Bringing Mare back into work after foal

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shelby608

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Hi - This is my very first time at this so please be kind! lol
My KWPN mare had her first foal 21/05/11 daddy was the great Medoc :(
I am hoping to start long reining my mare for a few weeks with foaly in the field next door - they are both used to being led apart and together, foaly is also used to seeing mum have rugs on and things... so this should be ok (tongue in cheek!) I will of course have my o/h on hand!
Wondered how long I should be walking her for i.e minutes per day and for how many weeks before I progress to actually geting on her.. She was last hacked out in November 2010.. Shes quiet sensible, but she is getting bored so I think this might be the best way forward to try and build some muscle up in her back and neck...

Thanks
 
Hi and welcome,
Regarding your mare ,I would not be considering working her with a 3 month old foal at foot.She should ihmo be left to be a mum and for foalie to be with her 24/7,there is plenty of time for her to build up once the foal is weaned it is natural that whilst feeding her foal her topline will not be so good.
I would also be too worried about the foal panicking to leave it while I tried to work the mare.
Others may have a different view though.
 
Thanks for the reply
I have been wondering if this is too much too soon... There is so much conflicting advice out there and from different people.. Some of my friends with breeding experience have said to bring her back into work within the next few weeks... Slowly.

I think I will leave her for a few more months.. They do live out (with shelter) so its not like she isnt getting any excercise..
Thanks again :)
 
I agree with bepositive I'd leave her until at least a month after weaning when her milk has dried up before starting her off again, her body has gone through alot growing and carrying the foal and now feeding it, there is no hurry to get her back into work. I'd also worry about the foal panicking and hurting itself, plus the mare will be pretty reluctant to leave her foal and won't be focusing 100% on you as she will be listening out for baby, so you won't really achieve much and she could loose condition/muscle from the extra work and feeding the foal.
I'd let her enjoy her foal and do her thing until baby is weaned at 6 months.
 
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