Foals. How important is it for them to have playmates?

PapaFrita

PapaFrita

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It seems pretty obvious that foals should be around other horses as much as poss so that they're properly 'socialised' but how important is it for the other horses to be foals too? When PF had her last foal, my other mare had one too so the foals played and interacted together as well as with the other mares (there were 2 more in addition to the mums). Now that I'm thinking very seriously of putting PF in foal later this year, I want to do what's best for her and baby. HOWEVER, turning her away for the kindergarten years is not something I look forward to doing as every mare I've seen come back from stud here has come back looking like sh:t. This is partly management and partly lack of rain, but IMO inexcusable so would like to keep her as close to me as poss. This might not be with other foals though.
Anyway, sorry for rambling, but any ideas?
 
It is good for foals to grow up in a heard environment, but this does not necessarily mean it has to be another foal. Many people I know put them in with small ponies etc.

Yes it would be great if we could all run our youngsters in small herds, but this is not always possible. On the continent you tend to find several breeders will get together and run their youngsters together so that they grow up in young herds.

Last year we had a foal on his own and he was in with his mother and another mare. Granted we then put him in with another colt later on but I would not say this is a necessity......just as long as they have something else to help instill the manners.....
 
I think it is an IDEAL for foals to have playmates, rather than a necessity.
My mare is in foal, and the little one will be born into our established 'herd' of 4 (maybe 3 by then, depending on Cybele's progress
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The plan is to try and raise the little one here, 2 of mine are very playful and should hopefully teach the little one how to be a 'horse' once it is older and I can turn them out to play together without having a heartattack about the youngster geting overpowered. This is as long as the baby is quite confident about life.
But... if I end up with a timid little thing then I will most likely send Mum and Baby away to stud so that the little one can socialise with others of his/her own age, and hopefully become more confident about life and sociable, and then be moved back home when appropriate.

Not sure what you should do though, sorry!
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Hi, I think it is advantageous for foals to have young companions, but sometimes, as Anastasia said it isn't possible.

Mine doesn't have another youngster to play with so she has to make do with being in the company of a couple of other horses, neither of which actually 'play' with her, but she does at least have the company of someone else other than her dam.

Would you have to send PF and foal away? Do the studs offer that service? I agree it would be difficult what to do for the best, do you keep them alone to your standards, or with the opportunity to socialise and perhaps not up to your requirements? I think I would go for the first option and perhaps find a youngster to act as a companion, which would also be helpful when/if you wean the foal.
 
I think having a playmate would make it easier, but Hannah and Troy have been on their own now for nearly five months and seem quite content with each others company. He is starting to want to play a bit rougher now (she does play with him which is very sweet to watch) so I am looking forwards to him going away and having some other company than just his Mum.
 
bey grew up with mum and they were next door to other horses all the time.she only went in with another horse at 9months old and she was fine.
she was great in fact-a little nervous at times but i choose the fieldmate carefully and they were mutual grooming within 10mins!they were really lovely together.
shes been out with 3 other horses(one at a time)
i would have loved for her to go out with other horses earlier but i was at livery yards so it wasnt possible.it hasnt affected her at all she fits into a group of 3 fine.
ideally i would have liked her to grow up with other mares and foals
mostly ive been at places where no one else wanted/were allowed to put their horse to go in with other horses
 
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how important is it for the other horses to be foals too?

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My answer to this question 3 months ago would have been VERY. However now I don't actually think it is. Our little 3 month old foal is perfectly happy playing with my big horses. I actually think that she is probably far better behaved than she might have been if there were lots of other foals. Our foal has her mum, dad, 1 pregnant mare and 3 other geldings in her field and they keep her entertained. She will have another foal to play with in a months time so it'll be nice to see her playing with someone her own size for a change.
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Last years colt did not suffer, he was grazed next door to the other mares & when he was 3mths both mares (1 at a time) were introduced. He is now a yearling & is in with the mare & foal from this year. They will remain a herd & hopefully when it comes to weaning he will be happy to stay with the yearling while his mum goes into the other paddock which is fenced off with electric. Once the dam's milk has dried off they will be a threesome again. This is what happened last year with the yearling when it came to weaning he stayed with the other 2 mares & his dam went into the paddock next door, they were in separate stables at night & there was not problems what so ever.
 
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