Need advice on my mare Please HELP

[patty dukes]

Well my mare finally had her baby. I thought it was a colt but got the filly I was hoping for. I am past that part now I am on the part where my mare don't want me around her or the baby. Today she really scared me while I had her on the lead rope she was trying to spin around. I got control of her and made her quit while I pet the baby. April was trying to get between me and the baby about the whole time. I was petting April and telling her everything will be alright and I was trying to assure her I won't hurt the baby but she had to know I had the male thingyens scared out of me. My stomach was tore up but I was trying not to let her know. She did calm down there for a few minutes but the kids got closer even though I told them to stay back (go figure). I think the kids was making her more nervous than I was. I know they want to pet the baby but I have to get a different halter for the baby and I guess I have to tie mom up and get the baby away from her to mess with it. The baby seemed interested in my rubbing and scratching her.
I don't know if I am suposed to tie mom up and get baby away to mess with her or if April will hurt herself trying to get to the baby. I need yalls advice about this. I don't know what to do.
Also I bought a halter but the man gave me one that says pony......Do they make ones that say foal and are they at tractor supply? I bought the one I got at a tack store at a mans house down the road.

Please

[bndranch]

Yes they make foal halters as well as suckling halter. Suckling is smaller then a foal. If your mare is particularly against you handling her foal I would either tie her and handle the foal (but never take the foal out of her dam's sight), or if you have a safe stall sometimes you can lock the mare in the stall and handle the foal right outside the door so she can still see it OR vice versa. Just make sure the mare can still see her foal.
I don't think I caught whether this mare is a maiden or not. IF she is a maiden she might settle down in a few days after she realizes you aren't going to harm her foal, but if shes not she just might be one of those mares that doesn't like "humans" around it. If it were my mare that is how I would handle the situation.

[patty dukes]

Thanks for the info.

I was told by the vet that checked her in October that she had babies b4 since her teats were long. I hope that would be a good indicator. So I would say she isn't madien. She was real scared of me when we first bought her and she got to where I could love her all day..........NOT NOW!!!!

The vet that checked her and baby yesterday said that she isn't as bad as some of the mares he has checked. I thought that was kinda funny seeing as how she was running around all of us. Now that really scared me. I am glad the vet had an assistant with him because I could barley hold the pan that the shots were in I was so shook up. I have heard about crazy mares and that is why I am on edge with mine.

Also would the baby learn to be scared and walk away from us even if I do get to mess with her everyday because of her momma walking away from me now? OR would the baby get used to me and even if mom don't come to me the baby will (i hope)?

[patty dukes]

I tried to tie mom and handle baby BUT we all got scared. mom was spinning around pawing the ground and I thought she was going to stomp me and the baby. She actually hit the babys foot when she was pawing so I let her go after my failed attempt to calm her down.
I didn't know what else to do. I do know I am not going to attempt that alone again.
I did grab the baby but at that time mom spun back around close enough to me and the baby I didn't want any of us to get hurt so I let the baby go.

[bndranch]

Can you tie the mare and take the foal far enough away that you both would be safe? Just make sure she can still see her, maybe like a horse length away? It wont hurt this mare or foal to not touch for a few minutes. Or try the barn thing.
Good luck!

[patty dukes]

I can't get the baby away from the mom. I am scared to get too close and take it. I am going to have my husand help me.

[bndranch]

Oh I see what you mean..........I have to say I am very lucky when it comes to my mares, they trust me 100% with their foals, but I know how witchy some mares can be with "You better not touch my baby!" What about feeding your mare or giving her some grain to keep her mind off of you "harrassing" her foal?
Again Good Luck!

[patty dukes]

that has helped me in petting the baby 2 times!!!!! She seemed distracted with the grain that she didn't mind or didn't know I was petting the baby.

[chrystalpaths]

What does mom like best, treats, scratches? I had a mare that for a while would be very aggressive when she foaled but got over it in time if I didn't push. I carried a riding crop with me not to hit with but to reach out at her level and scratch. She loved a good scratch more and anything, then while scratching momma, baby Rose would get curious and come to me for the love I was wanting to give. This crop scratching kept mom at a good safe distance, always with hay before her or grain, and allowed me to love. Try it, quit tieing the mare and forcing this issue, she will end up resenting you and then the filly will becomer suspicious because mom says so. You only want to love them, talk to them both, tell them all in your heart. Relax and respect her wishes and then ask her if you can love her beautiful daughter. In a few days more she'll lighten up.