www.nfed.co.uk

In the space of four days, I have come encountered 2 foals in trouble in the same location.
At the start of the week I came across a foal with respiritory problems. A pretty foal but really struggling to breathe, which meant she could'nt suckle. The mare was oblivious to her babies' plight of course. I called the adgester, who contacted the owner. Sadly trying to load up, the foal died, obviously a birth defect. soo sad.
This morning whilst out for our walk ( me & my lovely lurcher) we came across a newborn that thought a particular mare was her mum, however the mare had other ideas. Every time the foal tried to suckle, the mare kicked her. The mare really did'nt look as if she'd just foaled , but saw off any other interested parties. So, what was going on?? She did'nt have milk to speak of, but the baby was desperate to feed. At this point I contacted the adgester, who came out & felt that the uninterested mare was the mum. He was going to contact the owner, so I can't say what the outcome. was.
But it makes me wonder what happens to ponies, not just at this time of year,with foaling etc, but in general, coping in the areas that are way off the routes of watchful eyes. I hope things are resolved for the dear newborn I found today........

thats sad but nature has its ways..sometimes there are hidden problems..
and nature takes over

last night i saw two deaths on the road..

one a grey mare..heavy in foal..but it was not a road kill she got caught up in a fallen tree broke
bad leg ..the owner was there loading to take home very nice guy..told me all about her.;
a few yards away was a highland cow found dead on forest again not road kill..

life hard out there and most of the stock cope ..
hope the little one makes it..

Oh dear, how awful. I feel sad that the ponies have survived such a long,hard winter, carrying a foal , then have something like that happen.I know these are essentially wild animals, but as a great big softee, it still upsets me. I'm sure her owner was gutted.But somehow, I can accept 'natures way'. What I can't accept is road deaths, that is avoidable.....

Jenny I live down the track by where both the cow and pony died...I saw the pony before it died and it was heartbreaking....the cow had just 'died' wasn't hit, and the pony as you say had got its leg trapped, both unusual cases and very sad

yes the owner of the pony was very nice i spoke to him for a while..

i took photos of both..the owner was happy for me to do this to show how we lose stock people dont believe me who live outside our forest..of the lost stock
road death are very sad i have two foals who mums died rta they are now 17 years old love them to bits