How long to keep mare and foal apart for?

[Marigold4]

My mare went away last week so that I could properly wean her from her foal and so that the foal could learn to be independent. Foal has a companion foal for company and an older nanny gelding to keep them in order. How long would you keep the mare and foal apart for? I was thinking 3 months but if I could bring the mare home sooner I would prefer to.

 

[Cortez]

My mare went away last week so that I could properly wean her from her foal and so that the foal could learn to be independent. Foal has a companion foal for company and an older nanny gelding to keep them in order. How long would you keep the mare and foal apart for? I was thinking 3 months but if I could bring the mare home sooner I would prefer to.

2 - 3 weeks would probably do it (i.e. the mare's milk will have dried off), but I'd leave them apart for longer if possible, a month maybe?

 

[Pinkvboots]

We used to leave it about a month and often they were put back out together but milk has gone so they were fine.

 

[ihatework]

For the actual weaning, ie to dry the mare up and to stop the foal wanting to suckle, 4 weeks. But personally I’d stick to the 3 months separation to assist in just establishing the foals independence

 

[Sanversera]

We were always taught 6 weeks was the right amount of time,any sooner and it was risking the weaning process.

 

[Sanversera]

For the actual weaning, ie to dry the mare up and to stop the foal wanting to suckle, 4 weeks. But personally I’d stick to the 3 months separation to assist in just establishing the foals independence

Yes

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks, everyone. I was intending 3 months and hope to stick to that but the mare has lost so much weight in less than a week. The stud owner is very experienced and checking her carefully for signs of mastitis. Mare is pretty calm but stud owner says the emotional shock of being separated from her foal would be causing the loss of weight. She thinks she will turn a corner in a couple of weeks. She has adlib hay but we don't want to feed her too much hard food while she's drying off. If she doesn't regain weight I might bring her back sooner rather than later but we'll see how she does. She will have to stay till after xmas at the very least as I'm away.

 

[Asha]

Ours tend to dry up around the 3 week mark. So if theyve been sent away i bring them back then and pop them in a different field from the foal for a couple of weeks ( or until they look settled). I wouldnt worry about the mare loosing weight at this stage, thats normal and quiet helpful too ( if you have a good doer). My chunk of an ID has just been weaned, foal is absolutely fine. Didnt blink an eye, but mum isnt happy and has lost some weight as well. But TBH im happy with that as shes a bit of a porker.
Weaning isnt the nicest stage, but sounds like you are on the ball.

 

[twiggy2]

Can you keep them in separate fields when she comes back?

 

[Marigold4]

Just a quick update for those who helpfully offered advice. My foal is very settled and loves her companion foal. Gelding is doing a great job of nannying them both. The mare has settled at livery, bag is right down and she putting weight back on. So for the moment, all is well!