THE Northern Ireland Horse Board is revamping their Foster Mare and Orphan Foal service for 2022.

In conjunction with Baileys Horse Feeds, the Foster Mare and Orphan Foal service will operate free of charge to breeders throughout Ireland. Offering the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Northern Ireland Horse Board feel it may help breeders needing urgent help.

In addition to putting breeders in contact with offers of a foster mare or orphan foal, breeders will be able to get on the spot nutritional advice from the team at Baileys Horse Feeds.

Judy Maxwell, Baileys Horse Feeds in Ireland, spearheaded the new concept and is delighted to be on hand to help breeders through this difficult period with some reassuring and practical advice backed by latest scientific research into feed technology and equine nutrition.

Breeders can register in a number of different ways with the scheme including: Call the NIHB office Tel (028) 383 43355, from ROI (048) during office hours Monday- Friday 9am – 1pm. Out of hours - call or text Judy on 0044 7884065531.

Go to the NIHB website www.nihorseboard.org ‘foster alert’ to see if there is a mare or foal available, or leave your own details on the web page for another breeder to contact you, email nihb.office@gmail.com or leave a Facebook message at ‘@nihorseboard’.

“The NIHB ask all owners make arrangements between themselves regarding the care of mares and foals. Like most things, the more widely known about and used the system is, the more successful this service will be.

“Mares stop producing milk quite quickly if not suckled and therefore will only be available for a few days. The more this service is widely used, the more chance a mare may be available or a foal found. We would also ask veterinary surgeons and practices to keep our details available for potentially distressed clients,” stated the NIHB.