Foal Weaning Technique Questionnaire

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TashiiCollege

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Hi, i am a student from Hadlow College doing my Extended Diploma in Horse Management and i am in my final year. For my research I have chosen “Which weaning technique is most popular and the reason for it.”I would be very grateful if you can spare a few minutes to complete my questionnaire as this will help towards my project.

Please can you answer each question fully and in detail. Thank You.

Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below

a)- 3 months
b)- 4 months
c)- 5 months
d)- 6 months
e)- Other (Specify)


Other: ________________________________


Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.)
b)- Abrupt (Go to Q4.)


Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

a)- Paddock weaning (Group of mares and foals, take a mare out one at a time)
b)- Fence line weaning (Mare and foal separated by fence line)
c)- Take mare away for a period of time
d)- Put mare in the next stable
e)- Use a nanny when mare is taken away
f)- Other (Specify)


Other:____________________________________________________________________________

Q4.) If abrupt, what is your method of weaning your foal?

a)- Put foal with a nanny
b)- Take mare away and leave the foal on its own
c)- Put the foal with other foals
d)- Other (specify)


Other:____________________________________________________________________________

Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

a)- Yes
b)- No


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for filling out my questionnaire.
 
The recommended weaning age is 7 months, anything less is asking for behavioural problems.
I sold my mare with foal, un-weaned at 14 months because I was unable to separate them due to lack of facilities, and mum was really a great mother, not standing for any nonsense whatsoever!
 
I wean at 5 months and have always done the abrupt method

I leave foal in the stable (which has mums smell) and normally bring one of my other youngsters in to go next to them - i then walk mum out and take her to a friends yard over the road (not in hearing distance)

Foal settles nearly straight away then goes straight in the field with the yearling that was next door

After a few days they are turned out with the other youngsters on my hay field and the mare comes back and is kept in for a few weeks.

have done this with all 6 foals and never had a problem all grown up with brilliant manners and been complete angels to do everything with x
 
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Hi, i am a student from Hadlow College doing my Extended Diploma in Horse Management and i am in my final year. For my research I have chosen “Which weaning technique is most popular and the reason for it.”I would be very grateful if you can spare a few minutes to complete my questionnaire as this will help towards my project.

Please can you answer each question fully and in detail. Thank You.

Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below

a)- 3 months
b)- 4 months
c)- 5 months
d)- 6 months - Pref though depends on foal growth as some need to come off sooner
e)- Other (Specify)


Other: ________________________________


Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.) - This now but have used abrupt & would not rule it out
b)- Abrupt (Go to Q4.)


Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

a)- Paddock weaning (Group of mares and foals, take a mare out one at a time)
b)- Fence line weaning (Mare and foal separated by fence line)
c)- Take mare away for a period of time
d)- Put mare in the next stable
e)- Use a nanny when mare is taken away
f)- Other (Specify)


Other:_A bit of all the above, there will be at least one companion_& when old enough mare comes back into work. Nearer weaning they will spend night times apart then at 6+mths put in seperate paddocks. But it can change depending on how the mare & foal are with each other. So really it is what works for us all.__________________________________________ ________________________________

Q4.) If abrupt, what is your method of weaning your foal?

a)- Put foal with a nanny
b)- Take mare away and leave the foal on its own
c)- Put the foal with other foals
d)- Other (specify)


Other:____________________________________________ ________________________________

Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

a)- Yes
b)- No


__Not so far________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?__________________________________________________ _____Less stress & sterio typical behaviour has been linked to the stress of weaning_____________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Thank you for filling out my questionnaire.
 
Miss L Toe said:
The recommended weaning age is 7 months, anything less is asking for behavioural problems.Sorry, mine obviously haven't read the book, I have to disagree with this, the majority of mine are weaned at 6 months, or 5, depending on mare and foal condition. None of them have any behavioural problems whatsoever, in fact two have gone on to be Therapy horses.
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Enfys said:
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I agree mine have fairly much all weaned at 5 1/2 months, due to size of foal, independence and starting to drag mum down, none have behavioural problems. I wonder if there is a difference between the larger and smaller breeds, mine are all big warmbloods.
 
TashiiCollege said:
Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below

c)- 5 months
d)- 6 months

It really all depends on the individuals and the condition of the mare and foal. If a foal is really dragging a mare down then it comes off sooner rather than later.

Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.)


Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

b)- Fence line weaning (Mare and foal separated by fence line)
e)- Use a nanny when mare is taken away

Foal stays with the herd and mare goes into an adjoining paddock, they can touch but not nurse.

Or...mare stays in with the herd and foal goes in with a nanny. Entirely dependent on the horses and their situation. I, personally, think of gradual weaning as only allowing the foal restricted access to a mare.



Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

a)- Yes

I am fortunate in that I have several paddocks that adjoin others, a large, settled mare herd and a choice of reliable nannies. I do have suitable stalls for abrupt weaning if I chose, but have never used them yet.

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?[/B

Selfishly, the paddocks are underneath my windows, I hate hearing mares and foals yelling for each other.

Thank you for filling out my questionnaire.
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:):)
 
Last edited:
Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below



Other: __Not until at least 7 or 8 months usually not until their 1st spring depending on the Mares condition through the winter.

Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.)


Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

f)- Other (Specify)
Other:_Fence line weaning but I take the foal in with the mare to feed occasionally to assist the milk drying up.

________________________________

Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

a)- Yes

My horses live as a herd as soon as the foal is old enough in this way they are introduced to the herd with their mother. The mare and foal paddocks have post and rail and a line of electric so the foal learns about it. I use just electric fencing to separate at weaning so that if either mare or foal panics they can get to each other. The foal is usually in with other members of the herd and at that older age rarely is bothered by the fact it’s mother is the other side of the fence.

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?
The gradual approach in my opinion negates stress on the part of both mare and foal and assists the mare by avoiding mastitis. My foals are very well handled from day one and so this also assists in the process and sets them up for their adult life. Mine do not have to deal with the stress of being handled and being weaned at a critical stage of their growth process, they simply are next door to their mother with their family and do cool things with the human on a leadrope not far away!.

Thank you for filling out my questionnaire.
 
Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below


d)- 6 months



Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.)


Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?


f)- Other (Specify)


Other: We wean 2-3 pairs at a time - from the same group. Foals go into a large corner box - mares either side. Weldmesh above 4 feet so mares can sniff/talk to foals - reduces stress. Twice a day we lead them all to the manege and let them play/suckle for 20 minutes. Benefits: helps mares to dry off without undue discomfort, lets foals adjust to more hard feed/haylage and less milk, and gives us a concentrated period to lead/handle foals. After 4-5 days, take mares to furthest field - together. Foals moved to even bigger stable (2-3 together in box 15 x 24) - they're led to the manege together for another few days before starting day turnout in a field well away from mares.


Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?


b)- No - having tried abrupt weaning and had one mare go beserk and lose pregnancy, I prefer gradual!


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for filling out my questionnaire.[/QUOTE]
 
TashiiCollege said:
Hi, i am a student from Hadlow College doing my Extended Diploma in Horse Management and i am in my final year. For my research I have chosen “Which weaning technique is most popular and the reason for it.”I would be very grateful if you can spare a few minutes to complete my questionnaire as this will help towards my project.

Please can you answer each question fully and in detail. Thank You.

Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below


d)- 6 months



Other: ________________________________


Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (Go to Q3.)



Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

c)- Take mare away for a period of time




Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

b)- No


Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?

Prefer gradual as foals seem to be less stressy as adults and get far fewer issues with mastitis in the mares.
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Q1.) At what age do you wean your foal? Tick your answer below

Other: We weaned Blitz at 9 months, and by then he had practically weaned himself

Q2.) What weaning technique do you use?

a)- Gradual (mix)

Q3.) If gradual, what is your method of weaning your foal?

c)- Take mare away for a period of time (then take foal away)

For a week leading up to their separation, Blitz was taken away from his mum for increasing period per day, then he was moved to a different yard. Neither Blitz nor mum has shown any signs of separation anxiety

Q5.) Do the facilities you have determine which weaning method you use? If yes, what facilities do you have?

b)- No

Q6.) Why do you prefer to use Gradual or Abrupt?

I have no experience with multiple foals... this is my first one!
 
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