We are staying on my best friends farm for the summer and she has a mare that is about to foal. My seven year old loves the horses and helps out when possible with chores. If the mare has baby and my child wants to be there do you think she is too young? I know this may bring other questons but I know she will want to be there when a new baby shows up.
2007-06-12 19:03:58 · 16 answers · asked by chieko 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
for your child it may be a great oppotunity, but it may not be so good of an idea for the horse. mares can and do hold off birth if there is too much going on, not knowing you or your daughter may agitate the mare, 7 year olds generally dont do so well when asked to be quiet and sit still for hours on end in the middle of the night in a dim barn. which is when most mares foal. also your daughter probably shouldnt touch the newborn foal, which she will really want to do. mama may not take too kindly to strangers messing with her newborn. if the mare owner knows this mare well and she is very gentle after birth then yes it may be fine, you should keep in mind the possibility that the mare or foal may die during birth or need emergency care. so if you do have her watch be prepared for that. and explain to her that she may not get to touch the baby, in fact i would set that up from the beginning so that way if it is ok for her to pet the baby its a nice suprise for her rather than getting disappointed if she thinks she will be able to play with the foal and later cannot. i hope it works out for her.
2007-06-12 21:09:14 · answer #1 · answered by mindy r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This really is something that you need to be really comfortable with and if you decide that it's OK, then she has to be comfortable with it as well.
I would take care to prepare her for several things, if I remember back that far, and it's a long way to remember, the first thing is to explain that it's not like a TV show, as in there isn't a fixed timetable, and things will happen when they are ready.
You will have already thought of all the questions that this may produce, although kids have a habit of never asking them once you are all prepared.
All I can say is that my kids were helping to deliver pigs well before that age, and they enjoyed watching the miracle of birth every time, yes warn her about the messy bits, and if the mare is making a noise it's OK to let her know that the mare is hurting, the more honest that you are with all your answers the better it is.
Have a great summer
2007-06-13 17:14:39 · answer #2 · answered by Cowgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I grew up seeing my grandpa's cows giving birth. I might be a little early to talk about the "birds and the bees". It's a personal decision really, is your daughter mature?? She may not even ask questions, she may spend all her time thinking about the newborn. If you do let her watch talk to her before she sees anything so she will know what to expect. If you are staying on a farm for a whole summer she will most likely witness other births too. On the bright side, if you tell her now, you will know she will know the truth and not learn about this stuff from other kids that don't have all the facts.
2007-06-12 19:12:45 · answer #3 · answered by B.B. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a fabulous idea. I think that the best thing that you could do is prepare her beforehand. Some of the stuff that she is going to see will be "gross" and knowing about it before hand might make it less "scary" when it happens. There is nothing more exciting than new life coming into the world - whatever species.
I would caution though, that if something should start to go wrong, that you all may want to think about what to do - should she stay (death is a part of life) or would you want her removed from the situtation if things take a bad turn.
I do think it is wonderful and a great teaching moment.
How wonderful!!
2007-06-12 19:08:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its fine. Back in the days when America was made up of settlers people had farms all over the place. Their children need to learn how to tend to the animals at very early ages. Many had to help out all the time by gathering eggs picking weeds and bring water. I am sure they saw a baby animal born many times. Why do people assume that because we all live in a more "modern" time we need to shelter our kids from the things that they had to do all the time just a century ago. let them learn.
2007-06-12 19:12:54 · answer #5 · answered by lost 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What 6 or 7 twelve months previous might want to wish to study the completed component? before each and every thing the abridged variations are so interesting, when I had one as a baby it had astounding pictures and that i study it religiously, no pun meant And the authentic component, is so widespread and in tiny kind Sorry, i'm no longer qualified to respond to, i'm no longer Christian Or an atheist for that truth yet, if it were my newborn, i might want to assert convinced i do not remember on sheltering, if my newborn is a prodigy, as they should be to wish to study that component... they does no longer be so truly confident i might want to intently clarify each and every thing in it basically so as that they comprehend what's sweet and incorrect i imagine the Bible is basically yet another e book, and we are able to continually study from books
2016-11-23 16:33:12 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, Absolutely. What a wonderful opportunity. Explain before hand what she should expect so that it doesn't scare her. And if anything looks like it's going wrong, have a ready excuse to have your daughter leave the area (Such as, the mom horse is nervous and needs quiet for a while).
Make sure she knows that blood and yuck are normal...
But, how wonderful to see a horse born at that age.
2007-06-12 19:07:40 · answer #7 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good lord no! She might get ideas and start having sex or want to have babies (or horses) of her own!
Sorry, I had to say that.
What could possibly be wrong with letting your child witness the birth of a horse? Granted, some of it might be a little icky, what with the afterbirth and all.
Actually, you would be doing yourself a favor - the earlier that kids are introduced to the facts of life, the easier it is to explain more "difficult" issues as they get older.
My parents (and grandparents!) took the approach that "If they're old enough to ask, they're old enough to know."
2007-06-12 19:10:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think if YOU think she is able to handle it and you dont mind answering the questions that do come up then it can be an awersome experience for her, truely amazing i suggets you be there too and if it gets to much for her then you make the call to move away untl after the birth, but i wouldnt have aproblem with my child witnessing that, how educational.
2007-06-12 19:07:49 · answer #9 · answered by whipsaplenty 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OMG what a great experience, I dont think there could be anything better.....sure will assist in making the whole birth story believable.
My daughter was about 6 when I told her how babies were born, she laugh her butt off and said "oh Mommy, you're so funny!!"...lol
2007-06-12 19:11:02 · answer #10 · answered by sheliteful 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋