Weanling Help

[Capall83]

Hi, has anyone ever put a mare and foal back together after weaning? I only own the mare and foal and now have my own yard. I separated the mare and foal onto different yards for one month but now have them both at home stabled separately. They have settled in nicely but I can't turn either of them out alone as they both panic. Could I turn them out together now or with an electric fence to separate them.? Colt is now weaned 7 weeks and the mare is dryed up. Any help appreciated. I would have liked to have kept the foal for breaking in but will have to sell if this dosent work out as I can't afford livery.

 

[Capall83]

Should have also said the mare is in foal again.

 

[TheMule]

They should be fine in together, they've been separated long enough.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It's not an ideal set up for either of them he needs other youngsters to just be a baby with and your mare needs a nice quiet life with some other mares really.

 

[Capall83]

Yeah you are right. I've owned horses for 30 years but never bred before. He is my first foal and wasn't really prepared for the weaning. I think it might be kinder to sell him ☹

 

[Capall83]

I'm just hoping he dosent try to suck her again and she dosent start producing milk again?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think the separation time scale is ok when I worked at a stud we often put the fillies back in with there mums and they were fine, but we didn't do it with colts we tended to put the colts born that year in together they can be boisterous and mares don't like that.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Do you have to keep them at home?

Could you find a youngstock livery for him and get a companion for her?

 

[nagblagger]

Have you got any other horses on your yard to keep either company? A foal does need company to play with and 'discipline' them.

 

[Capall83]

No other horses. Just two stables. I can't afford to pay livery unfortunately. I think he needs to go to a home where he has company. In the meantime will maybe try to turn them out with an electric fence in between until I get a sale. Was thinking on a shetland pony for company maybe.

 

[ihatework]

Yet the mare is in foal again?

 

[nagblagger]

[QUOTE="ihatework, post: Yet the mare is in foal again?[/QUOTE]

Why?

 

[AmyMay]

Deleted

 

[The Xmas Furry]

No other horses. Just two stables. I can't afford to pay livery unfortunately. I think he needs to go to a home where he has company. In the meantime will maybe try to turn them out with an electric fence in between until I get a sale. Was thinking on a shetland pony for company maybe.

Please try and rethink this, I really wouldn't have electric fence to keep a weanling away from the only equine company he has at present.
Lob them back together - as you have your mare confirmed as in foal. Get him gelded as soon as you can, try and advertise him in early spring.

 

[tda]

I would also put them back in together, foals need company , mother is better than nobody, he may try to suckle, but your mare won't let him
Be aware at 7 months a colt will want to be boisterous and she might tell him off strongly.

 

[Xmasha]

Mine all go back out together . Timescales depend on the mare , but this years foal was back out with his mum after 5 weeks . Mum had been away for 3 weeks though and back for 2 to talk over the fence .
Could you find someone local in a similar position and put another mare and weanling /foal in with them . They do need other company .

 

[maya2008]

I did - mare went away for 2 months, came home and stayed separated for another month, then they went back in together. I did buy a same age friend for weanling though, so they are growing up together. Mare still keeps an eye on her daughter - they are rarely together, but if it’s really miserable weather I will find small one cuddled up to her dam, and they will share haylage.

Despite buying a same age friend, once they hit 18 months or so, they split off. Each young one has their own best friend from the rest of the adult herd!

 

[Capall83]

Thanks folks. I turned them both out together, they are getting on really well, he tried to suck but the mare won't let him, she has given him a few telling offs and he knows his place now. He has been advertised for sale so hopefully will get a nice home soon. Should make a top class working hunter for someone?.