11:10 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



Shelter Dog Lover


Posts: 10277
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 So sorry 
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BigMomma
Reg. Nov 2013
Posted 2017-01-02 1:16 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal




1002525
I pray that you have a good outcome with your mare trying to foal early as well. Thank you all for your replies, it really helps heal my heart.

Edited by BigMomma 2017-01-02 1:17 PM
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hotpaints
Reg. Feb 2007
Posted 2017-01-02 7:00 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal


Elite Veteran


Posts: 898
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Location: Mountains of VA
Losing a foal will certainly suck the life out of you.............losing a mare is just as bad. Breeding any type of livestock is not for the faint of heart. It's tough, emotional but can be the most thrilling and rewarding thing at the same time. To any buyers that think it is easy to get these foals on the ground, healthy and correct, think again. Then the buyers want to pay next to nothing for the foals...........UGH
 
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kasaj2000
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2017-01-02 7:03 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



Horsey Gene Carrier


Posts: 1888
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Location: LaBelle, Florida
It is hard...time helps.
I had to put one down at about 3 weeks.  Dogs ran the horses and the foal came up with a broken leg.  Bone was poking out of the skin.  The other leg was already showing the stress of supporting the foal.  I was a wreck for weeks about it.

 
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iloveequine40
Reg. Oct 2013
Posted 2017-01-02 7:43 PM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal


Elite Veteran


Posts: 618
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So incredibly sorry for your loss! In 2015 we had a late snow in Texas in March. Our mare foaled early that night/early morning. The baby froze to death and I could see where he struggled and tried to get up but the ground was wet from the rain we had. I literally had to dig his frozen body out of snow/ice. I cried the whole time, didn't sleep for days. Time is the only thing that helped, just accepting it and focusing on the other horses.
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Chandler's Mom
Reg. Jan 2015
Posted 2017-01-03 12:01 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



My Heart Be Happy


Posts: 9159
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Location: Arkansas
All of these stories broke my heart. Bless every one of y'all. This is one of the reasons I cannot commit to getting a foal from our beloved mare from one of my closest friends Haidas Little Pep stud. I've wanted to do it since we've owned Two but the thought of losing her and/or the baby stop me every breeding season.
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Mighty Broke
Reg. Jul 2004
Posted 2017-01-03 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



Guys Just Wanna Have Fun


Posts: 5530
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Location: OH
Absolutely sucks---anyone that has been breeding for a while has been through this and there is no easy cure other than time. Sorry for your loss
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turnthree
Reg. Oct 2016
Posted 2017-01-03 8:47 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal





1002525
My dad has been in the TB breeding business for over 45 years and it still bothers him if he looses a foal or mare. It can be very disturbing. There is only so much that we can do to help them and the rest is in gods hands. So sorry for your loss.
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rodeoveteran
Reg. Jan 2009
Posted 2017-01-03 9:02 AM
Subject: RE: Coping with the loss of a foal



I Don't Brag


Posts: 6960
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So sorry for your loss. I lost my beloved mare 5 years agol leaving a 3 week old orphan and went though all of the shoulda, woulda, couldas....I still grieve her loss enough that I have vowed never again to breed a mare that I really like (and there is no point to breeding one I DON'T like).

I know that it doesn't help but time does take the edge off the grief.

Many hugs.
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