Urgent appeal for foster mum

The owner of a mare who died of foaling complications is making an urgent appeal to find herthree-day-old filly a foster mum.

Becky Turner, a private breeder from Shifnal in Shropshire, has managed to breed a series of successful competition horses, including an advanced eventer, who was long-listed for the Irish team at last year’s Europeans.

She had owned her mare, a Thoroughbred by Diamond Image, for nearly 20 years when she died of a suspected heart attack on Saturday morning (11 July).

“It seems that the foal came early and the mare just wasn’t ready,” explains Becky. “The cervix never dilated and instead the foal passed straight over the top causing massive internal injuries. We think her heart gave out.

“We made sure the filly got plenty of colosturum and I have been bottle-feeding her every two hours. She is fit and well but we are desperate to find her a foster mum.

“We need a big strong mare, preferably 15.2hh plus, who can cope with the filly, who is one of Lohekey Helios De Bournavil’s first foals.

“This has been a horrible experience but the mare gave me a live foal who is very similar to her – I just hope we can find a mum.”

If you can offer a foster mare to Becky please contact her (tel: 07802 820711 or 01952 750475). Alternatively you can contact Johanna Vardon at the National Foaling Bank (tel: 01952 811234).

For more information on the National Foaling Bank, which works to unite orphaned foals with mares who have recently lost their own offspring, click here.

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