Although she was nervous the foal might reject a new feed product, Janelle had to find a less expensive alternative so she started researching the options.  By chance, the original owners of her little orphan had heard about a new milk replacement especially formulated for foals.  Armed with the product name “Foal Starter Plus”, Janelle was able to track down a company in Queensland that has recently launched a range of new equine nutrition and wellbeing products

“A Google search for Foal Starter Plus took me straight to a website for Meadowlands Animal Supplies. I was able to get a lot of information about their Equine Professional product range directly from the site.” Equine Professional (ePro) is a range of nutritional supplements and products developed specifically to support the general wellbeing of horses.  The ePro range covers the entire lifecycle of the horse and many of its products were developed with performance horses in mind.  “This little guy was bred for great things so his early development is crucial,” says Janelle. “It was immediately obvious Foal Starter Plus had a lot of benefits not offered by the existing feed.” 

According to Janelle, this included a better grade of base product, including trace minerals to promote various important biological functions in the body of the foal and a broad spectrum of vitamins and antioxidants at sufficient levels to support body functions and normal growth.

“What’s more, Foal Starter Plus turned out to be significantly less expensive than the generic brand we were using.” It seemed an answer to Janelle’s dilemma might be right around the corner but then “I realised no one near us stocked the ePro range.” A phone call to the company put Janelle in contact with Lisa Gordon, the Managing Director of Meadowlands. Their first conversation raised their mutual love of horses.  “It turns out Lisa is a real country girl who grew up riding on a farm.  When I explained my predicament to her, she was only too happy to help,” says Janelle. 

Meadowlands Animal Supplies started up earlier this year and retail sales are starting to roll out around the country.  For Lisa, it was an easy decision to organise a special arrangement for Janelle  “When Janelle let me know her local suppliers did not stock the product, I was able to make a few phone calls and we sent Janelle out directly to where the product is made up, not far from where she lives to pick up a sample bag.  I was confident we’d be able to get her little guy a great result.”

The local supplier at PETstock in Caboolture heard about Lisa helping out and the following day placed an order for the product, which was delivered by Lisa personally. “She drove hours the next day to deliver a supply of the product personally to the guys at PETstock, pretty impressive!” comments Janelle.

Swapping feeds can be a risk and rejection is always a potential.  According to Janelle, the switch to Foal Starter Plus could not have gone more smoothly “We changed over to Foal Starter with no Ill effects, no scours, and no rejection from the foal due to taste.   He nickers when he sees us coming out with his bucket and eagerly drinks up. I personally appreciate that it is very easy to prepare, even at 3am in the morning!”

“Foal Starter Plus made raising an orphan foal affordable to even those on a budget, without having to compromise the foals’ future or worrying about using a product that doesn't give the foal the best possible start in life.” 

Janelle is saving hundreds of dollars a week.  Meanwhile her young ward has recently been introduced to a pony mare who is teaching him the manners needed to grow into a socially balanced horse. “He has just powered on, is a lively strong healthy foal that is inquisitive and playful to a fault.”

Now that all his nutritional needs are taken care of, the biggest challenge ahead is agreeing on a name for him.

“We all like different names, and are tossing between River, Chase, Nate, and Cole.  I can't imagine trying to think of a Registered Name if we are struggling to give him a paddock name!  It was easier naming my own kids, as they didn’t get a say in it!”