It is interesting that you have said that Suzie doesn't seem to be following her usual long sleeping sessions - she has just gone down as I am watching, but she doesn't look too comfortable, keeps thinking about laying flat out, but soon sits up again.
OK so presuming she's not in foaling mode, why do you think she might have changed her usual nightly format? She's been clipped!! She tried laying down as usual and had to get up - not used to feeling the straw against her SKIN!! So having tried the 'lay down' several times, she decided to try to stay standing, but at last she has had to give in as she needs to rest her little legs, and after several tries at going flat out, but not liking the feel of the straw against her clipped side, she again has given in and is now flat out!! Oooop's no she's not, she's up sternal again!
LOL!!
Poor Suzie!! LOL!! Guess by now you will all realise that I'm not in favour of clipping mares. Oh I can see exactly why one would do it and I caan agree with that thinking. But think of the thousands and thousands of foals over time who have been born and have fed successfully off hairy mares. Of course if it means that just one foal is saved from choking, then clipping may be worth it, but what I cannot understand is, if you are saying the foal might get a load of hair in its mouth when feeding, then why do you just clip a mares 'tummy' region. A new born foal, when first searching for the teat/milk bar, will be searching and nibbling all up the mares neck, round her shoulders, between her front legs, under her girth, then, if it reaches the back end, it will be biting and sucking on her stifle, along up and down her bck legs, even round under her tail. We have all watched as the foal totally misses the little 'gap' in front of its dams back leg (the area that has been nicely clipped LOL!!) Within 24 hours our foal has feeding down to an art and dives straight under its Momma, not opening its mouth until its little nose brushes against the teat!
LOL!! Just thought that I would start a lively discussion to keep you all occupied while you are Suzie watching!! So the question up for debate is -- if you are going to clip a mare to protect the foal, then I say that the clip should 'cover' the underside of her jaw, at least half way up and along her neck, across her shoulders, between her front legs, all of her body to at least half way up her sides, inside her back legs, across her gaskin and buttock and round under her tail. Oh and half way down all legs to the knees and hocks!!
Ok throw in your opinions, including your reasons and experiences.
Glad to see that Suzie has decided that the funny feeling of straw against her 'bald' bits is not going to stop her doing her usual long snoozes! (now 1.57 am and at last she has been down for half an hour!)
OK so presuming she's not in foaling mode, why do you think she might have changed her usual nightly format? She's been clipped!! She tried laying down as usual and had to get up - not used to feeling the straw against her SKIN!! So having tried the 'lay down' several times, she decided to try to stay standing, but at last she has had to give in as she needs to rest her little legs, and after several tries at going flat out, but not liking the feel of the straw against her clipped side, she again has given in and is now flat out!! Oooop's no she's not, she's up sternal again!
Poor Suzie!! LOL!! Guess by now you will all realise that I'm not in favour of clipping mares. Oh I can see exactly why one would do it and I caan agree with that thinking. But think of the thousands and thousands of foals over time who have been born and have fed successfully off hairy mares. Of course if it means that just one foal is saved from choking, then clipping may be worth it, but what I cannot understand is, if you are saying the foal might get a load of hair in its mouth when feeding, then why do you just clip a mares 'tummy' region. A new born foal, when first searching for the teat/milk bar, will be searching and nibbling all up the mares neck, round her shoulders, between her front legs, under her girth, then, if it reaches the back end, it will be biting and sucking on her stifle, along up and down her bck legs, even round under her tail. We have all watched as the foal totally misses the little 'gap' in front of its dams back leg (the area that has been nicely clipped LOL!!) Within 24 hours our foal has feeding down to an art and dives straight under its Momma, not opening its mouth until its little nose brushes against the teat!
LOL!! Just thought that I would start a lively discussion to keep you all occupied while you are Suzie watching!! So the question up for debate is -- if you are going to clip a mare to protect the foal, then I say that the clip should 'cover' the underside of her jaw, at least half way up and along her neck, across her shoulders, between her front legs, all of her body to at least half way up her sides, inside her back legs, across her gaskin and buttock and round under her tail. Oh and half way down all legs to the knees and hocks!!
Ok throw in your opinions, including your reasons and experiences.
Glad to see that Suzie has decided that the funny feeling of straw against her 'bald' bits is not going to stop her doing her usual long snoozes! (now 1.57 am and at last she has been down for half an hour!)
