dummy foals

Question
Hi our mare just gave birth this morning 4-12-08 at 7 am and her foal(filly) kept sticking out her tongue and wouldn't nurse and we were getting worried b/c we think she might be a "dummy foal" what should we do. The mare has PLENTY of milk and she gave a normal delivery and all but the baby "Star" kept acting like she was blind "so to say" and Star would stand in the corner and lick the wall do you have and info on what we should do?

Answer
Hi Sydney,

Well, I hope by now your filly has started to nurse.  But here's my opinion... sticking the tongue out is normal for a newborn.  They will stick out their tongue and suck on it, or suck on just about anything except for what they are supposed to.  If she is sucking on her tongue, that tells me she has a good suckle reflex, which is GOOD!  Also, bumping off walls, off mom's legs, is also totally normal for a newborn.  They almost do seem like they act somewhat "blind."  
The best thing to do in that situation, if it has gone HOURS without the baby nursing, you need to have someone hold the mare, or tie her, but I'd prefer someone to hold her, and you need to get milk on your fingers or some in a syringe, put it in the baby's mouth and let her taste it.  Once you have her sucking your finger or syringe, then start guiding your finger or syringe under the mare, preferably from the opposite side of the baby and put your hand or syringe right near the mare's nipples and generally, the foal will find the right spot to nurse.  Put some milk on the mare's nipples so the baby can smell it.  
It's very frustrating at times to have to do this, but it does work.
But it's very important to get colostrum into the foal as soon as possible.  Even if you have to do it with a syringe, just remember not to squirt the milk down the foal's throat as that can cause pneumonia if they aspirate it. But rather just let the foal suck on it.
I wish you the best and hope all goes well.