help its a foal

[melanie56]

Brought my mare at end of November, by start of May vet gave news she was in foal 3 weeks later Harvey appeared and I KNOW NOTHING about foals. Help needed, how do I wean him when I only have mum. When do I get him "done" some say 1 year others 5 months on. Looking at the way he is always on his mothers back sooner would be better than later. I'm not exactly a spring chicken myself. Mum is 14.2 but he is going to be bigger no idea of father but I have to say hes a little cracker but can I cope? Has anyone else been in this situation and offer any advice.

 

[magic104]

Oh yes in deed more then once!! The 1st time when the mare was bought Nov & foaled Apr 4th. It was not so bad for me as I had already bred a foal & had spent my teenage yrs surrounded by brood mares. Gelding takes place anytime after the colt has dropped. If you are unlucky & he only drops one side then he will have to undergo an op to find the offending testi. Weaning can take place gradual or you just remove the mare from ear shot. Each situation is different will depend on the mare & foal I have used both methods but prefer the gradual system. You can start by putting them in separate stables at night, this also helps to dry up the milk. To get Harvey used to this you can start by putting him in there to give him a small feed & some hay/haylage with mum outside. How long it takes for them to settle again depends on them. This years colt was born beginning of June & is happy to stay in the paddock with the yearling while mum goes off to be ridden. Last year the colt was introduced to my other two mares after grazing in the next paddock after 2mths. When it came to weaning he was established in that group & was not concerned when it came to being weaned. This was hurried as at 5mth he ran into a wheelbarrow & had to go on box rest, so I took this time to wean him. When he was allowed out with the others his mum was grazing in the next paddock & he was fine with this, but the fencing is electric which I think is the safest option. So I would find a friend for him before the weaning process starts, it does not have to be another youngster, but does need to be fairly steady & not shod behind. The thing is what works for one does not always work for another & each circumstances need to be looked at. Becki took hers to a stud with the intention of taking the mare away later on so that is another option.

 

[kerilli]

have him cut at about 6-7 months, if he's looking strong etc. as soon as his hormones kick in and he thinks he's Jack the Lad, basically! fillies climb all over mum as well, so that doesn't mean much!
let her wean him, at about 10-12 months, ideally.
i've got a copy of "Foal To 5 Years" you could borrow/have if you wanted, it's pretty good!
as far as handling him is concerned, lots and lots, and put his manners in place. it'll pay dividends later! don't let him barge, don't let him step into your space (like the scene in Dirty Dancing... "this is my space"... don't let him walk into it, ever! push him back out if he does. i think this is the biggest lesson of all.)
good luck! rearing youngsters is SO rewarding, i'm sure you'll cope.

 

[dobbin5]

You will be absolutely fine, it is very rewarding bringing up and handling your horse from a foal, you know where they have been and know everything about them. I agree that foal is the best time to make the rules of your partnership, they may be small and cute but they are always learning and the quicker you sort out who is in charge the better. I have bred quite a few foals and have brought up and broken all but one of my horses and the ones that I have brought up from foals had a deep trust in me right the way through making it a breeze to ride them. As for gelding it does depend on each horse, my rising three year old was so laid back that I only cut him at the beginning of this year but some can be a handful from 6months and I had the luxury of him being in with only geldings who he didnt bother much. I wish you all the best and I am sure that you will find that you will manage fine most of it is just common sense

 

[MissMistletoe]

Hi melanieb. How strange!! i read your thread and it sounds just like my current scenario!! I aquired a rescue case 14.2 mare at the end of last november too!! and guess what? i found out at the beginning of may that she was 'expecting' too!!! On 4th july a beautiful bay filly foal arrived and she will make at least 15.3! My poor Char, the sire must have been massive! I would love to know who he was. I helped during the birth, as foal got a little stuck, and i pierced the amnion to allow her little nose to poke through! All i can say is that the past 2 1/2 months have been the most beautifully rewardingly scary months of my life!!. Like you I'd never been a 'grannie' before! Without feed helplines, books: From Foal to Full Grown, From Birth to Backing (really good) I would have struggled, but every day brings something new as this little person develops and grows in front of you, bringing challenges and fresh experiences. My friend had her colt 'cut' at 4 months, as he was trying to cover his mum. I am weaning next spring when the weather is better,so will keep mum on her stud balancer to keep the milk production going through winter. I will use the gradual weaning method, which is where you put mum and foal in adjacent paddocks where they can sniff each other over the fence, and gradually increase the time that they spend apart in these seperate paddocks until they are seperate all the time. Is it possible for you to arrange to keep the 2 of them at another yard with other mares and foals, so you can wean colt with other foals? Good luck and enjoy your surprise gift.

 

[jelibean]

Exciting stuff like that never happens to me, your very lucky to have such a nice suprise! I'm sure people may disagree with my method, but i weaned my colt at 7months. It took some deciding but i did some readin and I couldnt see any reason not to. My colt was very strong, healthy and independant but was draggin my mare down quite badly, no amount of food suppliments or anything would help, both have done excellent ever since and I have no regrets.