stable and grazing management of the foal

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Poppys Nannan

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I have a weaned foal who i put out into a paddock on a morning and bring her in at dinnertime put her out again for a few hours at teatime. Part of this has been due to issues in placing her with my mare (not so tolerant)

Routine is
Morning - put foal in paddock bring mare in and feed them both their hard feed and let them graze - this is going ok foal seems to be accepting warnings from mare but both appear to be getting nearer each other without dispute!
Observe while poo picking adjoining paddocks and doing water for everyone etc.

I have gradually increased time in field together up to about 3 hours now.

Then remove mare from field and then take foal back to stable.

teatime - take foal to paddock bring mare in and same as morning.

What do you think to this routine?

Should i continue increasing times together or stay with it as it is?
How long before i can leave them together all day?

What is everyone doing re: stabling / leaving foal out at night?

Thank you for reading x
 
As in breeding post - YO foal not really an option at the minute so trying with my mare as above, thats why i explained my routine as i have decided to try it to see what people think.

Thank you x
 
So, just to be clear - you're prepared to risk potential fatal injury to your weanling by putting it out with your mare who will not tollerate it - but do not want to risk putting it with YO's youngster because of the risk of potential injury:confused:
 
No that isn't the case, more a case of observing and being in place to prevent injury, by monitoring the situation, the warning signs and guidance by the mares attitude and demeanour.

I take umbridge with your suggestion as that is clearly not the case.
 
I have been following your posts and I am confused as to why you are asking again. You were given suggestions that this was probably an unsafe option but have decided it is managable - which is of course your choice. However why ask if all you seem to want is a verificaiton that your choice is fine.

For me it would not be a safe option and I would be seeking another alternative even if it meant moving yards or borrowing another youngster/old safe horse.

I am unsure how you will intervene in time if your mare suddenly turns on the little one - one kick is all it takes and things can happen very very quickly.

The foal, (in my uneducated and not vastly experienced opinion) would benefit from as much turnout as it can get in safe surroundings with a companion to play with. Having said that our 8 month old weanling went out with my elderly (25yo at the time) unshod 14h pony mare which worked well. However they were carefully introduced at his breeders home and then slowly separated from the herd into a pair when it was clear they got along.

I think you have been given some sound advice and if you choose not to take it then fine, but why keep asking if you don't like the answers:confused: I hope it all goes well for the foal.
 
I think you are mistaking my posts on this forum they are to seek opinioins and advice but i am sure you are aware that opinions on just about everything differs therefore it would be impossible to follow every piece of advice. Also not everyone thinks the same and different advice has been offered - not just on here but in other environments as well.

Suggestions are gratefully received, considering you have been following my posts, i think you will see i have asked different questions not the same ones

thanks for your time
 
Poppys Nannan said:
Suggestions are gratefully received, considering you have been following my posts, i think you will see i have asked different questions not the same ones
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The replies you are getting on here are really based on your post in breeding - in which you stated that your mare was not tollerant of the weanling - to the extent that it jumped out of its field to escape the mares abuse.

Your post here makes it sound as if the mare is being more tollerant, but is not 100%.

So whilst the routine you are establishing sounds good - and you are on hand to rescue the weanling should you need to - the concern remains that your mare is not a safe companion.

You have also stated in your other post that your weanling could go out with your YO's youngster - which sounds like the perfect solution - youngsters need youngsters. However as you are worried about potential damage to both youngsters this is not something you want to consider.

So, I guess in response to your question here I would say that yes, providing you can stand over the mare and weanling for hours a day to ensure no infraction, it's a good routine. However not one, given your description of the mare, I would be willing to undertake.
 
Thank you i appreciate your reply and do take on board your concerns, hence the staggered and cautious approach.
DO you think in view of the mare having been nasty to foal once that this will always be the case - i am not sure, also hence the attempts at integrating them under surveillance and monitoring and some improvement in their time together. x
 
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Poppys Nannan said:
DO you think in view of the mare having been nasty to foal once that this will always be the case - i am not sure,
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Nor am I to be honest. But it's not a risk I would take - one kick from the mare and it's all over. And you were very lucky that there was no serious or permanent damage when the foal jumped out of the field.

Take the stress out of life - put it with the youngster.

Good luck.
 
Agree with AM completely. Youngsters need youngsters, yes they can play rough but you can't be with them 24 hours a day, they need to be horses otherwise how on earth are they going to grow up and be able to socialise nicely with other horses at all; your mare being a case in point, it's quite hard hearted to put a newly weaned foal in with something like that on a 'wait and see' basis IMO. Far too late when the mare has already started on the poor little mite even if you are there; catching and separating them won't be so easy or safe if the mare really means it.
 
I haven't read any previous posts, but what strikes me is that this weanling only appears to have company for a couple of hours in the day if I understand your routine correctly? I wouldn't be at all happy with that as the weanling needs to learn to be horse by being in a herd environment. Ideally out in a large herd of other youngsters, but I know this is difficult unless you are a breeder or livery the weanling with one. My yearling was out with another youngster and an older horse until the older lad was PTS and now just have the pair yougsters. I am limited by the amount of land I have, otherwise I would always have at least a pair the same age and an older nanny horse and my land very much struggled with 3 on it.

If there is another youngster for it to go out with 24/7 I would do that - no need to be bringing it in IMO. Or consider grass livery out with other youngsters in a herd - I know a lot of breeders that offer this. I would in no way be happy with current routine or having it out with the mare.
 
Thanks for your suggestions,

I am going to discuss again with YO tomorrow, but her foal is 3 months younger than mine and obviously smaller - do you think this is an issue x
 
Poppys Nannan said:
Thanks for your suggestions,

I am going to discuss again with YO tomorrow, but her foal is 3 months younger than mine and obviously smaller - do you think this is an issue x
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Not in the slightest - your mare is probably double the size. Thye will both enjoy playing together
 
Hi, its hard when you have bred your own foal, or bought a lone foal as often livery yards dont have other youngsters... i have a 4 month old foal who is out 24/7 & has been since birth with her mum & a selection of other horses (no youngsters unfortunately) i really would not be happy with the risk of injury to my foal from a mare that is being so openly aggressive, try your best to get your little one out with the YO's baby & if not possible try and find some other easy going companions of any age for your foal to be with. I dont think its such a good idea bringing foal in & out all the time id rather leave foal out 24/7 in a safe herd environment & let him learn good horsey behaviour!

good luck, but i feel your stress ;-)
 
Is there the option of putting the foal somewhere else, in an age appropriate or mixed herd? While I understand people want to handle their young horses and there are things to be said for that, it's also important for them to develop physically and mentally through contact with other horses, preferably ones that aren't trying to kill them. ;)

Your mare has told you in no uncertain terms that she does not welcome the foal. You say she's bullied in her other group so it's not such a shock she's bullying a horse younger and weaker than herself, especially one that's not old or experienced enough to even understand the situation! Your foal has no "herd skills" at all and no mother to protect it, and you're asking it to cope with an openly aggressive horse which is its ONLY source of companionship. It's hardwired to keep trying to get near her and even if she does succeed in teaching it to stay away. . .well, that's just kind of sad. :( Quite apart from the physical risks, that can't be good for the foal's development.

To be honest, there are probably things you can try - gradual introduction, "scenting" the foal as they do with orphans - but what happens to the poor foal in the mean time and what will be your "limit"? As said, if she kicks the foal she could very well kill it.

I know you just want your horses to get along but alas, just like people, they aren't all going to like each other. Who knows, you mare could be the way she is because she wasn't properly socialised.
 
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