I have been asked by several people whether we board horses or would foal out mares for others. We do not generally board horses, but we have foaled out mares for friends in the past. Until recently I was unaware that there really are very few places that offer this service to outside mare owners.
Few veterinarians are willing to do it because doing so would not only tie up stall space needed for other clients with sick/injured horses, but providing this service would require 24 hour staffing at their clinics to monitor the broodmares which often seem to prefer to foal in the middle of the night!
Boarding stables are usually very busy places with lots of people and horse activity, not exactly a low stress, peaceful environment for a pregnant mare. Boarding facilities are also generally not equipped to deal with a mare and foal and do not have large enough stalls or separate pasture/turnout areas they are willing to dedicate to them.
Having a foal-proof safe environment is very important during the first few months of a foal’s life. Foals are often mischievious by nature and need to interact with other foals to learn proper herd behavior. Foals, like children in a play group, would prefer to play with other foals and if given the choice will tend to leave the older horses alone. If foals are put out with only older horses they are often seriously hurt when they get bored and attempt to pester the wrong adult horse. Like most parents, the mares certainly appreciate a little down time as well, so both benefit from a living arrangement where they have the company of other mares and foals.
For these reasons, after discussing the subject with our vets, we determined that this is a service we can offer to mare owners that is very needed and we are already very well equipped to provide. We have the facility, the staff and the experience and we have been told many times we are quite good at what we do!
