Overcoming foal rejection

I read “Foal Rejection Studied” (Medical Front, EQUUS 488) with interest. I had a mare several years ago who appeared to be rejecting her colt. I assisted the colt to stand as the mare just lay there moaning. Then she seemed afraid of the colt. She would attack him when he tried to get close to her.

They were in a field when he was born. I tried leaving them alone but watched carefully. No improvement. I finally got a twitch and restrained the mare while the foal searched for milk.

It worked. She let him nurse. But as soon as I removed the twitch, she was chasing him away again. I twitched her every 30 minutes for four hours to let the foal nurse. Finally, after four hours of this routine, she accepted him and became a great mother. Name withheld upon request