more weaning questions

[Dizzykizzy]

Have separated my mare and foal with just a wooden fence between them. Foal is with her yearling companion who she's been turned out with all summer and so far it seems to be working ok.
Except the mare is getting really, really full and whenever her foal whinnies she is literally pumping milk out.
Any advice on how to help her and how long does it take roughly for the milk to dry up.
I have moved foal and yearling over a bit so now there is a paddock betwen them. Nobody seems particularly distressed.

Also after doing a quick search everything I read has suggested I should be supplementing the foal with hard feed now.Her Mum is a normandy cob (extremely good doer) and the foal is a chunky type. We have plenty of decent grass at the moment. Do I need to give her hard feed yet too?

Thanks!

 

[nikkiportia]

How long have they been seperated?
We take our mares to the other end of the stud when we wean, out of earshot (just about!) and cut the food right down, although they still get a handful (they are TB's) until the milk has dried up, then we increase the feed again as they are in foal again.
As for the foal, it really is up to the individual, some will do well on good haylage/hay but they should have a supplement such as surelimb or even a cup or 2 of suregrow. Ours being TB's are getting suregrow and yearling cubes at the moment.
As for the milk, it will take a week or 2 to dry up, and it is quite normal for the milk to run everywhere especially all down the back legs! Lol. Just keep an eye out for mastitis, if the mare seems really full and swollen, milk a little off her to check the consistency. If it's thick and she is sore, then call your vet. Mastitis is usually quite easy to clear up with 'dry cow', it's just treating it thats the hard bit

 

[Dizzykizzy]

Thank you Nikkiportia, we only separated them yesterday. They aren't calling, well very occasionally, so haven't had to take out of earshot (thankfully as we don't have anywhere out of earshot!)
Will foalie need hay/haylage even though we have loads of really good grass at the moment?
I will feed her in a few weeks after the September flush has gone over but was hoping for now she'll be ok on grazing. Don't want to start feeding them all yet and it's impossible to feed one and not the rest and the sheep will want it too!
Mare isn't in foal and is a very good doer so I have left her in the paddock she was in which does have reasonable grass. I don't have anywhere without grass at the moment and if I confine her to a smaller area she will start running through fences.
She's going away as soon as her bag goes down to resume a ridden career with my friend.

 

[nikkiportia]

Oh the mare will be fine without hard feed I'm sure, and if you have as much grass as you say then I'm sure foalie will be fine too. I'd personally like to give the foal a little just so you can get the vits and mins into it. In fact we give ours paddock buckets (licks) as well, which would be ideal for yours if you don't want to give hard feed just yet.
Here's the link http://www.equiformnutrition.co.uk/horse-supplements/PADDOCK-MINERAL-BUCKET-p-42.html
Ours are supplied by a local company, but these ones look exactly the same and are no doubt the same thing just with a different label on

 

[Maesfen]

I echo NP entirely but also, have always been told that the mare will continue to produce milk and not dry up by being in constant contact with her foal; in other words, they need to be out of sight and earshot immediately for her to start to dry up quickly. Is there any chance she can go to your friend's and start her walk work now, that would help her a lot?
You didn't say how old foal is either which might have some bearing on this.

 

[KarynK]

I do the same as you have done separate them by a fence, but what I do to assist the mare is to allow the foal to feed a small amount and avoid a full udder and the risk of mastitis.

On separation I allow the foal on a lead rope to feed just enough 2x per day to take off the worst of the milk, but it is important not to drain the udder completely. If you do this for a couple of days the udder should begin taking longer to fill completely. Then move on to once a day then once every other day as necessary and you will find the milk dries up quickly without discomfort to the mare.

It works very well for me and I have used the method for 5-6 years. Hope that helps

 

[teabiscuit]

you could always milk the mare yourself to relieve the full bag?

then you don't have to mess about taking the foal in and out. it isn't difficult and you don't have to do it for very long

 

[KarynK]

Call me lazy but Im not about to start crawling under several mares some of whom might get a bit uncomfortable, besides it is good discipline to handle the foals in that way and gives them a gradual weaning too which helps eliminate stress and avoids a sudden withdrawl of milk from their diet.