| Author |
Message |
    
Elena Vieira
Breeding Stock
Username: Opheliaimmorttal
Post Number: 134
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 07:39 pm: | 
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Hi! I know everyone has precious babies and a lot are probably coming up on weaning time. I was just wondering when you were going to wean them and why at that time? I have a 2.5 month colt(i am thinking about weaning at 6-7 months) and he is already really independent and can leave his mom and I can lead him around the pasture while his mom stays in the paddock. He also hangs out with the other horses instead of her etc. So I think it will be easy to wean him when the time comes. Also when you wean how do you do it? Between a fence? Different property? Etc.
THANKS! |
Becca
Nursing Foal
Username: Becca
Post Number: 12
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:11 pm: |
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I usually watch the foal around month 4 and check how much hes eating. If hes eating on his own really good and hardly nursing i seperate him. i like to have them in two seperate paddocks not touching each other. I usually turn them out together but start seperating them in their stalls during the day to help prepare mommy for the seperation. i turn them out together at night for about a week before seperate turn out. I usually don't have trouble with the foals being to upset as they usually have a buddy with them that they know. but my moms tend to be the most hard hit during weaning. |
Fred H. Moyer
Yearling
Username: Fmoyer
Post Number: 51
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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I am weaning my molly mule at around 4 months if she is eating properly on her own. I am seperating all at once by sending the mare for a 30 day tune-up. There is a very good website on weaning. I will find it and post a link. It has a great article on the different methods to wean and the pros and cons of each method. It also says most horse that develop herd boundness develop it at weaning. If it is at all possible you should not allow your new foal to spend more than a couple of hours a day with other foals and other horse when you wean it. If possible you should spend a huge amount of time with your weanling. There are two times you make the most impression on your foal, imprinting and weaning. I'll post a link it has some super good articles. |
Fred H. Moyer
Yearling
Username: Fmoyer
Post Number: 52
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 01:36 am: |
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some great articles on weaning here:
http://www.alphahorse.com/horse-care.html |
Jan H
Breeding Stock
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 353
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 09:30 am: |
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Good link, I usually plan the time to wean on each individual colt/foal, some mature earlier then others do, the mare will usually give you signals too that the foal needs to be weaned and many mares are not subtle about it either, some want those foals off the gravy train by 4 months then of course you have some mares that will let a two year old suckle them...some just dont know how to say no. giggle, but for the most part most of the colts/foals I have raised usually wean at 4 to 7 months, using the seperate box stall and pasture method. As they get older, they get switched around from one herd group to another with one constant companion foal/horse to keep them company. Has always worked for me these many years. |
Kathee McGuire
Breeding Stock
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 522
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 10:36 am: |
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Fred - great articles and very timly for me as I have just started asking questions about weaning. My girl is eating grain, grass and hay well. She is independent in the pasture, but likes being with Momma a night. I have noticed her nursing less and less recently. She will probably be weaned at 4 months. Thanks for the info! |
Sharon Malmberg
Breeding Stock
Username: Ryu2832
Post Number: 150
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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I don't know what to do with my little girl. She's eating on her own--and mom's food too, but she's still nursing heavily. I have seen her drink from the waterer on really hot days, but otherwise she still prefers mom.
She still seems really attatched to mom, I don't have a lot of horses, and I wonder if it just for company. Mom is still very protective of baby. I am searching for a companion foal to turn her out with.
She almost three months. I was hoping to wean her early because she is starting to nurse mom down, but I don't think either is mentally ready. |
