Conference noted::equitation

    Hi Gwen,
    
    If it were me I guess it would depend on what I wanted to do with the
    horse.  First off, if the horse is in any kind of pain I would 
    definitly have it put down, I don't believe in selfishness when it
    comes to an animal that is suffering.  Secondly, do they plan to
    ride it?  If so, it doesn't sound like a safe mount if it is unable
    to bend the leg.  If they really like the horse, it isn't suffering,
    they have enough room to keep it separate from the foal and
    can afford to feed a horse that isn't able to do anything maybe they
    should keep it.  
    
    Just my two cents!
    
    Linda
    

    
    This is a tuff one, espally if you are attached to the horse.
    I personal would'nt of bought her in the first place..but that's
    life..
    
    To answer your question, I agree w/ .1  is she in pain, if so I
    to would put her down, if she is not in pain and they do want to
    ride her, I would want to double and re-double check her leg to
    see if it will be a sound leg..  If she will not take to the baby
    and becomes a pain to have around I would sell her but not to a
    begginer but a novice or an expert,,atlest it sounds like she would
    need some who knows what they are doing .  But hats off to your
    friends who would want to take somthing like her on..I wish them
    luck w/ there decision..keep us posted
    
    just my opionin

    I would wait until the spring to see if she can bend her leg.  If
    she can, then I would give her away as a companion horse.  Sounds
    like she's had a pretty rough life and was very lucky to find 
    such caring and loving people to take her in and straighten 
    her out.  Of course the other horse has been part of the family 
    for years.  So I'd give her to somebody equally loving and caring 
    to keep another horse company (even a free lease) and see how it 
    works.  This sounds like a good alternative all around because
    it frees up the stall for the new one.  Many people need companion
    horses for their horses.  If she is unable to bend her leg, still
    see if someone might take her for a companion.  There are many
    caring people out there.  I wish them and especially the #2 mare
    luck!
    
    Bonni

    
    Sounds like this woman has already made the decision to "not put
    down" the horse.
    
    It may look like the mare hates the foal...but she is responding
    naturally towards the "male" foal because his presence bothers her.
    I have a sweet, never abused in her life, and soo gentle mare that
    reacted the same way to a foal of the "male" persuasion last year,
    which shocked the socks off of me. The Vet said that the only thing
    I could do was to keep them seperated or try putting them together
    in an area that was big enough so that the mare couldn't trap the
    foal and he could get away if needed. This years filly she gets along 
    great with. I have to admit the way the mare lunged and tried to
    bite the colt last year was a little frightening...but it is a 
    pretty common reaction and it doesn't mean the mare is of poor
    temperment, for whatever reason..the foal upsets your mare. Trying
    to put the 2 together is risky and could result in injury. Some
    times the mother will protect a foal...but with a male often they
    are not as protective as with a filly..(Probably the poor mare
    gets tired of rowdy boys that give their mother a hard time) and
    may not defend the "male" with enthusiasm from the other mare. If
    the foal is weaning age (3 months or more) I wouldn't count on the
    mare and the foal definitely would not be a match for the adult
    mare...be advised to keep them apart .... unless the pasture is
    large and the foal can get away from the mare. Also..put the foal
    in the pasture first before the mare if you try to put them together..
    this way the mare would be entering the foals territory... and not
    defending her own (this will give the foal a little bit of an edge).
    Make sure they are observed in case of trouble.
    
    		Her mare is not the only one to react this way,
    
    				Nancy

  The immediate problem that strikes me is that the 2nd mare (the 
  injured mare) is not going to heal well if she's constantly agitated 
  and jumping around in her stall. And, even if she doesn't re-injure 
  herself, she is going to be a very unhappy camper for quite some time. 
  Linda had a good point about not letting the horse suffer, but I would
  consider mental pain as well as physical pain as a factor in considering
  what is best for her. They obviously want her to be happy.

  Here are some other ideas on something to try...

      - How about getting the injured horse a NEW companion of her own?
        Get her mind off the foal maybe?
      - Is there any way they can keep both horses but not have them
        see each other? That might give her some time to 'cool down'.

  Good luck to them.
  

    Another possibility, if they really want to keep the mare, is to
    wean the foal at a reasonable age (5-6 mos), and switch the foal
    and the mare, so the two mares are together again.  That may help
    to ease the agitation, and the colt would have more room to romp.

    Hi Gwen,
   
    What did these people decide to do? Do you have an update for
    us? (I'm hoping it's a happy ending!)

    Kiirja

    I'm very pleased to report that it was a happy ending.
    
    The mare has been given away to a good home.  She lives
    out in a big pasture with other mares.  The new owners
    would like to breed her, possibly next year.  So it looks
    like the rest of her life will be safe and secure, unlike
    the beginning. 
    
    Other local Arab people will, I'm sure, know this horse.
    Her name is Kendra.  (I can hear memory bells going off
    all over the place).  I don't know her whole story but
    I bet Kathie and/or Bob Nickerson do.  Would you guys be
    willing to tell it here?
    
    Gwen