Troy's weaning time is very close now...

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Seeing as my posts were taking over someone else's post I thought I should put one up rather than hijacking
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Troy is now 5 months old (22 weeks today... my how time has flown). He is still in a field with just his Mum, Hannah as unfortunately I am on a livery yard where there are no other foals and all the mares have back shoes on. I cannot put a gelding in with Hannah as she has a complete hissy fit and just chases after them constantly, this is therefore not an option as I would never forgive myself if she hurt someone's gelding.

I have found somewhere for Troy to go and be a 'man'. It sounds absolutely perfect! It is someone who comes on here regularly and I trust them with my little boy as they are very experienced and will soon be moving closer to where I live therefore Troy will be only 20 mins drive from me.

At 6 months, the plan is to take Troy and Hannah over to their property, lead Troy away (he is a very confident colt, and is always led in front of Hannah and will lead away from her very happily...) and then reload Hannah and take her home while Troy meets his new friends. I know this is a very abrupt way of weaning, but it is the best option for Troy which is the most important thing to me.

I cannot leave Troy at the yard where I am and move Hannah because there are no horses to turn him out with, therefore he would be unable to have much turnout. He cannot go out with the other geldings because there are a few 'bullies' in the field, and he would not be able to stand them kicking out with back shoes on at such a young age.

I cannot leave Hannah with him as the yard does not have the ability to do a more gradual weaning, and again it would mean them putting their gelding in with Hannah and Troy which I do not think would be advisable
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Ok, now I have given as much detail as I can... I will get to the point of the post
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Hannah and Troy are currently in a 16ft x 11ft stable which is now getting a little bit tight for the two of them. Next to Hannah there is a 10ft x 10ft empty stable (they can touch because the doors are so close) and I have been contemplating feeding Troy in there at night for a few weeks while Hannah has her feed in their stable. I cannot put Hannah in the smaller one because she completely freaks out in them (I have put her in before while I was doing something and she gave herself colic she was that stressed out
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), but there is no bedding in the stable.

Would you think it would be ok to put Troy in there to have his tea most nights without any bedding before putting him back into the one with Hannah? Hannah is eating his feed when she has finished her, so I thought this could be a way of making sure he gets all his hard feed and a way of getting them used to being apart with something to keep their minds occupied.

Also, has anyone any suggestions how I can make sure the whole weaning process goes as calmly as possible? Should I take some Sedalin with me to give Hannah for the returning journey in case she is stressed out? She loads really well, although she has never travelled fantastically well as gets a bit worked up but has definitely improved with time.

Thank you,

Rebecca x
 
Wow, I can't believe how quickly that has gone! It seems like yesterday we were all eagerly awaiting his arrival!

I'd have thought she'd be ok, is Troy her first foal? Once you take her, make sure you load her really quickly so that she doesn't hear him call too much.

Is there no way you can use a stable? Put them both in then nip Hannah out and load her quickly? I'd be a bit worried about weaning in a field that way, if he was kept with other mares and foals now then you gradually take the mares away thats a nice way of doing it but taking mum away and putting him in a field with strangers is quite a bit to take on don't you think?
 
Hi Becki

Go fot it, I did it all the time as I too had a stable empty next door. Let him have his dinner, then a bit of hay etc and he will soon feel comfortable

I realise its a worrying time but you are in the same boat I was and the lead up to it and the day it happens are the worst, once they have a new friend to play with they are very settled. Its also good for him to get some feed as when the milk goes he needs to be used to having that bit of feed

Good luck, if you need some moral support PM me if you want to!
 
Sorry I too would put him in a stable/pen if you can with either a new friend or one next door who he can see. Get him in and get Hannah away asap, my friends kindly stayed with Huey to make sure he was ok whilst we took my mare home, we then came back
 
I agree with SM - taking her away from him just like that is going to be a bit much for her, and suddenly leaving him with a load of 'strangers' in a field.........

Sedalin takes at least 30-45mins to kick in, and if she is already wound up it wont work as the adrenalin will take over.

If you are going to do it like that, id put him in a stable next to another horse, take Han out, load her immediatly and drive off straight away. Altho this isnt the best solution, i think its better than leaving him in a field full of other horses when he hasnt socialised before.
 
Thank you for your replies...

severnmiles - Troy will be going into a stable for the first day I think, and then introduced to his new friend (I think this is the idea anyway) so hopefully this will be the plan. I have taken Hannah and Troy away from each other, so hopefully this stage will not be a completely stressed out experience as they should be used to it by now.

Bean_xx - Hannah is a stressy mare, but she is not too bothered about him being taken away. Once a week hannah goes into their stable, then I take Troy out and walk him around the yard and she goes to the back of her stable and munches on her hay in the haybar.

machannah - thank you for that. Did the stable have bedding in that you put the foal in for its feed? I am absolutely dreading it, in a way I wish I was doing it this week rather than in 4 weeks time.
 
He will be going into a stable initially, not into a field with others. And he is only going to have the one companion initially I think so he can learn how to integrate with others without it being a full established herd (which it would have been where I am).
 
Well I'm going to go against the grain somewhat here; I personally wouldn't even consider taking Hannah with me. I would load up Troy and take him alone to the new place and leave her at home. The lead up to him leaving, would be, I would be keeping Troy stabled separate from Hannah overnight for about a week before he leaves - preferably in an adjoining stable where they can touch noses over the door.

At the new place I would put him out in the field with the other horses (presumably youngsters); this always helps them adjust very very quickly to their new surroundings. I keep nannies in these fields and they are wonderful with the new youngsters; they also make sure that everyone gets on well and settles in quickly with them kindly helping them.

I take a number of weanlings to my farm every Autumn, all of the foals come like this and all of them settle in immediately. It works for them, their owners and me; but I guess everyone does things differently and what works for one may not work for another.

As always, the choice is totally yours and I hope everything goes smoothly.
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Ahh, I thought you meant you were putting him straight in the field with strangers, I could see an accident!

Thats a better way, keep an eye on him as some foals/yearlings don't do well in herd situations especially if they're being bullied, they can get depressed and stunt their growth. Are the field mates all 07 babies?
 
It isn't the most ideal way of weaning but he will cope! You will also find that is is you that stresses about it for the next 4 weeks but all will go fine on the day. I take it there are no studs nearby that could maybe help the weaning process, move them both there for a short time then take Hannah home and Troy to the above yard at a later date?? Feeding him in the stable next door is a good idea, you could maybe put a couple of sections of straw down but for half hour he should be ok
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Lots of foal are weaned in Europe by being loaded onto the lorry that is shipping them to there new home, we got a youngster that was weaned this way, straight in the lorry from Germany to Scotland, we purchased him from Scotland, found out he was a cribber and the rest is a long story i cant discuss on here, we never did find out if he cribbed in Germany or whether it was something he developed due to the harsh way he was weaned, leaving his mum, home, friends, enviroment and everything he knew and travelling miles across sea on a lorry??!!
 
Tia, would you start separating them while they eat their dinner at first then the week before start leaving him in the stable alone over night with Hannah right next door where they can touch if they both put their heads out? I will get a picture of the stables as this might help???

It has weave bars on at the moment, so would you take those down and leave the top door open?
 
If there is another 07 foal could they not be weaned at the same time so that at least they have each other for company. I have done it that way and find it not too stressful. Agree with the others about sedilin the mare to come away.
 
I think separating them for tea is a great idea, and will certainly help on the way to independnce.

To be honest, it doesn't matter what any of us on here suggest - you don't have much choice in how you do it (ie. moving Troy and not leaving Hannah), so you have to make the best of it.

All I will say is it will be a whole different ball game when you take them both to the new yard. You need to be prepared for Hannah to be very, very stressed when you load her without Troy (the thought gives me the hebe jebees actually).

However, knowing where he is going I'm sure you will get all the help and support you need to make it as stressless as possible.

I would also consider taking some sedative with you incase it is needed when Hannah is loaded. Hopefully you are taking them in a lorry and not trailer??
 
I agree totally with Tia, I would just load Troy up and take him on his own.

And putting them in different stables for their feeds is a great idea.

Hope it goes ok
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can't believe its gone so quickly!!!
 
How do you know the 5 yr old wil be ok with Troy. years ago a foal got in with one of my geldings, I thought he'd kill it ( he would have done if it wasn't for it's mother). Seriously though whilst he appears confident in familiar surroundings with his mother around, it could be very different in unfamiliar surroundings. Could you not place an advert to see if anyone local is in the same situation and looking for a youngster too?
 
Becky Ive just re read your post and you say theres another 07 foal. Could Hannah and Troy not go with them now, then take Hannah away after a couple of weeks leaving Troy with the other mare and foal? Then when the other foal is weaned later just take the other mare away. This is what we do at the stud where I am and non of the foals bother at all.
 
I need to know he is somewhere with experienced handlers as I have put a lot of work into him and I do not want all of that to be lost when he goes away. There is no where suitable to keep him at the yard (I am hoping to keep him entire for a while) and I would not advertise as then you do not know the type of people you will get replying.

The place where he is going will have several options should he not get on with the 5 year old, but from what I know (I will be meeting up with the person very soon
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) the 5 year old has done this before several times. I am not going to say where he is going or to, as the person has been incredibly kind in letting me take him over to them. He cannot go with their foal as it is not back in the country yet
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I am worried about loading Hannah back in the trailer once we have led her away from him, but to be honest she has taken a lot of things in her stride and is used to him being led out of sight now for brief periods and I will start upping this more and more. When my husband has been to help me bring them in, he turns Hannah back around to fasten the gate and then by then Troy and I are out of sight and she doesn't even speed up or call to him.

I don't want to travel him alone, as I think it will all be a little too much for him, so I would rather Hannah get stressed out on the way home than him on the way there... I know that sounds awful, but I know Hannah a lot more than I know him.

I do know she will be a different horse when she gets somewhere new, because she always is, but that is just going to have to be something I deal with when we get there. She is very respectful in hand and does not seem concerned when Troy is not with her.

I just wish it was sooner rather than later because the whole thing is just making me quite stressed out... it's such a big thing for all three of us
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But I have been separating them since he was 2 months old, just walking him out of the stable and around the yard, so hopefully with another month of more progressive separation, we should be ok I hope.
 
Forgot to add, they will be travelling in my Equi-Trek without any partitions and bedding down as they did to go the vets when Troy needed his little operation
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Hannah travels well in it, she knows the drill which is what is important. There is plenty of room for them, as it is the 4 star.

Just out of interest, why would you not travel in a trailer AmyMay?
 
Hi Becki

Yes it had bedding in it, got him used to how it will be when older!

He will be fine, hes a big boy now and will just be another thing for him to take in his stride
 
If he's been well handled he won't forget that, sometimes you can handle them too much. Ours are all barned for the whole winter and not handled at all and they never forget the initial handling they've recieved. how big is the five year old he'll be going in with?
 
I am not 100% sure, I am going over seeing the yard in a week or two when the owner returns... But I do know he has been an 'uncle' to colts before now. I do want to take Troy out to some yearling classes come march, so I would rather keep him a little used to being handled. Ideally I would have kept him on the yard with Hannah, but due to certain circumstances it has not been possible.
 
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will soon be moving closer to where I live therefore Troy will be only 20 mins drive from me.

Rebecca x

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Could you not wean him later than 6 months til the move is done? Maybe then Hannah could stay with him for a bit til he adjusts then take her home? only an idea i do feel for you x
 
Thanks but they are getting uncomfortable in the stable together and I have noticed in the past month Hannah has not lay down at night (she has no shavings in her mane and tail you see). I cannot leave them out at night because the livery yard will not allow it...

The problem is, it could be December/Jan which would mean Troy would be 9 or 10 months old and by then far too big to be sharing with Hannah.

I know it looks as though I am putting up lots of barriers, but the choice of where he will go has not been taken lightly. I have looked at a lot of options, including sending him back to the stud where Hannah was covered.
 
Hi, good luck with the weaning, I'll be interested to hear how it goes as I'll be going through it in a few months with my little colt.

Just answering regards feeding Troy in a stable next to Hannah. My mare is on box rest the moment (already been 6 weeks and at least another month to go) and the poor foal has had to go on box rest with her. To let him have a bit more room I let him into the pen next door where he can still see and sniff mum but also has his own space. The last week he's been getting fed in there and left there for about an hour at a time, he can talk to an older pony gelding who will be his 'uncle' on the other side of the stable. I started doing this with him as when the vet comes to change the mares bandage Basil is a right nusiance as he keeps pulling at the bandage and wanting to play with the vet so it's easier if he's out of the way! It worked great today as he was perfectly happy munching hay in the next stable and the vet was able to work in peace! It might be an idea to start leaving Troy in the stable next to Hannah for a few hours during the day and then overnight so he gets used to being on his own in the stable before he has to go to the new yard. It might be better to travel Troy by himself, especially if the yard isn't too far away. He'll probably look to you to 'mind' him when he gets there and you can keep him calm whereas if Hannah is there and starts to get stressed he might also get upset.

In a perfect world it would be great to have an ideal weaning but that's not always possible, Basil is certainly not having the foalhood I wanted him to have. Anyway you know them best so good luck what ever you decide to do!
 
Yes I would stable him overnight in his own separate stable from Hannah for about a week before he leaves. This will give both of them time to adjust to not having the other living with them constantly. Yes I would take the grill down if they are able to touch noses - he won't try to jump out so long as he can touch her.

Now you know Troy and Hannah much better than any of us, so we are purely speculating here - I would be concerned about the state that Hannah may get into if you are taking her out of the trailer, taking Troy out, taking him out of sight at a new place and then expecting her to load and go home alone. I think this could be incredibly stressful for her; sedalin or no sedalin.

I have to say that all of the little foals I have transported back to my farm have all travelled exceptionally well - most have only been pre-weaned in the fashion I mention above and yet they don't panic and just seem to take everything in their stride.

None of us can say what you should do; we can only give you our own experiences and what has worked for us. Unfortunately you have to make this choice on your own; but hopefully everyone has given you food for thought and you can think about the options available to you and try to figure out the one that will work best for you and the horses.

Best of luck.
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Though this is not ideal years ago I had to do the same thing. Everything was fine as the filly was 6mths old & quiet independant of mum. The filly spent the night stabled but was fine to turn out next day. They both went to the yard together, the filly was unloaded, the mare left on the box & they drove off straight away & left me to settle the filly. Try not to worry everything will be fine, famous last words but it wont take long for them to settle.
 
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