Luxgood
Active Member
10 month old foal that is being weaned, can they eat beet pulp?
Weaning Foal
- Thread starter Luxgood
- Start date
windand rain
Well-Known Member
yes as long as it is well soaked and introduced very slowly like any new food
Equi
Well-Known Member
They can yes, but what is the reason for giving it?
Luxgood
Active Member
I have two senior horses 20 and 24 and I’m not used to youngsters.
Im minding for a friend for a week and I’m not sure what best to give him. He won’t eat hay.
Im minding for a friend for a week and I’m not sure what best to give him. He won’t eat hay.
doodle
Well-Known Member
Would the friend have not told you what to feed him? If it is just for a week then I wouldn’t change anything.
Equi
Well-Known Member
If he is in a field with grass you don't need to give him anything, unless it is feed your friend is already giving them and has told you to give them. Don't give him any new food at all.
He doesn't need hay if he has lots of grass. If he has no grass and won't eat the hay i would be asking your friend what he normally eats/where he has come from/if he has any issues...even foals will eat hay if its all they have.
He doesn't need hay if he has lots of grass. If he has no grass and won't eat the hay i would be asking your friend what he normally eats/where he has come from/if he has any issues...even foals will eat hay if its all they have.
doodle
Well-Known Member
I am really hoping there is more to this than simply looking after someone’s horse for a week. I would be horrified if anyone changed/added feeds to any horse without permission.
Luxgood
Active Member
Luxgood
Active Member
He is in a stable with me, he was out with his Mum, he was eating grass, but I can’t let him out in a field as I was asked to keep him in.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
He needs to have some turnout you can't just keep him in a stable it's not natural for a young horse to be kept in stable.
Equi
Well-Known Member
Taking a foal from mum and locking him in a stable for a week to "wean" is really not the way to do it. Poor foal..
Luxgood
Active Member
Ok thanks what do you recommend, as I said I don’t know a lot about young horses.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
A young horse needs another young horse or a very one older horse to be turned out with, it takes experience and knowledge to know what works, what facilities do you have? Are you able to get help from other people on your yard? It's so important in putting certain horses and young horses together.
Luxgood
Active Member
I have three stables approx 200 acres an outdoor arena.
I have a older pony who would be great company and another horse who is a major bully.
I am reluctant to let him out with them as they are great buddy’s and he might not settle with them.
They come in at night and are out during the day.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
200 acres! Where are you!
Equi
Well-Known Member
Turn him out with the "ok" horse and let them be out until next year. The bully horse can be introduced too....foals need a bit of a put down now and then.
Luxgood
Active Member
Midlands Ireland.
windand rain
Well-Known Member
With 200 acres I would offer livery to another foal or yearling until the colt is weaned it takes a lot longer than a week to wean a foal to get it eating and to get the mare to dry up.
TheMule
Well-Known Member
How to set a foal up to fail for life 
Weaning correctly is just crucial, he needs to be out in a securely fenced field with other horses 24/7 ASAP
Weaning correctly is just crucial, he needs to be out in a securely fenced field with other horses 24/7 ASAP
chaps89
Well-Known Member
OP says she is minding foal for a friend for a week.
I would suggest you speak to the owner of the foal OP. As above, shutting him/her in a stable isn't appropriate, but I've seen it done sadly.
Maybe talk to the friend about their long term plan and see if you can suggest turnout and another youngster for company/youngstock livery.
I'm not sure I would go against what they've asked if it's just for a week though tbh
I would suggest you speak to the owner of the foal OP. As above, shutting him/her in a stable isn't appropriate, but I've seen it done sadly.
Maybe talk to the friend about their long term plan and see if you can suggest turnout and another youngster for company/youngstock livery.
I'm not sure I would go against what they've asked if it's just for a week though tbh
Lipglosspukka
Well-Known Member
I'm confused. So he is in a stable but he won't eat hay? So what exactly is he currently eating?
The only reason I would stable a youngster would be if they are feral and require a few weeks handling to get them used to a bucket and being on a halter. Even in that scenario, they would have another youngster for company.
The only reason I would stable a youngster would be if they are feral and require a few weeks handling to get them used to a bucket and being on a halter. Even in that scenario, they would have another youngster for company.
Luxgood
Active Member
Thanks for your advice however foal wasn’t handled and was very hard to catch.How to set a foal up to fail for life
Weaning correctly is just crucial, he needs to be out in a securely fenced field with other horses 24/7 ASAP
I sent him back but on reflection I should have left her in and gotten a head collar on her.
Ths advice of the Vet was to leave her in on her own in and spend a lot of time with her.
Luxgood
Active Member
You are correct, she wasn’t handled at all.
She was eating hay but not much and yearling cool and cooked.
I wanted to get her used to a bucket and wanted to make sure she had enough fibre, hence the beet pulp question.
Luxgood
Active Member
Thanks Chaps 89,
Just she wasn’t handled enough to let out, so that was a mistake.
Ya I think you were right best not go against the owners wishes.
The vet seemed to think that if they are left alone they will build a better bond people for a while.
But I know very little about young horses.
thanks again for your reply.
Lois Lame
Well-Known Member
I'm always a little reluctant to look at weaning threads (not that there are many on H&H. Here in Oz it was becoming a fashion to wean foals at the age of 4 months, which I think is sad. So glad that the foal in question is 10 months.
Luxgood
Active Member
Thanks Lois,I'm always a little reluctant to look at weaning threads (not that there are many on H&H. Here in Oz it was becoming a fashion to wean foals at the age of 4 months, which I think is sad. So glad that the foal in question is 10 months.
Hope all well in Oz.
Calling her a foal is a bit misleading I think,? she was strong enough. Very flighty, well able to turn fast and kick. What I learned was best to spend time with her without other horses until she’s leading and well settled. Apparently I’m told I should establish myself as the herd leader.
Young horses are for the experts I think, not me.