Foal needs to be gelded before he can leave

[Nikkimac23]

Hi this is early days but just trying to get my head around the logistics so planning can be done

our mare had her bogof foal a week ago a little colt he is stunning and as much as we would love to keep him we can’t and we have a family who want him (they contacted us when we announced saf was in Foal back in November

he will go on weaning at 6 months however the yard he is going to require him to be gelded and it will be august time will this be practical ?

 

[ycbm]

For planning purposes, I don't think you can guarantee that his testicles will be there to take off, even if he has them now.

The vets I know would be very reluctant to castrate in August, the wound is almost always dripping blood because of how it's done, and that's not a good idea with flies around.
.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Will weaned lad be going out with others the same age?

Firstly, speak to your vet. They will be best to advise. Summer is not a good time for an open op.
However, any gelding op really can only be 'simply' done if he actually has both down. No vet will want to do early and then turn a routine op into a drama because one hasn't yet dropped. You'll need to make contingency plans in case of this.
Good luck.

 

[Nikkimac23]

Yea this is what I thought
Selfishly keen to get them weaned at 6 months so my daughter is able to actually get her pony for the purpose intended she’s 14 and it’s her first pony and she’s obviously not been able to ride her since we found out in November
She’s been amazing with saf and has cared for her implicitly and religiously but it would be good to have some of the better months to work on bringing her back into work

 

[Nikkimac23]

Will weaned lad be going out with others the same age?

Firstly, speak to your vet. They will be best to advise. Summer is not a good time for an open op.
However, any gelding op really can only be 'simply' done if he actually has both down. No vet will want to do early and then turn a routine op into a drama because one hasn't yet dropped. You'll need to make contingency plans in case of this.
Good luck.

Yes he will that’s something I was really keen to know when he moves he is going to be appropriately socialised and with others

 

[ycbm]

I know people who have happily worked a mare with an unweaned foal. At that age she might be quite happy about it. It's also fairer on the foal, I think, if he has some time getting used to not being with his mother before he is taken away completely.
.

 

[twiggy2]

He may no have dropped by then and its better to castrate when there are no flies as there is far less infection risk.
My biggest concern though would be what sort of yard a 6 month old foal would be going to if it requires him to be castrated at such a young age before arriving.
If he is with other youngsters and living out castration is not needed at 6 months

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yea this is what I thought
Selfishly keen to get them weaned at 6 months so my daughter is able to actually get her pony for the purpose intended she’s 14 and it’s her first pony and she’s obviously not been able to ride her since we found out in November
She’s been amazing with saf and has cared for her implicitly and religiously but it would be good to have some of the better months to work on bringing her back into work

You can start to lightly work her for 10 mins a day or so with either foal loose (if he isn't a pest) or leaving him secure, but ONLY for a very short while, once you get to late June to August. It can help weaning process, but you'll need to be very aware that you don't distress him or her.

 

[Nikkimac23]

I know people who have happily worked a mare with an unweaned foal. At that age she might be quite happy about it. It's also fairer on the foal, I think, if he has some time getting used to not being with his mother before he is taken away completely.
.

That might be an option! Just not completely sure of how to logistically do it do you start to separate them for small periods of time to work with mum or work with foal at foot? I know it’s a while away but my busy mind can’t help forward thinking

 

[Nikkimac23]

He may no have dropped by then and its better to castrate when there are no flies as there is far less infection risk.
My biggest concern though would be what sort of yard a 6 month old foal would be going to if it requires him to be castrated at such a young age before arriving.
If he is with other youngsters and living out castration is not needed at 6 months

Yes I think I might speak to her and see if she can look at alternatives

 

[ycbm]

That might be an option! Just not completely sure of how to logistically do it do you start to separate them for small periods of time to work with mum or work with foal at foot? I know it’s a while away but my busy mind can’t help forward thinking

I have heard of people doing several ways, in the arena with foal at foot, foal shut in a stable, foal left in a field with auntie. Some mares and foals are perfectly happy with that, some make a big fuss, you'll need to play it by ear, I think.

 

[cauda equina]

For inspiration...

 

[twiggy2]

Honestly and I know its not easy, unless they are aware that he needs to be living out I wouldn't be selling to them, far too many youngsters are messed up due to being treated like adult horses, they need handling whilst qith mum then chucking out jn a youngsters herd to grow up for 2 or 3 years not being messed about with, rugged up and stabled, I have dealt with the fallout from this a coupe of times, most noticeably with my last mare, it took her a very long time to stop fence running and she always resorted to it a tines of stress and she hammered the fields for the first 6 to 8 months, she was inly 2.

 

[gallopingby]

I usually castrate colt foals while still with the mare it’s much nicer for them but obviously the colt has to be ready. Alternatively l would look at moving to a yard where he’ll be with other colts until ready to castrate. Weaning at 6 months is ok, some people go slightly early, but the weather/ flies have to be right so usually October is a good time depending on your situation etc

 

[gallopingby]

Actually we usually keep weaned foals in at night for the first winter it makes things much easier in terms of handling etc but it depends where you live, how much land you have and the weather.

 

[Nikkimac23]

Actually we usually keep weaned foals in at night for the first winter it makes things much easier in terms of handling etc but it depends where you live, how much land you have and the weather.

I think that will be the plan he will be out with others during the day and in at night during winter - she has just messaged me to say he can go ungelded to be done in the autumn not the best situation but we are trying to do the best we can fit both of them given our situation

 

[Nikkimac23]

Honestly and I know its not easy, unless they are aware that he needs to be living out I wouldn't be selling to them, far too many youngsters are messed up due to being treated like adult horses, they need handling whilst qith mum then chucking out jn a youngsters herd to grow up for 2 or 3 years not being messed about with, rugged up and stabled, I have dealt with the fallout from this a coupe of times, most noticeably with my last mare, it took her a very long time to stop fence running and she always resorted to it a tines of stress and she hammered the fields for the first 6 to 8 months, she was inly 2.

He will be out with others - stabled in winter overnight though I believe

 

[maya2008]

Talk to your vet about bringing mum back into work before weaning, once the foal is six months or so and you’re waiting for castration. They can tell you what you can/cannot do.

Is there a pony on the yard your daughter could share in the meantime, so she doesn’t have to wait so long to ride?

 

[Clodagh]

He will be out with others - stabled in winter overnight though I believe

I’m sure you and they know but a just weaned foal can’t be turned out with adults. Bar a sensible ‘nanny’ type. Others may disagree, and I have only weaned one.

 

[tda]

Had our two yearling Colts vet checked last week (both 1yr old in May ) out of a possible 4 testicles, there is 1
Hoping that all will be present before it gets too warm.
This is the third year running I have had a colt to geld and none of them had testicles descended before they were 11 months old

 

[Caol Ila]

My experience with a BOGOF was that the 'trial separation' thing did not work at all. The foal's owner would stay with him while I took mom into the school, and the baby would be distraught. His owner thought weaning practice was a good idea, but I finally put my foot down and said I would not do it anymore.

I also found that working Mom with foal at foot only worked if someone had the colt on a lead. He was a hyper, rambunctious little guy, and if he did not have his own person to keep him busy, he would participate in the training session by hurtling around and leaping on top of Mom, with hooves flying everywhere. Not that safe if you were handling the mare, who was rubbish at disciplining him.

The two had been turned out with a group of mares, who saw themselves as the foal's aunties. When we weaned, we took Mom to a different part of the yard and left foal with the aunties. He whinnied a couple times, but hardly noticed. He was about seven months old. About a month later, the vet located two testicles and off they went. This was in February. It sure made YO happy. She understandably wasn't keen to have an intact almost-yearling colt on the yard come spring, though she would have found some way deal if he was slow to drop. Luckily, she didn't have to. Anyway, by February, we had bonded the foal with his owner's old gelding, so the old guy kept him company and comforted him while he became less of a man.