Weaning

[GinaB]

Hi, don't post in this part often but after some advice for coursework

At what age do you consider best to wean a foal? Or does it depend totally on the foal? And what way do you like to go about weaning?

Thank you in advance

 

[mealrigghallstud]

Depends on the foal but any time after 6 months old as the mares are pretty fed up by then, sometimes we wean later though if the foal was born late in the year and missed the spring grass - so up to about 9 months.

 

[emlybob]

Wetend to wean our mares and foals at the latest when the foals are 6 months old. Like blackhorses says the mares are generally fed up of the foals by then and the foals are already starting to gradually wean themselves. I tend to go by the condition of the mare and foal. If the foal is taking alot out of the mare then i will wean earlier and if the foal has in good condition and has plenty of weight on them i tend to take them away. Weaning is a stressful time for both mare and foal so both of them carry good condition before weaning helps

 

[KarynK]

I don't usually wean mine until at least 8 months if the mare is not back in foal then I leave them together for the winter, this year mine were weaned about a month ago at around 10 or 11 months. If the mare is back in foal I play it by ear and see how she copes.

I do take them away from mum for leading and handling lessons right from when they are young. I wean gradually by putting the foals the other side of an electric fence with their friends and an older mare and bring the foals through to feed increasing the intervals between feeds until the milk dries up. They can touch each other over the fence and go back in together when the mare is back in foal or after a couple of months or not at all if sold!

Hope that helps.

 

[Tnavas]

I wean at 5 months as by then the mare is beginning to show the effects of the foal feeding and is generally pretty fed up with the foal.

My mare this year hopped on the Lorry so fast - it was like "Get me out of here quick - I've had enough of this one!"

Baby didn't seem to mind - did jump one gate but was fine once I put her back in with her 2yr old brother. (Foal is massive and from jumping lines and has since jumped out of her yard from a standstill!)

I 'Cold Turkey' mine - clean break off the property, both mare and foal seem to settle far quicker. Not had any dramas yet!