Update on Solidare's Foal

Knowing that the day Solidare might be leaving us, I had decided to turn Dare out with Solidare and her foal. Over the weeks a relationship has developed between the colt and his sister that I hoped would be comforting to him if the day did arise he lost his mother.

Many times I've seen the colt off out of Solidare's reach up to mischief. Solidare would call out to him to return to her side, or cease whatever trouble he was doing, and often times the colt would ignore that request.

Whenever that happened, Dare would take over the role of mother and go to retrieve the disobedient colt. All the way back to Solidare's side Dare would scold the bratty colt making sure he understood ignoring his mother is not allowed.

The bond that has developed between the two through these interactions is now getting the colt through this tough time. Dare lives in the stall right next to where this colt was born and still inhabits. Dare's stall opens right into a small paddock that borders that stall so she can visit the colt whenever he needs comfort.

Most of the time we go to check on him, Dare can be seen right there hanging her head over the stall wall. Right next to her on the other side of the wall is the colt now sticking as close to Dare as he can get.

The only time she leaves the colt's side is to eat. He cries as she goes but as soon as he gets his own food he goes right to work on his meal and is good. With this arrangement there has been very little crying on his part. I wish I could say the same for me but I know that's unreasonable. Still I'm happy to see that we've managed to keep the stress level down for the colt.

I haven't tried turning him out yet because I don't want to take the chance he might be silly and try taking a fence trying to track down his absent mother. That's usually been the case when any of Solidare's foals have been weaned and while I know these circumstances are different, I just don't want to take the risk.

I suspect when I so turn the two out together the colt will probably try to nurse. I wouldn't be surprised for Dare to allow that, Solidare always did. It was so funny to see the looks from foals when there was no milk. I'll keep you apprised of how this develops.

I tried to take pictures of him nuzzling on Dare. As soon as I entered the stall with the camera, the little varmint came over to investigate and I couldn't get the light right or anything but the very end of his muzzle. Will have to try again when I can get some help.

Thanks so much everyone for your kind thoughts, they have really helped in this tough time.

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