[Haas Horse Farm]

In response to Harli:
Sorry I really do not understand your operation? What you have posted does not translate well for me. I running a breeding operation and stand several stallions. We usually breed mares back in foal heat or the next cycle. We also wean at four to six months because often the foals are sold off the mare and paid for prior to weaning. We wean them so they can get to their new homes. If they are not sold they are shown so they need to be weaned to faciliate that ... also the mares are shown so it is hard to show a mare with a colt on the side.

Not understanding what you are saying about: "All the horror stories you hear about foals who were weaned late is usually due to negligence in working with the foal from day one." The horror stories I have personally been involved with were not neglected as far as being worked with... note both colts that were sucking on the same mare had halters on and were broke to lead etc. Look at what the heck it did to the mare!!!! The other horror story with the four year old my trainer culled ... it had lots done with it... the only problem is it was done with the mare right there. I could lots more examples... but lets just say I feel really sorry for someone cause I know where there is a coming two year old draft filly that is still running in the pasture with her dam. She is really sweet and you can do a lot with her... etc. The only problem is she has NEVER been away from her dam.

[Sandra-A1]

I believe in weaning and our foals are usually weaned anywhere from 3 to 6 months depending on the individual.
We wean the stress-free way....it is easy and does not require a lot of land or removing the mare from the property.
Here is an article on how we do it: It's Weaning Time

A little more information on Stress-free Weaning: Stress-Free Weaning

[Banat]

If it's not causing any problems, who cares if one horse nurses off another? They are your horses, if someone else doesn't like it. Big woop.



I left a foal on his mother until he quit nursing as a 2 yr. old. Keeping weight off her was hard enough while she was lactating let alone without a foal nursing. The foal is now a well adjusted 10 year old that still loves his mommy, but isn't a problem to take anywhere.

Why do so many foals look so rough after weaning? Not all of course. But a lot of them look pretty bad, rough coat, big bellies. And when you ask the owner why they decided to wean them when they do the owner looks at you like you're nuts and say "because they are 3-4 months old! Duh!"
I think a person should put a bit more thought into it than that. If the foal is looking good, doesn't need to go anywhere and neither does the mare and the mare is in good shape let them nurse a while longer.

If a mare is thin, if she is due to foal in the next couple months, if she is being used and needs to be away from the baby- wean it with as little stress as possible.
Use common sense and think about what you are doing.

[Banat]

Now that I've re-read post #20 I do have to wonder how Stella handles the intermittant nursing. Is she getting full and uncomfortable? Can't irregular nursing lead to mastitis? Or has she mostly dried up?

[imacowgirl2]

We stress-free wean (to an extent...modified a bit to fit our property set-up) around 6 months of age, as early as 4 for medical reasons.

This year we have had something new come up...the mare we have has always weaned her foals by herself, starting at 4 months or so, and letting us finish at 6 months...when she had a foal a few years ago, she didnt start weaning until we did, and this year she didn't wean at all. She used to be very severe with the foals after weaning, not letting them even try to nurse, but (due to older age, and not really caring anymore??) this year she didn't, so we have a yearling who still "nurses". We weaned our filly off the mare at six months this year, but she still "comfort nurses" even though she is just over a year of age -- they were separated for two months, the mare is completely dry, and there is no discharge, but when the filly gets upset severely, she will "nurse" for a few seconds...the mare allows it, and will even seek out the filly if she (mare) gets extremely upset over something. Both could (and often do for extended periods of time) get away from each other because the pasture is big.

At first I was not really happy with this, as I am of the "they need to be weaned" camp...but at this point, my belief is there isn't really any harm in it. Both the mare and filly can be taken from the herd for any amount of time without undue stress...we often trail ride with only one or the other along, and both do fine. There is some nickering back and forth when they are first separated, but nothing more than what our geldings do if they are separated from the herd...a couple of the geldings are actually the worst when separating the filly from the herd.

As long as there is no longer discharge from the mare's udder, and both are well adjusted and can be worked alone without the other, and they can rely on other herd mates for company when needed, I see no problem with not formally weaning.

[aBreeze]

She has a little bag, baby doesnt nurse a whole lot, just when they come in for dinner and then randomly. Stella hasnt shown any sign of being uncomfortable. We've had experience with mastitis(completely different horse and scenario). Stell is active and in good spirits throughout day when seperated at shows.

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by banat

Now that I've re-read post #20 I do have to wonder how Stella handles the intermittant nursing. Is she getting full and uncomfortable? Can't irregular nursing lead to mastitis? Or has she mostly dried up?

My guess is that she is mostly dried-up (if not completely). Supply is most definately related to demand, and from my experience (both horse and human), I would guess at this point she is getting very little milk, and rather more comfort from nursing.

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by aBreeze

She has a little bag, baby doesnt nurse a whole lot, just when they come in for dinner and then randomly. Stella hasnt shown any sign of being uncomfortable. We've had experience with mastitis(completely different horse and scenario). Stell is active and in good spirits throughout day when seperated at shows.

LOL, looks like we posted at the same time...I figured that she had very minimal bag

[aBreeze]

in post 20 theres a photo where you can see Stell's bag after being seperated from baby for 8-10 hours.

**edit, whoops thought I had a different photo up... Ill go get another***

here's her bag after about 5 hours seperated


The past couple weeks we've been redoing fences and so the girls were together more often than usual. As a result Tulah was nursing more. Once we get things back to working order(almost there...) they'll be seperated more again.

[Banat]

Well there ya go.
If you, Stella and Tulah are fine with the arrangement who cares what anyone else thinks?