future foal contracts

HOW DO CONTRACTS WORK?

Like most contracts, there are many areas for negotiation. Generally, we take a non-refundable deposit to hold the foal after the heartbeat check or pre-purchase vetting. While not refundable, it is transferrable in the case the pregnancy is lost or the newborn foal has a birth deficiency, not earning an acceptable newborn baby check. Your deposit can be applied to any available in-utero contract, foal, youngstock or mare-in-foal on our sales list. 

30 days before foaling, another 20% payment is due. This helps us cover the increased expenses of having the mare on foal watch and upgraded feeding requirements. IF we cannot deliver you a healthy, nursing foal, THIS 20% portion is refundable only under this specific circumstance. The remaining portion of the contract is due after the 24h foal wellness check. We will keep the foal boarded on our farm included int he contract price up to 6 months until at which time, the foal is weaned. You will be responsible for all vet/farrier/shots/deworm, etc expenses of your new foal. We typically like to wean the day the foal gets on the trailer to head home. In the case of a long trip, we will work with you and the vet to come up with the best plan of action. 

CAN I COME AND MEET THE MARES?

Of course! We want you to get your dream foal and knowing the sire and dam's personalities is a large part of the equation. 

I LIVE FAR AWAY, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

We want to encourage your to visit our farm, meet the horses, look at the foals and make sure you are comfortable with everything. It's a good time for us to work through the contract together and go over any questions. If you absolutely cannot travel, we can organize a virtual  farm tour  and I can FaceTime with the mares or stallion of your choice. By the time your foal is weaned, we will have gotten to know each other pretty well.  

We have worked with some national shippers in the past to get foals to their new owners. 

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE FOAL WHILE UNDER YOUR CARE?

As with most horse boating situations, it's wise to have your foal insured. Most equine insurance companies are used to writing policies for both unborn and newborn foals. Of course, we put eyes, if not hands on your foal every day. It helps us keep track of their growth patterns and watch to make sure their legs are growing straight and strong. 

WHAT WILL MY FOAL EAT?

Irish horses don't metabolize sugars as well as some hot blooded breeds. We feed our mares and foals ration balancers or low NSC mare and foal feeds. Some of our mares are generous milk producers and we have to manage their foal's growth very carefully. In the winter we feed a variety of free choice grass and alfalfa mix hays depending on weather, dam's condition and time until parturition. The rest of the year our horses are on pasture or dry lot. We are lucky enough to have beautiful pastures April-December. We do not ordinarily creep feed foals, but they do snack on their dam's ration. 

HOW DO YOU HANDLE TRIMMINGS?

We take the individual foal into consideration before coming up with a farrier plan. Some foals can wait until they are two months old for their first trim where others need a small corrective cuff or extension straight away. We work with vet and farrier recommendations to give your new foal the best start in life. 

DO YOU TAKE PAYMENTS?

Yes, we will take payment before the foal is born if it suits you. If you would like to make payments for an extended time  after your foal is born, we will design  the contract to reflect our on-the-ground foal price rather than the discounted in-utero price. All horses must be paid for in full before shipping. 

CAN I NAME MY FOAL?

Yes! You can name your foal but the registered name must include our 'Taproot' prefix.