Comedy little and large pair as Shetland mare fosters hunter foal
Shetland mare Zena has risen to the challenge of being foster mother to hunter foal Annie, even though she has to stand on a mounting block to let the youngster feed.
On 5 June, Lancashire horse owner Emma Green unexpectedly lost her hunter mare Tara, who had a foal at foot, and a Shetland foal, within an hour of each other.
Despite help from her vet and advice from the National Foaling Bank, five-day-old Annie would not drink from a bottle or bucket after her mother’s death.
As a last-ditch attempt, Emma decided to try to put the foal on to 10hh Zena with the assistance of a mounting block. The mare needed some persuading, but after a while she allowed the foal to drink.
“Twelve weeks on and they are happy in their routine. Annie, now towering over Zena, is still drinking from her morning and night,” said Emma.
Zena, 10, had a number of different homes before being bought by Emma at auction in May, but now she has a home for life.
www.nationalfoalingbank.com
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
