Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

niko — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:33:41 GMT

This is a very sad and common practice. I think it curious that expensive foals can be raised on a lesser mare's milk - perhaps in that case the foal really isn't a "thoroughbred"!? People make no mistake this is common practice and guess what - yes the mares are often roan, paint, appaloosa and other distinctive colors in order to boost the chance that the throwaway foal will have more value as skin.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

summerhorse — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:56:15 GMT

What a tragedy Katie was lost. I can tell from her pictures she was very special indeed.

Anyone wanting to know about the nursemare industry should simply google it, there is a ton of info. out there on the good and the bad. Sadly the bad predominates. But hopefully the purebred industries that use these mares will step up and use induced lactation for nurse mares from now on. There is no need to be bringing more horses into this world whose lives are merely born of convenience and stand a good chance of ending up in a bad place.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Mrs. L — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:31:25 GMT

I am appalled and disgusted at this practice of having nurse mares foal their own offspring only to have these little ones off loaded so mama nurse mare can look after a mama thoroughbred's foal. This takes place because of the almighty $$$$$. Owner's/breeders, have some decency and morals and let your thoroughbred mamas raise their own foals until they are weaned, then you can breed the mares back once more.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Rachel — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:50:56 GMT

"deemed more valuable" sums it all up, the nurse mare is a mare with such strong "mother" instinct that when her foal is wrenched away from her, in her despair she adopts the other foal...

It's all $$$, just like Premarin babies.

Many of these mares would take on the second foal along with their own. It's pathetic (but a rescue's heart takes on the pathetic abuses) that a RESCUE that struggles for every dollar takes up the responsibility of these babies to hand raise these "low value" creatures of God.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Jan — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:37:02 GMT

Thank you for the lovely article honoring both Katie and Goldie. God be with Goldie and may she have continued health along with her babies. RIP little Katie.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Carrie — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:10:05 GMT

I do not see any controversy from the "nurse mares" as long as the foals are raised and cared for. I provided my sister a lovely warmblood cross foal that was bucket raised from a nursemare that we needed for a Thoroughbred foal. You would be amazed at what great riding horses nursemare foals can be. Many of the times it is a draft mare crossed with a thoroughbred stallion so you can often get a nice "american warmblood".

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Dr Sarah — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:10:26 GMT

I have worked with many nurse mares in the past, and it was certainly worthwhile.

However, with induced lactation a very practical reality, and no market for the lower end broodmares, I can't imagine not using these mares to raise foals without having to worry about the possible ethical issues with nurse mare foals. It is more convenient and not difficult either.

I have one mare in my vet practice that has now raised four orphans (two in one memorable year). She is never bred, and the last introduction, with a bit of hormonal assistance, took all of about 30 seconds.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

GinnieJ — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:21:28 GMT

Thank you for sharing another wonderful story with us, Kelsey.

Your story of Katie and Goldie will be in our hearts ... and minds for a long time.

Love the pics, too. You're very good at this, young lady, and we appreciate your many talents.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

smartysgal — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:58:38 GMT

Teardrop.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

DinkyDiva — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:24:04 GMT

I don't know what you guys are talking about! Saying that a nurse mares own foal is compromised because of the "breeders" interest??? You haven't a clue! Look, this is what happens in my experience. A very nurturing mare that is close to foaling; that is normally the case in "Nurse Mares." If for some unsaken reason a mare dies while giving birth to her foal, that foal will then be tested with another mare that has the milk and is known to adopt. Then, when the "nurse mare" has her "own" foal, they usually keep both babies! If a mare loses her foal in birth, they usually are tried as "nurse mares!" Visa Versa! And, if none of these special Mares will take to a foal, you hand raise them with a bottle of specific formula.

I really do not think that breeders with high calliber horse stock would even conceive of sacrificying one foal for the other! That is proposterous if you ask me!!!!!

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

gammyp6 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:01:12 GMT

I always assumed nurse mares were mares who gave birth but their own foal was still-born or died shortly there after. I really had no idea there was an industry for this practice. I just did not know about this very dark side.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Lady A — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:55:13 GMT

I think some people are missing out on the point of this blog. The focus was on how this nursemare help create a special bond between Ms.Riley and the filly, not the fate of nursemare foals or the life of nursemares. For those of us who are curious, look further into the matter. Never base anything on what one article, blog, etc. says.

Thank you Ms. Riley for the touching story.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

sweet terchi — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:05:15 GMT

Thanks for sharing Kelsey. This is a difficult subject for me because I know what happens to nursemares foals. It was good to read that Goldie's last foal is a wanted baby.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

easygoer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:46:41 GMT

I agree with Nina. The nursemare industry is very ugly, and while this story is beautiful, it would have been more accurate to follow the lives of both foals ie. Katie and Goldie's foal. A foal that is born to suit the money interests of breeders with "valuable" horses faces a very uncertain picture. Some are lucky and end up at Last Chance Corral but others are not lucky. The unlucky ones are starved or killed. Those that do live are considered "grade" horses and therefore, very likely to wind up in the slaughter pipeline.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

kathcoates — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:38:40 GMT

Is that true about what happens to the foals of the nurse mares? They should not be killed for the convenience of the another foal. There must be some way to keep them alive too. This is a barbaric practice if true. There is no excuse for avoiding the subject.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

shesfast — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:47:37 GMT

What a positive story. Thank you very much for posting this article, even though it brought tears to my eyes cause i am such a sap. Someday in the next 10 years, I would love to adopt a nurse mare foal. Are nurse mare foals easy to train, and would they make good trail horses? I want to get a good saddle horse to ride in the mountains near my home. A horse that I can grow old with me. when u adopt do u get to raise the foal? I would really love to hand raise a foal.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Marianne — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:57:58 GMT

Hey Nina, don't hate. It is a great story Kelsey. Nursemares have a very important role and I have had the pleasure of dealing with many over the years. The responsibility of what happens with their offspring, lies in the breeders hands. Most of the breeders that I deal with heavily consider the life that the nursemares foal will have and breed her appropriatly. The ones that don't most likely shouldn't own ANY horses. I know Kelsey well and she certainly wouldn't ignore an issue such as this, but shine a light on one of the heroes of the business! Thanks for that!

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

el — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:26:37 GMT

Kelsey--I share you pain. Your story brought tears. My mare had a filly, also in April 2007. She was a beautiful appaloosa, had all the characteristics in all the right places. She had color, conformation, speed, intelligence and a wonderful disposition. Her mom was bred to a halter champion. She was a willing baby, learned everything the 1st or 2nd time. The last thing we taught her was to trailer load, the night we brought her to the equine hospital in Ocala FL to put her down. Her heart had only one chamber functioning. She lived for 4 1/2 months. The cardiac specialists at the hospital said it was a fluke, that it was ok to breed the same pair again. Her full sibling is due to be born in 2 months. Hopefully we will have a longer relationship with this one. Who knows, maybe "Katie" met "Billie" wherever horses go and are running around together.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Lynne Langill — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:08:53 GMT

I agree that this is a cute story. What happens to the foals that the nurse mares give birth to? That is what I would like investigated.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

LouAnn Cingel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:55:10 GMT

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story even though it made me cry. You had such an exceptionally special experience-you've been blessed to be a part of those horses lives.

May their spirits live on!

LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Lmaris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:55:40 GMT

The nurse mare owners I was familiar with did not kill and certainly didn't starve the foals. They ere hand-raised and either sold or given away. They're often good quality riding horses.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

SalemPoe — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:18:29 GMT

Last Chance Corral takes a lot of nurse mare foal babies. Some do end up in good places after all.

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:36:06 GMT

Your little foal runs alongside all the champions. She is there when a racehorse breathes hard at the finish line; she is there when you feed oats to a horse; she is there when you feel the wind on your face-it is a snuggle from her nose. A racehorse never dies because there is always one that resembles or reminds you of the speed or sharp eye on the track and you will say to yourself "She looks and acts like......." I hope you find a little racehorse that needs your special love again. Watch "Afleet of Angels" race she runs for the innocence and all that is good in this world. Take Care

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

DinkyDiva — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:42:31 GMT

Lovely story, thank you for sharing it with us. The ranch that I worked at we had 3-4 mares that would act as nurse mares with their own foals. Meaning: that one mare would have two babies to look after and feed etc.. Sometimes, one mare won't take a certain foal but, the next one you try, they do. Mares are like woman: always changing their minds. lol... I am very thankful for Mares that are willing to do this! Many foals would die without them, that is for sure.

Again, Thank you for the touching story and the beautiful lil chestnut "Katie"

re: Guest Blog: A Nurse Mare Named Goldie

EPence — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:44:47 GMT

I agree with "Nina", the practice should be confronted more honestly than this sentimental article depicts.