How can i make this situation better for him?

AMW said:
good luck and let us know how you get on Spotty. Dont worry about the weaning, had a few where it was done this way. One Highland foal we bought was led into the trailer with his mum, she was taken out and he was tied with a rope at either side and travelled 2 hours down the road, not ideal but did him no lasting harm. Also had one who was split from her mum at a sale, she wasnt even 4 months old, now that did pee me off.
I got my new foal last night, she hasnt had any handling but seems quite happy and lets you touch and scratch her. She has her headcollar and grab rope on in the stable. Will be a week or 2 til she goes out, we have another 2 foals we bought recently, they are now going out together. Its an exciting time getting a foaly and watching them progress and growing.
Look forward to him arriving, be excited and enjoy! (Im nearly 50 and I still get that feeling lol)
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Thanks AMW :), just been to the yard and sorted out his bed - it's very deep and banked up so he won't scuff himself when he scats about hopefully!

Good to hear your story about weaning this way- i really really hope it'll go ok for Hugo and me.. I shall be taking million's of photo's and posting lots of updates (not to much that its boring for everyone - don't worry!).. I really can't wait! :D
 
I have just weaned my foal on saturday, she was only 4 1/2 months so I was mega worried about them being stressed and it all going hopelessly wrong but she is so big and was running the mare down - just to add this was recommended by the vet

I have limited set up but as they were living in a herd just took mare away and left foal with her friends - basically neither of them cared, foal didn't winney or even trot around!!

I checked again in the evening and I was up at 1st light today.............she is fine and just munching away at her hay with her friend.

Anyway I am sure all will be ok with your new foal but just to add vet has advised me not to bother with feed unless she badly drops off and just feed adlib 2nd grade haylage or hay. TBH my other foal who is now 4yrs old never had hardfeed either as a foal / weanling again he was quite mature for his age certainly hasn't done him any harm and I had no OCD worries.
 
Meandtheboys - thanks for that :D sounds like that was a nice, straight forward weaning! Only reason i'm talking about feed is because sadly the area we have for grazing is *****e.. there's about 2.5 acres split into two and neither side is very green or long.. (about 2 inches long..) so i think he'll probably need something to keep the weight/condition on him? :confused: i have no other alternative but to keep him where he is until we move house - next year HOPEFULLY.
 
just wanted to add and hope it puts your mind at rest a little. My newly arrived foal who was weaned a few days ago, bundled in a trailer and got chipped in there before being delivered. she was a little shell shocked when she arrived, I have used that to my advantage and she is such a little sweetheart, she is just loving attention and reassurance. Is eating happily now despite not having had any feed other than grass and milk all summer, she whinnies on me and has learnt the delight of having a cuddle and getting her head and neck scratched, she falls asleep :) I havent been smacked off a wall once by her and she doesnt charge away. she is an absaloute sweetie and I am very pleased with her.
I really hope you get as much pleasure when your lad arrives :)
 
Just to say, when I got my weanling home last year he wouldn't eat anything (other than grass) for about a week, I was tearing my hair out and bought just about every type of feed in the shop!!
Then one day he just decided he would eat.. knowing him as I do now, he's an outwardly calm but inwardly stressy chap and he was just stressed. So be prepared for a few days hunger strike!!
 
AMW - Thank you so much for posting :) sounds like it happens more often then not! Glad your's is all working out well - i shall update you all friday asap :)

foxy1- Ok i shall fully expect a hunger strike - i can only hold out and hope he'll start to eat soon.. if in worse case scenario .. should i resort back to milk pellets? or stay away and wait?

:)
 
Tiptoes was on hunger strike for 2 days but is clearing everything now. The other 2 foals we got came with their regular feeds so we could gradually change them over
 
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