Filly suckling from gelding any ideas???

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twobearsarthur

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I have recently moved my 2 year old girl to a new yard.
Tonight she was nursing from what I assumed was a mare, only to be told she is a he!!!
Now she has always been out with a mixed herd although she is out with a larger herd now than before. And she hasn't ever done this before.
He didn't seem at all bothered (I've already had all the "well he's a man cracks") and she seemed happy enough and I'm sure she will grow out of it when she's good and ready.
But does anyone know why or seen this before?
 
I would imagine its a security thing - she's young, she's just moved yards, and she's reverting to her safe place - suckling off her mother. The fact its a gelding is neither here nor there - he's obviously a nice chap who doesn't mind indulging her
 
That's what I was thinking a bit of a security blanket type thing.
I thought he must have been a mare because he was so tolerant.
She is about two hands taller than him which made it look all the more odd bless her.
 
I had a mare and stallion at one time and when the mare got grumpy with the foal at times as he was getting older he'd go and attach himself to the stallion who'd just stand there and take it.
 
twobearsarthur said:
That's what I was thinking a bit of a security blanket type thing.
I thought he must have been a mare because he was so tolerant.
She is about two hands taller than him which made it look all the more odd bless her.
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What a lucky girl to find an uncle who will put up with it!

I had a similar situation with kittens(both boys) when they first arrived. One of them used to suckle on the other one - and it went on til they were about 2
 
Slightly different I know, but my 12 month old kitten suckles me (arm/hand/face etc) quite regularly and I just put it down to feeling insecure. On the other hand my husband works on a farm and the calves sometimes suckle/drink each other's urine which isn't good as they fail to thrive
 
Battytwoll said:
Slightly different I know, but my 12 month old kitten suckles me (arm/hand/face etc) quite regularly and I just put it down to feeling insecure.
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I also have a kitten that does this but from her "big brother". It creeps my husband out but I liken it to sucking her thumb for comfort and security. Once your filly feels a bit more settled OP I'm sure she will quit it.
 
A filly used to do this to my colt (only 2 weeks difference in age). My boy wasn't bothered or interested.
She was never unsettled though and if anything seemed the most mature and collected about life than my chap did!
 
My filly on arriving at my yard at 7 months immediately attached herself to our rising 3yo mare (the only one in the herd who paid her any "nice" attention) and started suckling...she will be 1 in May and will still look to the udders if she feels insecure - which isn't often now!! Have yet to meet a baby pony so self confident and sure of itself as this filly is now!!!!
 
When I got my yearling colt he was suckling from my gelding..they both seem happy so just left them to it.. he is now 3years old & they are the best of friends.
Together forever.
 
I hope it wouldnt cause distortion or swelling of the sheath, also i hope the sheath is clean, cant be very hygenic and healthy from the foals point of view" i know i would not like it if it was my gelding. Could you seperate them
 
My colt picked a gelding to suckle when we first got him. 2 of the geldings became what I can only describe as his body guards. But since the one he suckled off of left he's been fine and ignores the others
 
putasocinit said:
also i hope the sheath is clean, cant be very hygenic and healthy from the foals point of view" i know i would not like it if it was my gelding. Could you seperate them
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If the foal is suckling on the outside, the kind of dirt that would be taken into the mouth wouldn't be much different from what that in mutual grooming, and a mare's teats aren't superclean either, I imagine.
 
I came down one day to find a 3 year old tiny pony filly under my mare suckling away like a good 'un. My mare was a maiden but very kind and gentle and the look on her face was priceless - it was clear she had a baby of her own to care for and she was in heaven. She always enjoyed me tickling and scratching her around her udder and would often run a milky fluid as a result of the stimulation so I expect the filly was getting a little something. The filly had come from a very bad background and was probably weaned the day she went to market and was saved from the meatman. If the gelding isn't bothered, I wouldn't be either. The foal will grow out of it when it feels secure.
 
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