08/04/2026
Edit: All the foals in the pictures are past foals and have been adopted...
While rescuing the foals I personally have became closer and have a better understanding. We learn something new each year and try to put everything into words on here of what we learn. It is no secret what nurse farms and thoroughbred farm do. Everyone knows the nurse mare is bred for milk and the thoroughbred industry uses the nurse mare to raise a more valuable foal. This is a growing industry. We just share what we learn from farms. Not all farms mistreat the mares and foals. Maybe before we started rescuing some farm we're mistreating the mares and foals but so far we have only ran across one farm that had a bad reputation for deceased horses. As of today we have rescue close to a thousand orphan nurse mare foals. Eighteen horses and six donkeys and two mule babies. Next, this number will increase and 2028-2029 season will see a bigger increase in foals needing help. The demand for nurse mares has increase which mean the number of orphaned foals will go up. We will definitely see 100 foals in one year in the upcoming years. No matter the out come Rolling Oaks Rescue LLC will do everything to rescue and protect the foals. First thing that will change is the way we adopt the foals out. The new adoption contract will be prepared by our lawyer this will eliminate alot of frustration. Second I personally hope to be interacting with everyone next year but with health problems the future is uncertain. Third I have wonderful foster families and friends lined up to help. I have personally experienced sadness of the nurse mare industry while rescuing but I have also experienced the joy of getting to know each and every foal we rescue. Here is some background information on the nurse mare foal industry and the thoroughbred industry. All mares are bred around the same time so the nurse farms can lease out the mares when the thoroughbred farms are ready. The season can start as early as January and run into August by July most thoroughbred have foaled.
Nurse mare foals are born to mothers that are bred for their milk production to be a surrogate to another foal. The might be quarter horse, paint, draft, gaited horse, ponies mixed breed and so on. After the mare foals the mares are leased out to other farm, typically thoroughbred farms. The mares are leased to be a surrogate to a more “ valuable” foal. Once the mare is leased I get the call foals are ready to be pick up. We purchase each foal. All mares are supposed to be bred back before returning them but the past several year most of the mares come back empty so the nurse mare farms have started using their own studs.
Why are the mares leased out?? Because the thoroughbred mare must be bred back shortly after the foal is born. This mean the nurse farm breeds around the same time. The jockey club rules state they cannot be artificially inseminated. They must be bred by live cover for insurance and other reasons. Did you know most nurse farm have 50-100 plus mares bred each year? Not all foals born survive sometimes they might use one of their own foals to keep that mare in milk until leased out.
Yes there is medication you can give the mares to where no foal is needed but this is still an unhealthy way giving your mares medication each year or everytime they get leased out. To me this cant be healthy for the mare. In most cases the nurse mare farms dont do this because it is costly and sometimes hard to get the medication.
Why cant the thoroughbred mare not raise her own foal?? The foals many not be allowed to go to the breeding barns. Its not safe to travel. Meaning the foal could get injured. Sometimes the mares dont accept the foal or the mares may die during or after delivering the foal. Most thoroughbred horses are bred young, or are older or might be lame and not fit to race but fit to be bred only. It is about money to the TB not about the horses or foals involved.
