NURTURING LIFE AFTER DEATH
Complications during foaling are a major cause of death and disease in both foals and mares. This week MumsHaynet spoke to two horse owners dealing with the pain of their individual loss – and the joy of a successful fostering.
Pretty chestnut filly Maria lovingly nuzzles up to the foster mare who adopted her after she was orphaned at just six days old.
Broodmare Mary developed a severe bout of colic and tragically passed away in front of her stricken young foal.
The pair’s desperate owner Rhys Thomas launched an urgent social media appeal to find a foster mum to help save the vulnerable baby’s life.
Incredibly mare Willow, who had lost her own foal just hours earlier, was located an hour away and the grieving two bonded instantly after being introduced at Rhy’s Greylands Stud in Tycroes, South Wales.
“I’ve never seen a foster mare and orphan foal bond so quickly and easily,” said the 37-year-old horse breeder.
“None of us could hold back the tears as we watched Willow gently accept her new foal without seemingly a moment’s hesitation.
“She let Maria suckle up for some milk and that was it, they both bonded almost immediately and have been inseparable ever since.”
Rhys, was devastated to lose warmblood chestnut mare Mary whom he bred in 2007 and used to showjump.
He went on, “The sudden death of Mary hit me really hard as I’d watched her being born. I’d owned her for 17 years and also bred her mum, Maria’s grandmother.
“Mary was a great mum. Maria was her fourth foal and she was perfect with them in every way.
“She was a lovely horse, a real yard favourite and to lose her in such awful circumstances was heartbreaking. I’ve successfully bred over 100 foals and this is the first time I’ve ever lost an animal.
“Mary gave birth to Maria very quickly and we had to get the vet to check her as part of the afterbirth got retained, but the rest was pretty straight forward and both mum and daughter were doing really well.”
Maria was born on May 3rd this year but six days later mum Mary began showing signs of colic and a vet was called urgently when her condition suddenly deteriorated.
By the time the vet arrived Mary had died from a suspected blocked gut.
“It was just a couple of hours from Mary starting to look a bit unwell to her passing away. We did everything we could to try and save her, but she became seriously ill very quickly.
“Maria was getting dehydrated so we gave her two bags of IV fluids and tried to keep her calm. I sent out an urgent plea for a foster mare. We live in rural Wales and I tried to stay positive that we would find one to help give Maria the best chance.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine there was one so close by and that she and Maris would end up a perfect match for each other.
“I’m still feeling very raw at losing Mary, but it’s comforting to know that we secured a happy outcome for her daughter. There are so many people to thank, especially Willow’s owner Bridget and my vet who began frantically ringing around to locate a foster mare.
“Willow protects Maria and looks after her admirably. No one looking at them happily out in the field together would have any idea they are not related.
“Willow is a perfect mum to Maria. The two of them are a perfect match.”
Skewbald mare Willow’s owner Bridget Lee got in touch with Rhys after spotting his social media post.
Bridget, from Llangloffan, Pembrokeshire, who has owned the 14-year-old warmblood x thoroughbred for the past five years said, “None of us could have hoped for a better outcome. It was an instant bond and I’m so proud of her.”
Willow had sadly lost her colt foal Bradley the previous day when he was just six hours old.
The youngster had difficulty standing after birth and had no sucking reflex so was unable to feed from his mum.
Farmer Bridget, 61, said, “We called a vet straight away and he diagnosed Dummy Foal Syndrome, which I’d never heard of before. It’s when certain hormones which keep a foal still during pregnancy should get expelled during birth but don’t.”
Dummy Foal Syndrome, officially known as Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome, occurs in just three per cent of live births and causes newborn foals to exhibit unusual behaviours. These can include aimless wandering, hypersensitivity to loud sounds and brightness, weakness or coordination issues, and the inability to nurse.
Bridget said, “It’s a relatively uncommon condition and very sadly Willow’s foal died in the early hours of the morning. It was only her second foal, but she was so loving towards him and stood patiently while he tried to suckle from her. She was such a sweetheart, but I think she knew something wasn’t right.
“After he passed, we left him with her so she could process what had happened, but we didn’t know how she would react in the long term.
“Then I heard from my vet that someone was looking for a foster mare and found Rhy’s post. He came and picked up Willow and we all kept everything crossed for a happy outcome. None of us expected it would go so well.
“I’m so pleased for my girl and that she has a wonderful new daughter to be mum to.”