QuestionOk, we rescued a mini mare last oct/nov. SHe was in bad condition her feet were so bad and long the farrier used a saw to get the excess off! We were told she lived in a herd with a few stallions. So now she is very round and belly is sagging. We think she may have it in the next 15-30 days. I have heard minis are different from big horses. We have raised paints and quarter horses for 40 + years and never had a problem with our brood mares. What are the differences in a mini foaling, common problems, what we need to watch for (other then bag filling and wax on tips). We were told shes had other foals since shes about 10-12 years old. We need to know all there is about minis. Also about our stallion mini that was rescued 2 years ago, hes going to be 3 this year he seams to be studdy even to the big mares (they're in seperate pens) will be be ok turned out with the mare and foal after a month or two? He and her also live with a 2 yearold rescued mini gelding will this change things? Will the stud be agressive to the gelding while the mare is in heat? Do you think he'll be mean to the foal? The mare bosses both the golding and stud around. I guess tell me what I need to know about minis!! Please help! I live in a small town and getting to a bookstore is impossible right now. ALl your help that you can give would be wonderful. (Ps- yes we rescue many horses and probably should have found out more when we got the minis but I just had to get them out of their situations!) But first please help with out bout to be baby and what we should be after. We do plan to keep the mare and foal seperate from the others for at least a month! thanks
Answer
Fancy & Violet
Hi Sunnie-
Thanks for your question(s). Good for you for helping the horses. Minis are different then big horses but not THAT different. For one thing- they don't know they are small- thus your stallion's behavior. Many breeding operations use mini for teasers as they are easier to handle. I wouldn't EVER put the stallion with the mare and baby and probably not with the gelding, either. Would you put a quarter horse or paint stud in a mare and baby herd? Since you are concerned with rescuing horses why don't you have him gelded and then they can all be out together after the baby is older. As far as Mom goes- depending on how her nutrition was, since she has had other babies she will most likely do fine. If you've had large horse babies you know most of what to look for and what can go wrong. Keep them separate and quiet when it's time and have a vet on call. Here's a good page I found on minis-
http://www.scottcreek.com/MiniFacts.htm (cut and paste it in your browser).
Hope this helps. Best, Toni
