Foals back feet turned out

[patty dukes]

I was at our local flea market last Sunday when there was a lady selling a little stallion.

She said he was 4 months old and that he weaned his self. This poor baby was so skinny you could see his hip bones.

Not only his bones showing both of his back feet were turned outward. I asked her what was wrong with his back feet. I guess she thought I didn't know any better when she said that it was because he was a baby that there wasn't anything wrong with them.........

I know better than that. But Does anyone know what that might be and what it is caused from?

[Steph @ Elements]

A lot of time, this is from lack of food and excercise, but not always.

[patty dukes]

I could tell the lack of food part. she said he was only 4 months and weaned his self. Have yall heard of that? I have heard of a baby staying on the momma but never weaning itself.

[kitcat0601]

What do you mean by weaning himself? If you take mom away he has no choice but to wean himself. And if he is thin, its obvious he didnt starve himself on purpose. They probably yanked him away from his mother so he could be sold.

[Steph @ Elements]

Well, Sailor rarely nurses anymore and he is 4 months old, but I certainly wouldn't say that he has weaned himself! Poor colt.... <sigh>

[kitcat0601]

Pretty sad what people do to horses. I just hope some of these owners dont have children.

[kitcat0601]

Steph, the pictures of your absolutly beautiful boy look like he is shedding out black. His fuzzy coat looks bay. Can they change that much in color? My colt was born very dark and then lightened up a little bit, now is shedding out and looks black.

[Steph @ Elements]

kitcat0601 said:

Steph, the pictures of your absolutly beautiful boy look like he is shedding out black. His fuzzy coat looks bay. Can they change that much in color? My colt was born very dark and then lightened up a little bit, now is shedding out and looks black.

Yep, they can change dramatically! black-bay foals tend to be born a normal bay color, then as their foal coat grows it bleaches, so then they look even lighter. Later, when they shed, it will come in almost black! The same with black colts actually. They are born rather silver in color, then the coat bleaches and get brownish (some people think they are bay then), but then that sheds out and they are BLACK! A good example is Walker - on his page you can see the progression - www.elementsarabians.com/walker.html

[kitcat0601]

Boy, what a difference in his color. Looks kinda silver, then bay, now black,lol.

[patty dukes]

this lady did have a kid. I would say they took the momma from the baby also. He was a fuzzy foal but that didn't hide the fact of seeing all his bones.

[minilovr]

this is so sad ..babies should stay with their moms till they r ready to be weaned, and people shouldn't have animals if they can't feed them as well as they feed themselves.. i think my animals are better taken care of then i am. they go to the vet,who is paid that day, get their feet done regularly, teeth done , massages if needed, clean bed every day. my husband says i spend more time with my horses then him.. i'm new to mare stare. caught article on suarte and started watching then. i mostly watch the little minis , i have two.. also watch the big ones when they are on alert, or hear other ms talking about specific ones.

[kitcat0601]

I feel the same way minilovr. If you cant afford an animal then find it a home where it will be taken care of. Ive noticed from horses I have bought that owners dont seem to think floating a horses teeth is important. Ive bought 3 so far with horrible, sharp teeth digging into the cheeck of the poor animal. My horses get their teeth done once a year, with the exception of my bucktooth paint. He needs it twice a year. As far as the husband thing, I find the horses better company They dont talk back and love you no matter what you mumble under your breath,lol

[foalingirl]

thats so sad ....i have had 4-5 month old foals that dont nurse that much but they also are eating grass,hay and grain and stuff and for the legs i had a foal born with turned out hind legs and it was just the way it grew in mom , sadly she couldnt walk so she was put to sleep

[patty dukes]

man that is sad. I just don't see why this lady would tell me that there was nothing wrong with him. well she would to sell him.

I read a thing that said you are suposed to see all 4 legs and hooves straight.