Foal Handling

Question
We have a shire mare who we bred with a paint stud.  Foal was just born (6 days old now).  We were able to handle the foal within hours of birth.  However starting on day 2 mom became VERY evasive and protective and we are lucky if we can get close to the baby twice a day and then just for a quick pet.  This is not how I wanted it.  Currently they are in about 1/2 acre of pasture that has a run in shed (not currently enclosed as a stall -- could be done, but is not currently) we have a 60' round pen with sand in that area as well (we have the door tied open in case the baby were to get in so the mama could as well).  We had the vet out yesterday to check them out.  Took a bit to catch mama but finally did, led them both into the round pen (baby just followed).  We had someone hold mama while we worked with baby; took a bit to catch and then she squealed like a pig the entire time (maybe 4 minutes or so).  Mama kind of grunted, but kept relatively under control until the other horses (in an adjoining pasture) all bolted over to see what we were doing to the baby then mama wanted to kick those guys thru the double fence.  It took 4 of us -- vet assistant holding squealing baby (had never heard one squeal so constantly), vet to do the check and eventually draw blood, one to hold the mama and keep her from hurting everyone else, and one to shoo the other horses away so mama wouldn't get so excited.

So, question:  is this normal?  Normally, if a horse behaved like this I would round pen them until they wanted to stand still and be with me; but that doesn't seem right.  When we try to approach baby she knows to hang out right at mama's rear end (who threatens to kick out but hasn't actually given it a "real" effort).  HELP.

Answer
HI CONNIE
SORRY SO LATE A FAMILY DEATH TO KEEP ME OFFLINE.

THE MARE IS SOMEWHAT HIGH STRUNG, NERVOUS, AND SCARED OF THE OTHER HORSES TO HARM HER BABY FOAL.
SHE NEEDS CONFINED WITH HER AND HANDLE BOTH TOGETHER, KEEP MARE ON A ROPE OR LEAD, LEAD HER ABOUT WITH THE FOAL WITH FOAL HALTER ON ALSO LEADING WITH LEAD.
BE FIRM IN COMMANDS, KEEP AWAY FROM HER HIND FEET, AND SHE COULD REACH OUT AND BITE, RARE, STUDS DO THIS MORE THAN MARES.
U MUST WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM WITH THE OTHER HORSES PUT AWAY FAR ENOUGHT ITS NO THREAT FOR THE MARE.  SHE WILL CALM DOWN WITH TONS OF LEADING, PETTING AND TALKING TO HER WITH THE FOAL UNDER CONTROL AS WELL.
I PONIED YOUNG FOALS ALONG SIDE THE MARES WITH NO PROBLEM, BUT I WORKED FROM THE DAY I FOALED THE BABY TO TRUST ME AND NO HARM I WOULD DO TO EITHER, MY MARES TRUSTED ME AND KNEW I WAS THERE TO HELP AND THROUGHOUT.
I WORKED HARD WITH MY HORSES, STUDS AND THEY RESPECTED MY HARSH WORDS WHEN UPSET, THEY KNEW A YANK ON THE LEAD MEANT STOP OR BEHAVE.
A YOUNG FOAL NEEDS A HALTER PLACED ON SOON AS POSSIBLE, TIE THE MARE UP AND HANDLE THE FOAL AN HOUR A DAY OR SO.  WHEN SHE IS COMFORTABLE AND TRUSTS U UNTIE HER AND DO THE SAME WITH BOTH, LEADING AND USE THE WORD, EASY ALOT IT IS SOOTHING TO HORSES.
PET THE MARE AS U WORK WITH HER, BRUSH BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER, GET HER UNDER CONTROL WITH PATIENCE AND LOVE.  SHE MUST KNOW ONE OF U TO TRUST YOUR NOT GOING TO HARM HER BABY, IF THIS IS A FIRST FOAL FOR HER SHE WILL SETTLE DOWN AND NEXT ONE WILL BE EASIER FOR HER TO TRUST U.
WORK, PATIENCE AND LEADING, BRUSHING OR GROOMING BOTH AND WORK WITH THE LEGS OF THE FOAL ALOT ALSO.  WHILE IS IT SMALL AND NOT SO STRONG DO IT ALL SO IT FEARS NOTHING.

KIND REGARDS
PATT
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