Twyford stud - early weaning?

Montyforever

Montyforever

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Just a question for those of you with Ponies from the stud ..

My mare suffers with extreame separation anxitiy, she physicly hurts herself jumping out of the stable or field when my other mare leaves and ive been working on this for 6 months with no change :(

I looked at her passport because a friend mentioned early weaning could be the cause and it turns out that she was weaned and bought at just under 4 months old!

Is this a common thing with ponies from the stud? Or just a one off?

Ta in advance and toffee crisp cookies :D
 
Can't help with Twyford, but my welsh A was also weaned and sold at 4 months. He was a complete nightmare in almost every way, although he also had minimal horse contact from 4-10 months when I got him. I do feel that correct socialisation during those early months is incredibly important.
 
Yeah, i think with Mysti the biggest problem is my other mare Honey is a ex broodmare, and is very very very broody :D
And Mysti although shes 6 on Sunday, still acts and behaves like a baby. So Honey kind of mothers her making it like weaning all over again.

Lets hope Mysti grows up eventually!!
 
You could not get a better stud, Alison Mountain has been breeding welsh ponies and cobs all her life, and her father before her. Her bloodlines go back to the Criban, Revel and Gredington. Most welsh foals are weaned at 4 months, they are then prepared for the sales in the autumn. Twyford ponies are quite sharp and do well driven, lead rein. The are full of quality and very typey. This stud is one of the most famous in the world.
 
I htink that it doesn't matter how big thw stud is or the name for that fact,it is on the whole detrimental to youngster to be fully weaned before 6 months. The longer left with Mum is a proven fact hat the youngster is more mentally stable.
 
Some would say even 6 months is too early...
And I agree, just because a place is famous and does well in the showing world, it doesn't mean everything they do is right.
 
Tinypony said:
Some would say even 6 months is too early...
And I agree, just because a place is famous and does well in the showing world, it doesn't mean everything they do is right.
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Just google Twyford Stud. You will find most of your sec As have Twyford bloodlines, if you are lucky. These ponies are all over the world, she is a very old lady now and knows more about breeding and producing ponies than most. She has done more for the welsh pony and cob society than anyone else. I am sorry but if you are having trouble handling a Sec A why dont you start again with a shetland. Welsh ponies that are true to character are not plods.
 
I don't know why you've quoted me. I've never had a problem handling a Section A (Or a shetland, as we know they can be bolshy little wotsits sometimes), and I'm very aware of Twyford Stud and their influence on the welsh bloodlines.
What all that has to do with the known effects of early weaning is beyond me, to be honest.
 
is it possible she was sold at 4 months but not actually delivered until weaned?

do you keep just the two of them together? if so this is likely to be more of the issue than her background. Mum's anglo will happily stay in the field without my welsh. My welsh frets much more (though he has got better) but I wouldnt trust him out in the field.
 
pastie2 said:
I am sorry but if you are having trouble handling a Sec A why dont you start again with a shetland. Welsh ponies that are true to character are not plods.
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Theres no need to be rude, ive only ever had welshs for this reason, as i show inhand theyre the perfect breed, i can handle her fine. Yes i admit sometimes it would be nice to have a quiet pony but then she wouldnt be Mysti, im not being nasty about the stud i just think 3 and 1/2 months is waay to early for any horse, welsh or not.
 
We had a Twyford gelding, stunning pony really lovely but sharp, far to sharp to be a childs pony, possibly nothing to do with breeding but he was scared of everything such a shame as he's a flashy pony but he's worried about everything, sharper than any tb I've ever met.
 
Dizzle said:
We had a Twyford gelding, stunning pony really lovely but sharp, far to sharp to be a childs pony, possibly nothing to do with breeding but he was scared of everything such a shame as he's a flashy pony but he's worried about everything, sharper than any tb I've ever met.
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Nope thats the same with every twyford i know :)
 
I didnt mean to be rude, I am very fond of the owner of Twyford Stud and my husbund used to show her in hand As and Cs, I used to show under saddle the sec Ds. I am bound to be protective of someone whom I have such great respect for. I might also add, so has everybody in the WPCS.
 
I totally agree that 4 months or even 6 months is far too early to wean. Personally I wait until the mare shows that she is ready for the foal to be weaned.
I realise that studs need to make money and I fully appreciate that fact but weaning a foal so early is more about the money and less about the welfare of a foal. Doesn't matter how good a reputation they have they are often not the ones who have to deal with the consequences.
The last foal I weaned (3/4 arab) was weaned between 8 and 9 months old and by the time he was 2 years old he was so easy to handle he was a dream. Nothing phased him and when he was finally backed he took it in his stride as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
We have another foal this year and I have no intention of weaning him until I think that the mare and foal are ready. Forcing the issue creates stress for mother, foal and every around them.
 
pastie2 said:
I didnt mean to be rude, I am very fond of the owner of Twyford Stud and my husbund used to show her in hand As and Cs, I used to show under saddle the sec Ds. I am bound to be protective of someone whom I have such great respect for. I might also add, so has everybody in the WPCS.
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Fair enough, its just alot of people dont agree with early weaning (me included).
Id do anything to take away the panic mysti has when shes left alone, and the scars now from attempting to jump a 4ft3 wire fence to get back to Familiar horses, as far as i can see early weaning has nothing but bad effects for the rest of the horses life ..
 
How do you know the foal was weaned at 4 months anyway. Welsh ponies are always weaned and handled so they are prepared for sales such as Fayre Oaks in Herefordshire, that is an international sale and a shop window for breeders. mares such as sec As get pulled down by their foals. Fayre Oaks sale is held in october, so all foals would be weaned and used to feed and handled. Would you prefer for the foals to be taken off their dams the day before?
 
we were forced to wean our youngster when he had laminitis and had to come in - he was 3! He was the most balanced youngster I have ever met. I think we left it too long but had no need to force the issue and mum was happy to continue to feed him a couple of times a day or when he needed comfort. The longer you can leave it the better, I reckon 8 months is early enough to start thinking about it but most studs wouldn't do that because the mares will be back in foal at foal heat and will wean early to get more condition on the mare before next foal and of course to be able to get foal sold on asap! I hope your 'baby' can get over her scary start and settle down.
 
Don't be too quick to jump to conclusions about early weaning.
There could be any numbers of reasons why a foal is early weaned, and it usually has something to do with the welfare of the mare, and often the foal itself.
Mares/foals kept in a group with other mares/foals, become VERY independant by 3-4 months, and I can assure you that by 6 months they are more than ready to make the break. When it is done in the right way, weaning is rarely traumatic.
If you are concerned about your horse, why not contact the stud themselves and ask them the history, rather than making assumptions?
 
pastie2 said:
How do you know the foal was weaned at 4 months anyway. Welsh ponies are always weaned and handled so they are prepared for sales such as Fayre Oaks in Herefordshire, that is an international sale and a shop window for breeders. mares such as sec As get pulled down by their foals. Fayre Oaks sale is held in october, so all foals would be weaned and used to feed and handled. Would you prefer for the foals to be taken off their dams the day before?
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She was born on 6th June, taken to the home between me and the stud in september.
Have checked out my facts, its all in her passport.
 
nikkiportia said:
Don't be too quick to jump to conclusions about early weaning.
There could be any numbers of reasons why a foal is early weaned, and it usually has something to do with the welfare of the mare, and often the foal itself.
Mares/foals kept in a group with other mares/foals, become VERY independant by 3-4 months, and I can assure you that by 6 months they are more than ready to make the break. When it is done in the right way, weaning is rarely traumatic.
If you are concerned about your horse, why not contact the stud themselves and ask them the history, rather than making assumptions?
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I have contacted them but havent had a reply yet, and yes i know theres plently of reasons why. Thats why i asked.
 
micramadam said:
Totally agree. Just wish more people would put a horse's welfare before making a quick buck!
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I am sorry but without these studs that use sales such as Faye Oaks and other such sales, there would be no market, so studs such as Twyfors would not exist, the other option would be to send their foals to lesser sales later in the year when nobody wants to buy them other than the meat man. These good sales are there for breeders to produce foals and youngsters for a specific market an international market. The Cob sales in october at Builth Wells is a good example. The horses and ponies in the main are bred with a good outlet in mind. MOST of these foals have been weaned in the correct way, eating hard food and ready for their new home. So if you have such an issue with early weaning tell the powers that be to put their sales back a few months. Not all studs have the means to sell privately, hence these sales. Also these sales have a minimum bid that detracts the meat man.
 
pastie2 said:
I am sorry but without these studs that use sales such as Faye Oaks and other such sales, there would be no market, so studs such as Twyfors would not exist, the other option would be to send their foals to lesser sales later in the year when nobody wants to buy them other than the meat man. These good sales are there for breeders to produce foals and youngsters for a specific market an international market. The Cob sales in october at Builth Wells is a good example. The horses and ponies in the main are bred with a good outlet in mind. MOST of these foals have been weaned in the correct way, eating hard food and ready for their new home. So if you have such an issue with early weaning tell the powers that be to put their sales back a few months. Not all studs have the means to sell privately, hence these sales. Also these sales have a minimum bid that detracts the meat man.
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I totally agree .. but my mare was bought privatly ..
 
Ihave just posted on your other thread. You must be proud. Thats breeding you see. Nothing is easy in life, but you have a lovley pony!!!!!!!!!!
 
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