Horse Shelter &

Where business interests supersede the core humane rights of mares and their foals.

Specifically, we refer to the practice of; impregnating mares for the sole purpose of inducing lactation with the birth of the resulting foal – then discarding the resulting foal – and replacing the discarded foal with another mare's foal considered 'valuable', (most commonly in racing terms). We do not refer to the fostering of naturally orphaned foals, but those made orphans via direct and purposeful human intervention.

This practice is more common than publicly known. It occurs in a legitimate business model, where foals taken from their mothers are bucket raised, and sold on as youngsters. It also occurs at a less public level however, where the discarded foals face very uncertain futures. Some are culled on the breeder’s property, and some are sold to the public as ‘orphans’.

Quest periodically receives correspondence from those who have knowledge of these instances on a personal level, whether they are employed by the breeder concerned, whether they take in and hand raise these foals taken from their dams to prevent their slaughter, or whether they have some other involvement which gives them close knowledge of the practices occurring on a property.

We are very interested to hear from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of this practice. Anecdotal information assists in ‘painting a picture’, however, reliable accounts are needed in order for us to build a factual body of information which would allow the true extent of this practice to be revealed, and any concerns re the welfare of mares/foals to be addressed. Please do This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are able to provide a personal perspective or information based upon direct experience of this practice. Confidentiality is assured.

Position Statements requested from relevant bodies:

Animals Australia

Animals Australia completely opposes the practice of Nurse/Nanny Mares or what we refer to as ‘the surrogate mare’ issue. There are so many specific issues within industries that we do not have formal policies on each.

Other policies provide an indicator to our approach to such things though – e.g. under farm animals:

 

‘Animals Australia opposes all forms of selective animal breeding where the welfare of the parent animal and/or subsequent offspring suffers.’

…and also under our sport and entertainment policies

 

‘Animals Australia opposes the use of animals for sport and entertainment when these practices and/or their living conditions cause stress, suffering and/or death to the animals used.’

The RSPCA

The RSPCA position on the use of nanny mares within the equine industry is currently under review. The RSPCA is currently in discussions with animal welfare and horse welfare bodies about this issue."

The Australian Horse industry Council

The AHIC does not have a position statement on nanny mares. It is not, as I understand it, a widespread practice and the foals from the foster mares are bucket fed on the farms undertaking the practice and later sold as riding horses as I understand most are cross bred."

The Department of Primary Industries.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (the POCTA Act) protects the welfare of animals in Victoria. The legislation applies equally to persons involved in animal production on farms, the use of animals for recreation or competition purposes, and for pets or companionship. The practice of using ‘Nanny Mares’ must comply with this legislation and any breach of this legislation can be investigated by an officer authorised under the Act. In addition, the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses (the Code), made under the Act, outlines the expected standard of management of horses in Victoria and includes recommendations on breeding practices and foal care.

 

The practice and extent of use of ‘Nanny Mares’ is currently under consideration under the Victorian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Animal Welfare should not be an issue if the use of foster mares is practiced properly."

Quest's Viewpoint:

The intentional displacement or killing of foals for the sole purpose of profiteering is strongly opposed by Quest. This practice represents the antithesis of our core values as an equine welfare organisation.

 

No monetary gain is of such a priority that it overrides the responsibility humans have to allow nurturing of a newly created life by its natural biological mother whenever possible.

 

The foal that is discarded, if not slaughtered, but artificially fed, will not receive the health benefits, education, socialisation, and psychological comfort that is gained via a mare/foal relationship. These are not only crucial factors of a foal’s development, but are it’s birth-right.

 

Quest does not believe that, when comparing newborn foals, one life can be given more importance than another, despite the ‘monetary value’ attached to each. Particularly when, in these instances, both lives have been intentionally created via human intervention.

 

This abhorrent practice denies both the mother and foal the capacity to respond to the strong natural drive/instincts that are present following pregnancy/birth. This extreme level of human intervention which denies mares to follow the natural path of mothering, and foals to remain with their dams and be nurtured would undoubtedly create increased levels of stress to both animals. To impose this level of discomfort and stress to animals for the sake of financial profit is immoral for any industry/breeder.

 

The purposeful impregnation of the foster mare (for the sole purpose of inducing lactation), the ‘churning’ out of foals by the ‘valuable’ mare, the killing/displacement of the ‘sacrificial foal’ – all display rapacious exploitation of the animals involved for financial gain."

Often quoted by animal welfare agencies is the 'Five Freedoms’ list, a concept which originated in the UK. The UK government set up the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in 1967, which became the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979. The committee's first guidelines recommended that animals require the freedoms to "stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs".

The guidelines have since been elaborated to become known as the;

‘Five Freedoms’:

• Freedom from thirst and hunger.
• Freedom from discomfort.
• Freedom from pain, injury, and disease.
• Freedom to express normal behaviour.
• Freedom from fear and distress.

The ‘Five Freedoms’ form a logical and comprehensive framework for analysis of welfare within any system.

Even if the sentient and sensitive beings that horses are were to be classified as ‘farm animals’ for the sake of this discussion, as opposed to the willing and giving human partners that they are, (and have been for centuries), the ‘Nanny Mare’ practice clearly breaches more than one aspect of the ‘Five Freedoms’.

There are ethical means

through which foster dams can be located for genuinely orphaned foals.

These registers and services also offer the option to list a mare who has lost a foal and who is able to feed another mare's orphaned foal.

AusFoal - The Australian Orphaned Foal Register
"AusFoal does not support the removal of  foals from their natural mothers to accommodate others."

Foster Mares & Foals Australia - Facebook Group