The volunteers' first priority once the foals arrived at the rehab corrals was getting them to take some mare's milk replacement and some water that included electrolytes. As soon as they had oriented themselves to their new environment they were administered the milk replacement via oral syringe or bottle and they were allowed to explore and drink the water at liberty.
Getting a foal to nurse from a bottle.
"Exploring" one of the water tubs.
Once the foals had consumed some liquid, the volunteers went about socializing the horses to people. These foals socialized with, and in some instances bonded with, the volunteers in a matter of minutes. They appeared to have had no experiences that caused them to fear humans. This behavior is something we notice when horses have been handled and managed by a crew of cool headed professionals.
(If anyone reading this bulletin wishes to dismiss this effect as simply the impressionability of hungry foals, you are asked to view The Butterfield Stallions at Play where volunteers were allowed inside the Butterfield Facility stallion pen, and stood in the middle while over 100 stallions played and showed off for their visitors.)
The points being made here are these. The psychological well being of gathered horses can be greatly influenced by the competence and caring of the crews assigned to manage them. We as advocates we have to insist on the best possible management of these animals. By the same token it is in the horses' best interest when we recognize and hold up as standards those situations where crew performance is humane, sensitive and of high quality.
The foals starting to socialize with the volunteers.
(This photo was taken less than one hour after their arrival.)
Meeting "Iron Man," a similarly aged Virginia Range orphan.
Some real bonding with volunteer Megan McCoy.
(The filly wrapped her head around Megan and went to sleep.)
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KBR Horse Net