what an awful situation and it sounds like it isn't going to have a happy ending, thankfully the foal has been born and seems ok. This poor mare must be in so much pain. Fingers crossed they reach a soloution soon x

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Rosie, the mare has now been put to sleep. She really should have been put down before in my and other peoples opinion, but you know how it is, where there is life and all thatI suppose.

She was in agony and pus was coming from her coronet bands and was about to lose her back hooves.

As I said, although I know the mare, I have had no involvement in it, very frustrating from a distance.

The foal is two weeks old Saturday and I believe the owner is now telephoning the relevant people as to how to continue. Foal drinking sheep milk/goat milk, won't have it warm but eating milk pellets apparently. The next few days will be crucial.

They did find a potential foster mare but neither would release the foal nor mare to go elsewhere - so a stand off there.

Will keep you posted.

i m so sorry for the poor mum .....i wish it cold have ended happily .....i don t think nows the time for stand offs .....i d be bending over backwards to do everything possible to give this little guy a chance (out of respect for his poor mum , who suffered to get him this far )

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life without horses & chocolate just wouldn t be worth living!
sarah x

Poor mare, sounds horrific, at least she is in peace now. And SJ you are right now really isnt the time for stand offs, the poor little guy deserves any chance he can get. I hope they can find a foster mare in time x

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That is so sad - such a shame. Sacha (Volatis) on here lost her mare Foxy when her foal was about a week or so old - and she successfully handreared him after attempts to find a foster mum failed. I'm sure she'll say it was very hard work though - although worth it as Pickle is now a cracking young horse!

how sad, such an awful situation. Surely if the owners really loved that mare, they would have stopped her suffering as soon as they could after the foal was born, there is sadly plenty of mares who have lost their foals available to foster foalies. anyway, its over and done with and nobody can change whats happened. r.i.p mare, lets hope the foal has a long life ahead of him.

You could try ringing the Welsh pony and cob society they may be able to help and have experience to pass on. I do hope the mare pulls through. Very sad.

I too was a little frustrated about the situation, but each to his own. Although I knew the people and offerred any help, it was their decision to do what they did, right or wrong. I think they feel slightly different now.

The good news is the foal has been adopted by their gelding and iare inseparable and is now old enough to be more self sufficient, so alls well that ends well. I am trying to obtain some pics of him, and will post them if I get them.

Thanks for all your assistance and suggestions, perhaps it would be a good idea to keep all these associations etc - just in case. Thanks

What an awful story! At least the foal is ok now, hope he pulls through