Best way to wean a foal

Lou3 · 07-04-2008, 04:02 PM

No way is really "best" I do feel the most stress free way for the horses is gradual weaning or fence-line weaning, but that can have its problems too, and can take longer than some people care to spend.
Our foals are never fully weaned until they are about 7 months old, its very beneficial for a foal to stay with its momma til at least 6 months. anything earlier than 5 and a half months is technically classed as early weaning for horses and is considered detrimental to welfare. (by the RCVS, not just by me - and applies to early weaning of all species).
By 6-7 months old a foal is often more independant anyway, and tends to fuss less, separating from mom for short periods of time such as during feeding and eventually during riding sessions etc helps to ease the process for the foal. A lot of mares I find are ready for a foal to be gone by seven months,especially if they are bred back and starting to notice they are pregnant again.
We've also found we end up with much more level headed and better mannered foals this way. We used to wean right on five and a half months, but have had such vastly better results weanig later over the last eight years we will never go back.

Heavenly Jumper · 07-04-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaintedKirby00

Great video, also I would love to barrow your gelding

he seemed so patient with her

. Thank you soooo much

. Had you ever put your foal out with anyone before you weaned her? Thanks again for sharing your video with me.

Oh yes, he is a great uncle. She was with mom and uncle Azar from day one. (OK after mom beat him up a couple of times

) So on weaning day, mom just went on the other side of the fence.

After she settled, we began practicing a lot more 'alone is ok' type of things.

County · 07-04-2008, 04:10 PM

I've never found it to be detrimental to welfare of foals weaning at 4 and 5 months. I have found it to be on the mares though trying it later lots of our foals are born late May to mid June. At 6 and 7 months old its -25 many nights here and those mares just don't like having foals to deal with. Also the mares are bunched up at the hay feeders in winter and the foals would just get beat up.

Sandra-A1 · 07-04-2008, 04:11 PM

We prefer to wean the stress-free way:
http://www.thoroughbredinfo.com/itsweaningtime.htm

http://www.flyingchanges.com/htmls/2...ningOct00.html

Lou3 · 07-04-2008, 04:12 PM

As I said thats the official opinion based on hoardes of scientific studies of the veterinary regulatory board in the UK and outlined in the new "duty of care" laws that passed in the UK last year. 5 months not so much of a problem. 4 months and the foal is actually not anatomically equipped for a diet that is solely solids. The effects of this may only be evident in the feed conversion ratios and therefore not seen by anyone not breeding for meat, but they are an indicator of welfare, and physiological stress is caused.

County · 07-04-2008, 04:17 PM

Everything I've read here and what my vets say is foals are physiologicaly stressed when weaned at any age. I've never noticed it much from ours but our calfs REALLY are when weaned and we wait on them till 7 months. But they don't take it well at all compared to foals.

glideride · 07-04-2008, 05:13 PM

I started mine a three months by seperating the 12 X 24 stall so that baby could still get to Mom but she couldn't get over to get his feed. He was a very independent colt anyway and would often go off by himself to graze. My mare was pretty good at telling him no in the pasture too, but I did send her away for 30 days just to be sure he wasn't going to keep trying to nurse. Worked out great he had no interest when she came back.

PaintedKirby00 · 07-04-2008, 07:58 PM

Thank you sooooo much everyone, Everyone has been so helpful on this forum. HGS is great and I should have joined sooner you guys give great advice.

Thanks again

Lou3 · 07-05-2008, 11:58 AM

I also would like to add, dont rely on being able to reintroduce the mare and foal to the same pasture following weaning. I have seen two year olds try to suckle their dams and bring them back into milk by doing so. Some foals are fine after a short time, the vast majority are okay after a year, others you cant put them back together until they are adult and, on rare occasions, never.

Heavenly Jumper · 07-05-2008, 12:00 PM

Yes, Lou is right. After 3 months my filly went RIGHT back to the udder. I mean...first thing she tried and her mom was going to stand for her.

Nope...separated again!

07-04-2008, 04:02 PM	#11
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,300 Images: 30 Blog Entries: 1	No way is really "best" I do feel the most stress free way for the horses is gradual weaning or fence-line weaning, but that can have its problems too, and can take longer than some people care to spend. Our foals are never fully weaned until they are about 7 months old, its very beneficial for a foal to stay with its momma til at least 6 months. anything earlier than 5 and a half months is technically classed as early weaning for horses and is considered detrimental to welfare. (by the RCVS, not just by me - and applies to early weaning of all species). By 6-7 months old a foal is often more independant anyway, and tends to fuss less, separating from mom for short periods of time such as during feeding and eventually during riding sessions etc helps to ease the process for the foal. A lot of mares I find are ready for a foal to be gone by seven months,especially if they are bred back and starting to notice they are pregnant again. We've also found we end up with much more level headed and better mannered foals this way. We used to wean right on five and a half months, but have had such vastly better results weanig later over the last eight years we will never go back. __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

07-04-2008, 04:11 PM	#14
Sandra-A1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,427 Images: 225	We prefer to wean the stress-free way: http://www.thoroughbredinfo.com/itsweaningtime.htm http://www.flyingchanges.com/htmls/2...ningOct00.html __________________ "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Dumbledore

07-04-2008, 04:12 PM	#15
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,300 Images: 30 Blog Entries: 1	As I said thats the official opinion based on hoardes of scientific studies of the veterinary regulatory board in the UK and outlined in the new "duty of care" laws that passed in the UK last year. 5 months not so much of a problem. 4 months and the foal is actually not anatomically equipped for a diet that is solely solids. The effects of this may only be evident in the feed conversion ratios and therefore not seen by anyone not breeding for meat, but they are an indicator of welfare, and physiological stress is caused. __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

07-04-2008, 07:58 PM	#18
PaintedKirby00 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 59 Images: 26	Thank you sooooo much everyone, Everyone has been so helpful on this forum. HGS is great and I should have joined sooner you guys give great advice. Thanks again __________________ I love Kirby and all of my paint and quarter horse babies

07-05-2008, 11:58 AM	#19
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,300 Images: 30 Blog Entries: 1	I also would like to add, dont rely on being able to reintroduce the mare and foal to the same pasture following weaning. I have seen two year olds try to suckle their dams and bring them back into milk by doing so. Some foals are fine after a short time, the vast majority are okay after a year, others you cant put them back together until they are adult and, on rare occasions, never. __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

07-04-2008, 04:10 PM	#13
County Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mn Posts: 1,480	I've never found it to be detrimental to welfare of foals weaning at 4 and 5 months. I have found it to be on the mares though trying it later lots of our foals are born late May to mid June. At 6 and 7 months old its -25 many nights here and those mares just don't like having foals to deal with. Also the mares are bunched up at the hay feeders in winter and the foals would just get beat up.

07-04-2008, 04:17 PM	#16
County Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mn Posts: 1,480	Everything I've read here and what my vets say is foals are physiologicaly stressed when weaned at any age. I've never noticed it much from ours but our calfs REALLY are when weaned and we wait on them till 7 months. But they don't take it well at all compared to foals.

07-04-2008, 05:13 PM	#17
glideride Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 54	I started mine a three months by seperating the 12 X 24 stall so that baby could still get to Mom but she couldn't get over to get his feed. He was a very independent colt anyway and would often go off by himself to graze. My mare was pretty good at telling him no in the pasture too, but I did send her away for 30 days just to be sure he wasn't going to keep trying to nurse. Worked out great he had no interest when she came back.

07-05-2008, 12:00 PM	#20
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camden County GA Posts: 15,285 Images: 1321 Blog Entries: 266	Yes, Lou is right. After 3 months my filly went RIGHT back to the udder. I mean...first thing she tried and her mom was going to stand for her. Nope...separated again! __________________ My husband is HOME! .'~'. epi tan e epi tas .'~'.

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