Does anyone else leave lights on in the mare/foal stalls?

[TrueColours]

I have this paranoia of the mares stepping on the foals in the dark, so my lights in all of the foaling stalls are on a dimmer switch and once the foals are born, until they get weaned, the lights are left on low all night long so the mares can actually see the foals throughout the night

I know I'd feel awful if I came in one morning and found one of them injured because they got stepped on in the dark and I honestly also have no idea how the mares could AVOID stepping on them in the pitch black darkness either!

The stalls are 16 x 12's so plenty big enough for Mom and Baby

I figure the few extra dollars it costs me every month in hydro is worth it for my peace of mind ...

Anyone else do the same thing or am I the only one out there? :lol:

[Oakstable]

I don't think they will get as much rest if the lights are left on. I say that only based on what is true for people.

[aaussie_gal]

Foaling stall is 10x20 ... have two clip-on lights with 5 watt bulbs up high on the long side ... the second one shines out into the 15' corral. Foal is 8 weeks old, and now also have access to a pasture off the corral, but spend most of the night in the stall. With 5-watt bulbs, the lights are dim and don't seem to bother them.

The barn cam is still on - we're hooked! The lights will stay on while they're in there together.

We're in tornado alley and have had some really bad storms the last 5 weeks, and it's been very reassuring to sit in the house and watch how calmly mom and foal have handled it all.

Tarn in OK

[TrueColours]

I don't think they will get as much rest if the lights are left on.

I honestly dont think thats a factor at all. When I had the camera's still running on all of the foaling stalls, the babies and moms could be seen flaked out and snoozing soundly for long stretches of time

And as aussie gal mentioned, the lights are on dim - a very low setting on the dimmer switch. Enough to see outlines only

[Hillside H Ranch]

I have lights on in my foaling stalls while I'm on foal watch b/c it makes carmera viewing easier. I usually do leave the lights on for the first 3-5 days after foaling, as I'm still watching mom and baby pretty closely at that point. I turn them off after that and it has never been a problem. I used to turn them off after the first night, but I had a maiden mare FREAK out when I turned the light off and she about trampled her baby in her frantic-ness. I've found that by giving them a few nights it seems to work better.

[TWFarm]

TrueColors,

I have two 4 year old mares with their first foals and I feel the same way you do. I have my barn lights on all night as well. They are not very bright but I feel help the mares see the foals. I don't want any accidents. I've had the foal cam on and the mares don't seem to mind the lights. They maybe fine in the dark, but it helps me sleep better.

Twin Willows Farm

[hluing]

I leave the dimmer switch on very low for the first couple weeks at least...longer with maidens. I share your paranoia!

[Fairview Horse Center]

I used to have a Donald Duck nightlight, but it was lost. It had just the right amount of light to see, but very relaxing.

[vtdobes]

YES! I leave them a night light! My mare is used to it and the light is actually on the other side of the aisle so not actually in her stall so it gives just enough to see. I am also paranoid about her stepping on the baby...even though this colt is #8 for her and she is super careful.
I can also see the baby flaked out on the monitor so he doesn't seem bothered by it either.

[Sugarbrook]

Lights on at Sugarbrook during and after foaling for about a week.

[selah]

Yup, dimmer switches in 12X24 foaling stalls...longer than just a few weeks (hate to admit just how paranoid I am). I also find it's easy to check on them at night with just the very low light, without disturbing anyone.

[VirginiaBred]

We never do. The mare can sense her foal and you should have seen my TB mare Gloria with two of them in the stall for six months!!! Never stepped on either one! :)

[horsetales]

We leave a small light on. I'm paranoid. I also watch the camera for the first few days and both seem to sleep without problems. Its on during foal watch as well, so I think the mare is very used to it

[risingstarfarm]

I leave the lights on for at least a week. I had one maiden who would scream bloody murder if I turned the lights off. It gives me and momma peace of mind :)

[showjumpers66]

We leave the lights on before foaling to help make it easier to see, but do turn them off after they foal.

[nsm]

Being the raving parnoid that I am, I leave my lights on for awhile, the mares seem better to me when they can see the babies. After they are more used to having the foal and not so worried about them, then I turn them off.

Nancy

[TrueColours]

Oh good - so it ISNT just me!!! :lol:

Thanks for commiserating with me in my paranoia ... ;)

[Iron Horse Farm]

After an accident in 2007 where my mare stepped full force on her foal..................this is the nightmare that you don't want to come out to in the morning. She stepped on his hock in the dark. He couldn't bear weight on it when we found him. He was shipped to MSU where he was diagnosed with a wound and a luxation. Unbelievably, she hadn't broken the joint or violated it in any way, but all of the ligaments and tendons and everything were stretched out and wouldn't support him. We chose to leave him up there when we found out that he would have to be lifted up to 6-10 times per hour round the clock. Amazingly, he was sound and happy at his foal inspection and is now a strapping two year old. ......................I now leave a 20watt bulb in each of the 12 x 24 foaling stalls. They are on timers and only come on after nine pm and click off as the sun starts to come up.

I'm paranoid too, but only cause Inowknow what can happen.

[chrissymack]

YES! We leave one set of lights on while Mom & foal are sharing a 12X24stall. Mom gets AWFULLY close, baby sprawls out sleeping, she stands guard right right near him, and then he often rolls over so his legs are right directly under/entagled with hers... :eek:
She was great with her foal last year, and we know she tries to be careful, but we would rather have a little dim light out there to help for peace of mind.:yes:

[Kyzteke]

In my case the foaling stall is attached to the hay storage area, but they have different light switches. So I leave the one in the hay portion on and turn the actual one in the foaling stall off. This makes better light, but not bright -- sort of like if they were outside in a full moon.

Horses do have better sight than us, but I worry like you do....especially when the foal is new and the stall is still bedded in straw. After we shift to pellets and the baby is 2-3 weeks old, I stop messing with it. They are usually choosing to be outside by then anyway.

[TrueColours]

Mom gets AWFULLY close, baby sprawls out sleeping, she stands guard right right near him, and then he often rolls over so his legs are right directly under/entagled with hers...


Doesnt that just make your heart stop and that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when you peek in and see baby's head between Mom's front or back legs and Mom has that puzzled look as well trying to figure out how to get out of that mess?! :eek:

And you dont want to startle baby so you kind of tiptoe in, lift up the head and drag baby out

I just dont know how they'd figure it out if it was pitch black in there ... :no:

[florida foxhunter]

I leave a night light on in the barn where my mares and foals are........and they can come in and out of their grass paddock to the stalls (with fans to beat the bugs!) at will at night........It would allow me to take a peek at the stall if I choose on the camera, but since the foals are 2 months old now and HOPEFULLY healthy, I'm an old lady trying to sleep the night through, haha!!

[Ladybug Hill]

I too have had mares freak out when you turn off the lights. I am sure it is really the sudden change and that would normally adjust to the gradual darkening of evening. However, since it doesn't seem to bother them I do leave them on too for a couple of days.

Funny this came up. Just had baby goats born tonight and I stood and contemplated whether to leave the lights on or not. Decided too hoping that it would help everyone. I was feeling ridiculous so glad to find this thread! LOL

[Go Fish]

Horses see fairly well in the dark, way better than we do. What they do poorly is adjust to going from bright light into darkness. Their retina takes longer to adjust.

Studies have shown that horses continue to graze and avoid obstacles at night. A mare should have no problem avoiding a foal in the dark.

I have barn lights on a 16-hour timer. I want them to have "night" time so they can rest. Studies have shown that horses do not rest well when exposed to 24-hour light.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Horses can see decently in the dark but they also have great spatial memory which is why they don't get hurt at night. They remember where things are. The problem with foals is that they keep getting up and moving around unlike most obstacles. They are small and lay underfoot. How is this different from putting them in stalls which is an artificial environment? Chances are better that the foal is going to be more underfoot than if they were turned out in a larger space. Also, less natural light offered from the moon when they in a stall.

I leave the lights on. I've had horses with good vision step on their foals at night in a stall. I also have a couple of homozygous appaloosa mares that are night blind and they definitely need full lights on to avoid stepping on their foals. It's not worth the risk in my opinion. Of course they often get turned out full time so this is an issue only during the time I stall mare and foal at night.

[onqhanoverians]

I always leave a nightlight on about 2 feet off ground and outside but shining into stall. That way when I look out window I can see vaguely what is up. Baby usually sleeps nearest to the nightlight and seems to like it. I just love to see filly so sweetly sacked out on the bedding straw. So maybe nightlight is mostly for me to enjoy wasting time gazing out the window.