I haven’t had a real Bucket Fund this month for a few reasons… one was that donations have slowed up a bit so I thought I’d give you all a break since it was just tax season…  The other reason is my intended May Bucket Fund group of horses is still stuck where they were – not yet released into safe and capable hands.  So frustrating…

However, when I saw these photos, I just couldn’t ignore the babies.  Nursemare foals really get to me.

In case you don’t know what a nursemare foal is – and many don’t – here is my quick synopsis:

A nurse mare foal is the by-product of creating a nurse mare.  A nurse mare is an equine wet nurse.  Nurse mares are needed to nurse foals who’s natural mother has been taken away to be re-bred (the TB racing rulebook requires ‘live cover’ which prompts valuable mares to be shipped to the stud for breeding).  The newly orphaned ‘more valuable’ foal is moved onto the nurse mare.  The original foal of the nurse mare is outta luck.

Don’t let anyone tell you that this doesn’t happen.

There are more nursemare foals than we can save, sadly.  Luckily, there are some new programs out there that are trying to change it up a bit…  One is the HIL program (Hormone Induced Lactation).  This successful remedy takes unemployed broodmares and turns them into lactating mares to replace the new dams who must go off to be bred.  In this scenario, there are no nursemare foals created.

THE MID MONTH OF MAY BUCKET FUND: THE LAST CHANCE CORRAL NURSEMARE FOALS!

The Last Chance Corral is a Non-Profit out of Ohio that takes in these very young, newly orphaned foals and gives them the start they deserve.

(It is heartbreaking to think that these tiny foals were ripped from their mothers so that the dams could nurse a more valuable baby.  So sad.  This has inspired me to write a blog about successful former nursemare babies.  If you have a story, please write to me:  horseandman@gmail.com)

Back to saving the nursemare foals…  It takes a lot of time and money to raise orphaned, very new horse babies.  They all need around the clock supervision and handling, milk replacer ($$) and some need medical care.  It is a tough, tiring and back breaking job but somebody’s got to step up and do it!

Thank you, Last Chance Corral!

So, let’s support THE LAST CHANCE CORRAL and their newest nursemare crop!

INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF LAST CHANCE CORRAL 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT CAN WE DO?!

Let’s fill up their Buckets with Milk and Money for these deserving babies!  Let’s give them the life instead of the doom that they were born into!   Or, if you can adopt, please contact The Last Chance Corral directly!   740-594-4336

 

 

PLEASE FORWARD!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

 

 

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