Creep Feed
CREEP FEED is the term given to the concentrated feed that is traditionally fed to young horses (and cows) in a special “creep” feeder—an area that only the young ones can access, while the mothers and any other full-size animals can’t. The benefit is that it allows the young foals to eat a high protein diet (16-18
percent protein) basically free choice without the mares eating it. With time the foal will eat more and more of the concentrate and less and less milk. Any high protein feed will do, although some feed companies make specific
feed for this purpose. Once the foal is weaned from its mother, it no longer needs to be fed in this way, since at that time it will eat by itself anyway. v
the foal. The mare’s udder is then cleaned and her hind legs hobbled. Now the foal is introduced and gently moved towards the udder. Most mares have already decided that they want the foal at this point, but may need a little convincing to allow it to nurse. Vaginal-cervical stimulation (vigorous massage of the vaginal area for about five minutes) can be performed in more resistant mares. This allows for the central brain release of oxytocin and helps those “loving feelings” to surface. Once the mare has accepted the foal, the domperidone
is continued for another two weeks. The foal is still given the option of milk replacer in a bucket, but should consume less and less in the next two weeks as the milk of the replacement mare takes over. Creating your own nurse mare offers many advantages.
First, you can use a mare that is otherwise just hanging out and eating your food. She has just been given an important job. Second, the foal grows up normally socialized, a very important benefit.
The Orphan Without a Nurse Mare If a mare is absolutely not available, raising the foal on a bucket with milk replacer is also possible. All orphans should be drinking out of a bucket by the time they are two days old. Bucket feeding is much less labor intensive and foals learn the concept fast. It also helps remove the continual association of food with humans. Older foals become very aggressive when looking for their milk supply, and you don’t want to be the recipient of over-aggressive nudging, head slinging and even kicking. To teach bucket drinking, use a clean, brightly colored small bucket that the foal can easily get its head into. Allow the foal to work up a little hunger, then mix up the commercial milk replacer according to instructions. Mix up a gallon at a time so that the foal does not have to lower its head into the bucket too far to nurse. Have one person hold the foal while the other person dips
her finger into the milk and allows the foal to suckle the finger. Slowly move the finger towards the bucket until the foal is suckling the finger underneath the milk. Most foals will learn to suck up the milk after a few tries. Once the foal is comfortable with the concept, you will be able to hang the bucket full of milk and leave the foal alone to continue your other chores. Commercial foal replacers can be left out for up to twelve hours, but I recommend removing any unused portion after four to six hours, cleaning the bucket thoroughly, and mixing up fresh product.
All efforts should be made to create a non-human
companion for this foal. It could be a gentle gelding, a mini or even a goat. The foal needs to be turned out in a small paddock with this companion, but fed separately. Solid food can be introduced at two weeks of age, and
by two to four months of age a significant part of the diet should be a 16- to 18-percent creep feed and good quality hay. (See sidebar above for more information about creep feeding.) Once the foal is eating about one pound of creep feed per 100 pounds of body weight, weaning from milk can be easily achieved. As soon as possible, the foal should be turned out with other weaned foals of similar age. Take the time to teach manners and respect. Early ground training can be very helpful. Try not to feed the foal by hand and do not accept behavior that its dam would not tolerate, such as biting and kicking.
Take Care! There is no doubt that raising an orphan is time consuming and expensive and can be doubly heartbreaking if the foal
Wonder, a 5-year-old, 18.2 hand Hanoverian x TB, was originally an orphan foal. His dam died shortly after birth and he was first raised on milk replacer and then with a “lactation-induced” mare. His rider is Zoe Hernandez and owner is Ingrid Rockefeller.
Warmbloods Today 45
Courtesy Ingrid Rockefeller
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