The arrival of a new foal is the culmination of planning, hopes and dreams—unless something goes wrong.

Only about 5 percent of mares experience foaling difficulties, but it happens. Sometimes a mare dies during or shortly after foaling. Some mares reject their foals, while others don’t produce adequate milk or get seriously injured and can’t care for their babies.

In any of these scenarios, prompt intervention is needed to give the foal its best chance for survival.

Raising a “bottle baby” is certainly possible, but not the best option for a foal, who ideally needs to be raised by a horse to be properly socialized.

Enter the nurse mare.

In the traditional nurse mare business, mares are bred to have a foal each year so they’re available for lease if needed to raise another mare’s foal. When that nurse mare is called into duty, her own foal is left behind to be raised on milk replacer. Often called “throwaway foals,” some of them end up in the slaughter pipeline.

The nurse mare industry has long been a reality, but not one that people spoke of with pride. It’s a tragic irony that a business created to save valuable foals makes orphans out of others.

Using a More Ethical Option

As a young woman, Laura Phoenix worked in the traditional nurse mare business, but grieved over the brutal truth of those foals left behind.

“It was always sad,” she says. “I didn’t like coming home to the orphans.” She later left the business because of that aspect.

Decades later, she learned about the concept of hormonally induced lactation (HIL). With HIL, mares are safely brought into milk production without being pregnant and having a foal.

In 2011, Phoenix gave it a try with two of her mares. After finding demand for the service, she started adding more mares. Today, Phoenix owns and operates Nursemares of the Northeast at her home base in Walton, N.Y., and Nursemares of Kentucky in Paris, Ky.

Raised on a working horse farm in Virginia, Bronwyn Watts became a professional groom, working at the highest levels of eventing competition for years.

She’d worked in the horse industry her whole life, but learned about the traditional nurse mare business by reading an article in 2017. This inspired her to look for a more ethical way to help orphans.

After researching HIL, she got her first two mares and in 2018, launched ColdSpring Nurse Mares, LLC, in Ocala, Fla.

Although their businesses are totally independent, Phoenix and Watts are both driven by the same passion.

How HIL Works

With HIL, mares are given hormones for a short period to mimic late-stage pregnancy and stimulate milk production, explains Alan Riggs, DVM, a veterinarian with Peterson Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, Fla.

After a brief hormone protocol, the mare has mammary gland development. It typically takes anywhere from five to 10 days for her to come into milk. Hand milking encourages further milk production until a foal is nursing her.

“Once the mares come into milk, they are milked at least twice a day to keep up the milk production. This is done until a foal is on them. It’s completely safe for the mare and safe for the foals,” notes Riggs, who specializes in reproduction.

Each mare is different, and the protocol can be adjusted for each individual.

“With [HIL], lactation can be timed to when the mares will be needed,” he adds. “By far the biggest benefit is not having a foal that becomes an orphan.”

Phoenix and Watts each have their own unique protocols they’ve developed over time and personal experience.

“The mares have 21 days of hormonal support protocol, and then they’re treated just like any other mare,” says Phoenix. “They dry up after weaning just like a mare who’s had her own foal.”

Because one never knows when a nurse mare will be needed, Phoenix and Watts both keep mares ready in different stages of protocol throughout foaling season.

Bonding with the Foal

The traditional nurse mare leaves her own foal at home, and must often be sedated, blindfolded, hobbled and forced to accept the orphan foal. That trauma is never part of the process with HIL nurse mares and proper pairing.

But just having a lactating mare doesn’t ensure success. The strategy is pairing the right mare with the orphaned foal so they can bond quickly and thrive together.

“There’s a lot of misconception that any lactating mare will make a nurse mare,” says Watts. “It’s a very delicate situation. You have to really know the mare and know what you’re doing bonding mare and foal.”

Great care goes into matching mare and foal, taking into consideration size, personality, history, and health of the foal.

If the foal is having health issues on top of being orphaned, it takes just the right nurse mare to fill the spot. Sometimes the foal is sick and already in the clinic. This situation requires a mare who is not only going to bond with the baby, but whose personality can handle the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) setting.

The mare is hauled to the foal’s location. Every effort is made to ensure that conditions are optimal for bonding. The less distraction, the better. A team of two people is optimal: one to safely handle the foal and one to handle the mare.

The mare is brought into the stall with the foal and the handlers stay in place until the foal is nursing, which helps cement the bond.

“The bonding process is dictated by the mare,” says Phoenix. “Safety is the No. 1 thing, so we take every precaution.”

Pairing can take only minutes with very young foals but can take a little longer if the orphan is older when he loses his biological mother.

What Makes a Good Nurse Mare

What makes a good nurse mare? For starters, she must previously have had her own foals and proven to be a doting mother with good milk production.

Personality is a crucial factor. Nurse mares are sent to both small farms and large breeding operations. Either way, they need to be easy to catch and handle.

Vices like stall walking or weaving will disqualify a mare, as will aggression or serious lameness issues, such as laminitis.

“If a mare is cribber, that’s not a deal breaker if she’s a good mom, but she will wear a crib collar,” says Phoenix.

Since most nurse mares are on the older side, averaging late teens to 20s, age isn’t a negative factor, providing the mare is healthy.

Both Phoenix, who has 220 mares, and Watts, who has 80, have built their herds through donations. Mares often come from clients who want their retired broodmares to have great homes.

Although many are retired Thoroughbreds, there are plenty of other breeds in the mix, including warmbloods, Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Arabians, Standardbreds, and draft crosses.

For most nurse mares, raising orphans is their third career.

“In the beginning, we said we were saving a life,” says Phoenix. “However, we quickly realized we’re saving three: the unwanted broodmare, the client foal, and the throwaway foal.”

Situations with Unusual Orphans

Not every client who calls needs a nurse mare for a horse foal. On occasion, baby equines of different species need a mom.

In 2023, Nursemares of Kentucky came to the rescue when a zebra foal lost its mother. In addition to their dramatic stripes, zebras don’t vocalize like horses, so it required just the right nurse mare to adopt this unusual newborn.

“The client was licensed to have exotic animals, but they didn’t have the facilities to keep them in for bonding, so they brought the zebra foal to us,” says Phoenix, who had prepped two mares for the unlikely orphan.

The first mare took to the zebra immediately and the two were able to return to the owner’s farm within four days.

ColdSpring Nurse Mares has provided nurse mares for three donkey foals. One of these was a Poitou, a rare long-haired French donkey breed that is considered endangered.

Watts says her nurse mare who raised the Poitou donkey foal was known for her powerful mothering instincts and had even nursed a calf.

Lease Arrangements for Nurse Mares

Nurse mares are leased for a flat fee plus delivery charge, which varies depending on distance. Between Phoenix and Watts, their nurse mares have been sent to clients in the entire eastern half of the U.S. and beyond.

Foal owners lease the mare for as many months as needed to nurse the baby. During that time, the lessee is responsible for all mare care (feed, hoof care and deworming), as well as shipping the mare home after weaning.

In the traditional nurse mare business, the lessee is required to breed the mare back, but obviously, this isn’t required with HIL nurse mares.

“What these mares do is so special,” says Watts. “We’re giving these older broodmares a job they love to do, helping an orphan foal, and not contributing to the population of unwanted horses. You can’t go wrong with this.”

Phoenix agrees.

“Even with us putting out this many mares, I’m still shocked to find out so many people don’t know about this option,” she says. “These nurse mares are heaven sent. When we can fill that need without having an unwanted foal, everybody feels good at the end of the day.”

This article about the improving practices of the nurse mare industry appeared in the March 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How the Nurse Mare Industry is Changing for the Better appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Raising a foal is a long-held dream for many horse lovers. Perhaps you’d like to do it without adding a new breeding to the horse population and feel that adopting an orphan foal is the perfect solution. But unlike the decision to adopt or raise an adult horse, this choice can be fraught with challenges: Globally, the population of foals available for adoption is low. However, opportunities do pop up occasionally.

Here’s what you need to know to prepare to help a foal in need.

Optimal Timing

According to Emily Weiss, Ph.D., vice president of ASPCA Equine Welfare, when coming to the aid of an orphan foal, the first step is to try pairing that foal with a nurse mare.

“These young foals need a lot of attention,” she explains. “We want to make sure they have tactile experiences, because there is a huge amount of brain development that’s going on. These foals can end up being sensitive to sound or touch. It’s important to make sure they have experiences that are similar to when they were with a mare.”

Adoption can be considered an appropriate next step once the foal has been placed with a nurse mare or their situation has otherwise been stabilized. Because their requirements are different, pairing orphan or nurse mare foals with just the right person is a critical part of the adoption process. Timing is everything.

“[The age at which] foals are adopted often depends on when we have the right person to adopt them,” Weiss says. “The more attention they can get, the better. Some of our Right Horse Adoption Partner organizations are adopting them out [when they have a match] to people who can give them what they need, while others keep them until they are older.”

If the foal is a colt, gelding age (typically between 6 and 12 months) is often a factor when considering when to put an individual foal up for adoption. According to Weiss, these foals will often either be gelded before adoption, have an agreement in place that the foal comes back to the adoption center for gelding, or have the adopter provide confirmation that the gelding procedure took place.

Special Considerations

If you are considering adopting an orphan or nurse mare foal, it’s important to not only think about the large commitment of time involved, but also your facilities. Ask yourself the following questions:

◆ Do I have time to adequately accustom my new foal to stress-free, basic handling? At a minimum, you’ll want to teach your foal to be led and become comfortable with the handling required for routine vaccinations, deworming, and farrier care. It’s easy to become distracted by the foal’s small size. Remember, some behaviors may be cute for a foal but can be downright dangerous when performed by an adult horse.

Examples of these behavior include small things, such as nibbling, to large things, such as hugging their handler with their neck and front leg. Establishing a respectful relationship with a foal at this young age is paramount.

◆ Am I well acquainted with the vaccination and deworming schedules for a foal? For example, a foal requires a series of vaccinations when getting his first shots rather than a single annual booster.

◆ Do I know enough about the nutritional management of a young foal? As with vaccination and deworming, these requirements differ from those of an adult horse.

In addition to bottle feeding or mare’s milk, you’ll want to learn at what age to introduce feed, what appropriate feed options are, the correct amount to feed, and creep feeding, all with an eye toward meeting your foal’s unique nutritional needs.

◆ Are my facilities set up to handle a foal? While many facility requirements for foals and adult horses are similar, there are some key differences. You will need to make sure that your fencing, stall space, waterers, feed buckets, et cetera, are all set up to accommodate the size of the horse you are adopting.

◆ Can I accommodate additional enrichment beyond that traditionally provided for adult horses? According to Weiss, foals have hyper-oral behaviors and a need for stimuli.

“Make sure you have lots of enrichment around,” she explains. “The more big, colorful things you can have, the better.”

She encourages flapping tarps and flags, umbrellas, and large toy balls to help youngsters become comfortable with a variety of sights, sounds, and smells, all while in the confines of a safe environment. This helps the foal to build the right neural connections. As an adopter of a foal, you’re responsible for a lot of the brain development that occurs during the first year of life.

Buddy Power

Additionally, horses are herd animals and can experience significant stress when housed alone. To reduce psychological stress that may also physically affect the foal, it is vital that you have at least one other horse that can serve as a companion for the foal.

Companion horses can also help keep behavioral issues at bay by teaching the foal boundaries and how to interact with other horses. However, not having a companion horse already in place does not preclude adoption.

“We are happy to find someone a companion horse,” Weiss says.

While an enormous undertaking, the decision to adopt a foal can be a rewarding experience and an opportunity to start with a clean slate, molding your new young horse into the perfect companion.

This article about adopting an orphan foal appeared in the March 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Have a foal due this spring? Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like an equine youngster to add happiness, fun, and a dash of cuteness to your barn. But along with the excitement comes a big responsibility—a young foal’s early training during this critical time is up to you, and it’s important to make these first simple “lessons” calm and beneficial.

What’s the first step on the road to being a “big horse?” Halter training the foal. Sure, it’s true that many foals are happy to just follow their dams everywhere, but allowing your foal to do this for too long doesn’t teach him anything for the future. For his sake and yours, halter training your foal is a must-do task. Here are a few tips that can help you successfully complete this important step.

Don’t wait too long to halter train your foal

This first tip may seem obvious, but it’s well worth noting. The time to teach your young horse to lead is when he’s small, easy to handle, and isn’t already set in his ways (although some foals seem to have opinions from day one!) Waiting until he’s several months old—or worse, waiting until he’s a yearling or two-year-old—will turn this normally simple training job into a difficult project, as your foal will weigh a lot more and be much stronger. Another added bonus to halter breaking your foal while he’s young is that he’ll generally want to follow along with mom, and you can use this tendency to your advantage.

Work with your foal every day

Your foal won’t learn much if lessons are spaced far apart. A small amount of work each day (or as close to daily as possible) is key to turning him into a model citizen on the lead rope. These lessons don’t need to be—and shouldn’t be—long or complicated. Simple tasks like taking him and his dam from the barn to the pasture and back can serve as excellent “learning to lead” lessons. Ten or fifteen minutes of daily practice should be all you really need.

Guide—don’t pull when halter training

When your foal is young, he’s delicate, and you need to be careful with him. It’s a good idea to let him get used to the feeling of wearing a halter, but you don’t want to actually apply any pressure to it (his neck isn’t very strong yet, and he also might begin trying to back up fast or flip over). Instead, let him follow behind his mom (with someone else leading her) and teach him to walk alongside of you by “guiding” his body with one arm. You may also need to put an arm or a foal “rump rope” around his hindquarters to encourage him forward. Hold the lead rope, but only use it for slight guiding. Don’t let the foal’s mom get too far ahead, or he might get upset, but just stay close and allow him to get used to you walking alongside. Gradually, as he gets older and more confident, you’ll be able to remove your “guide” arm and begin to lead him like a normal horse.

Ask for assistance

If you’re unsure about handling your foal, be sure to get assistance from someone who has experience. You definitely want to keep yourself and your foal safe during this process, and you also want it to be a productive, positive time for everyone. Enjoy your new foal!

The post Tips for Halter Training Foals appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Read to learn about horse industry careers that don’t require a college degree.

When it’s time for a career change or to take on a part-time job, horse enthusiasts often consider equine-industry vocations as a way to combine a love for horses and the need for a paycheck. So what types of jobs are out there, and are there immediate employment opportunities within a horse career, especially without the need for a college degree?

“Almost any entry- to mid-level position in the equine industry is in high demand,” says Laurie Mays, equine talent pipeline project manager for the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) in Lexington, Ky. “Farms, tracks, veterinary clinics, horse shippers, et cetera, are desperate for people with equine handling and industry experience. Someone who is willing to work hard will succeed, no problem.”

Here are some highlights for four equine-related jobs that could serve as a second career or fit into a schedule as a part-time horse job, without the person having to get a college degree.

Horse Transport Driver

JOB DESCRIPTION: This job involves semi-trailer horse transport, short-distance smaller van driving, or pickup truck and trailer driving to move a client’s horses from point A to point B. You must have experience in handling horses. For driving semis, a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required, but for smaller horse vans a Class B CDL is sufficient; a regular driver’s license may be enough for pickup truck and trailer under 26,000 pounds.

A few years of experience driving semis, a clean driving record and a Department of Transportation certified medical card are also required to land a job driving the “big rigs” for a horse transport company. These companies also offer other jobs, such as dispatchers, office personnel, mechanics and truck/trailer washing and restocking.

WHERE TO FIND JOB TRAINING: Truck driving school can be a good place to start,
but further driving experience is needed in order to drive a horse carrier semi. Some horse transport companies will partner experienced drivers with someone wanting to gain more experience.

The National Horse Carriers Association offers some useful information and contacts on their website (www.nationalhorsecarriers.com).

JOB OUTLOOK/AVAILABILITY: Horse transportation industry leaders report a great need for drivers. Nationally, all types of commercial semi drivers are in high demand.

TIPS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS: DJ Johnson, owner of Johnson Horse Transportation in Shartlesville, Penn., has been in the business for 27 years. His wife Elizabeth works with him as well, and they currently run over 30 trucks going to horse shows across North America.

“There are two important things that we look for with our drivers: first is the ability to handle horses and the second is safety,” says DJ. “Drivers need to be available to work weekends, have horse experience and the ability to read the animal. The care of the animals is of utmost importance to us.”

Vonnie Gesinske, 54, of Lexington, Ky., started driving a pickup and gooseneck trailer for Johnson Horse Transport about a year and a half ago. She shares her thoughts about her second-act horse industry career sans specialized degree.

“After meeting DJ and Elizabeth, I decided that getting back into the horse business as a driver sounded like a great opportunity. I had trained and bred Quarter Horses and Paint Horses professionally for over 25 years and been out of it for about 10 years. I was excited to be involved with a company that not only has very high-end show horses to haul, but very nice equipment to drive. Being able to stay local and be home a great deal was the icing on the cake.”

Foaling Barn Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a seasonal job from about mid-December through June each year, usually on duty during the night. Working for a breeding farm manager or owner, the foaling assistant keeps watch over pregnant mares, sometimes assists in foaling, and contacts appropriate people (farm manager/owner, veterinarian) for assistance when the mare shows early signs of labor. May also include some stall cleaning, feeding/watering and turnout. Some record-keeping such as noting the mares’ activities at hourly checks and foaling dates and times may be required.

Knowledge of horses is important, especially of broodmares and the signs of labor. Assisting a foaling mare can be a demanding job, so the person filling this position should be relatively physically fit. The job requires a vigilant, reliable person who is intuitive and detail-oriented.

WHERE TO FIND JOB TRAINING: Attend an equine reproductive short course. Several universities and a few privately owned equine reproduction service and supply companies offer them. Volunteer to shadow experienced staff at a farm or a vet clinic during foaling season.

JOB OUTLOOK/AVAILABILITY: This horse career outlook is quite good for those with some experience, especially on larger Thoroughbred and Standardbred farms (and no degree needed). There are also some job openings at farms that breed western performance or English sport horses.

TIPS FROM AN INDUSTRY EXPERT: Ben Tucker of Lexington, Ky., has been in the horse business for over 40 years, including operating a custom foal-watch agency that provides trained personnel to assist in foaling barns on area farms. He lists some key traits a good foaling barn assistant should have.

“You have to be able to stay up at night and not fall asleep; it can be a disaster if you miss a mare starting to foal. Come January 1st, every year the need for people to foal watch around here is overwhelming.”

Horse Show Announcer

JOB DESCRIPTION: Impart knowledge, entertain spectators, and direct traffic, all over a microphone. An announcer must have extensive knowledge of equestrian sports in general, as well as the particular discipline or breed at a show, and also have familiarity with the rule books involved.

You must be able to multitask and keep a cool head even when things are chaotic; be comfortable using a microphone and electronic sound equipment; and be able to speak in a clear, concise and pleasant manner. And while a college degree in certain areas could provide useful skills, it’s not required for this horse career. Some announcers also provide their own sound equipment to the show as part of their fee. Good people skills and a flexible, quick-thinking nature are important for this job.

WHERE TO FIND JOB TRAINING: Go to large shows/events and observe professional announcers at work; intern with a professional announcer. Volunteer to announce at schooling shows to gain experience. Classes in public speaking, acting, auctioneering or broadcast journalism can all help prepare someone for a career in announcing.

JOB OUTLOOK/AVAILABILITY: Landing an announcing gig at top-level shows and events can be quite competitive, but there are often openings at local shows and events. Working as an assistant to an established professional is also a possibility.

TIPS FROM AN INDUSTRY EXPERT: A native of Devon, England, Nigel Casserley has been “the voice” of a number of FEI-level eventing competitions around North America, as well as FEI-level driving and dressage, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and Grade I steeplechase racing. He offers the following advice for anyone interested in this career.

“You have to know the sport and have knowledge of those who are competing in it. When I started announcing, I created rider ‘bio’ sheets for them to fill out. The most important thing is not to get flustered. You have to learn to temper what you are receiving from the other end of a radio and not let it show over the microphone. A great horse show announcer gives the most information in the fewest number of words. And you must be blessed with a voice that amplifies well.”

Tack Repair and Saddle Fitting

JOB DESCRIPTION: Work with leather and other materials using hand and machine tools to create and repair saddles, bridles and other leather goods. Saddle fitters use evaluation methods and tools to properly fit saddles to the horse and rider.

Both career paths must have good powers of observation and a working knowledge of horse conformation. Good hand-eye coordination is important for working with the tools. A nice set of hand tools and a leather sewing machine can rack up an investment of as much as $5,000 to $8,000, although a basic set of tools and a stitcher for repairs could be purchased for closer to $2,000 to $3,000.

WHERE TO FIND JOB TRAINING: The North American Saddlery School in Warfordsburg, Penn., offers several levels of classes in saddle and bridle making and repairs, as well as saddle fitting, with the chance for participants to become certified at each level, with the ultimate goal of achieving either a Master Saddler or Master Saddle Fitter designation through the United Kingdom Society of Master Saddler’s guild system.

Another option is to apprentice with an experienced saddle maker. There are also other saddle-fitting experts who offer training sessions in saddle fitting, such as Jochen Schleese of Schleese Saddlery.

JOB AVAILABILITY: There is a demand for tack repair and tack-fitting services in North America. Saddle making takes more of a time commitment and investment and is harder to break into than repairs and fitting.

TIPS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS: Annette Gavin, a Master Qualified Saddle Fitter and owner of HCS/USA Saddlery, is a driving force behind the North American Saddlery School.

“Our school is a hands-on, one-on-one learning process,” says Gavin. “People come many times over a few years to learn new skills, then go back to practice and do repairs and reflockings before returning to gain more experience. All courses have a certification of completion.

We train for both the English and western market. Our student body is about two-thirds women and one-third men. We have retirees and career changers, as well as young people taking our classes.”

Master saddle maker Clay Sharp of Oregon is also an accomplished farrier and has worked on many ranches across North America, giving him a vast knowledge of equines of all shapes and sizes. He and his wife Robin own Sharp Saddlery, where they have been making saddles, bridles, and other leather goods for over 20 years. Sharp has also taught clinics on saddle fitting and tree making.

“A lot of people tend to focus on the artistry of a saddle, but I think the mechanics of a saddle are far more important,” says Sharp. “We want the saddles to function 100 percent and then look pretty after that. I think a high degree of knowledge of a horse and how it moves is important. Common sense, experience and the ability to learn are also important elements in saddle making. A saddle maker should always be striving to make a better product.”

This article on finding a second horse career that doesn’t require a degree appeared in the January 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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