Weaning a range foal

lawquin · 11-02-2009, 02:21 PM

I bought a foal yesterday that has just turned 9 months old. She was a range horse and had never left her mothers side until yesterday. She kept neighing when we took her away and now we are keeping her in the barn at night and in the mornings.

She has calmed down but it is only day 2. And now she is trying to nurse from my 9 yr old gelding. He doesn't strike at her but pins his ears back and runs or sidesteps. I let her run for a couple hours with him and some other mares but she won't leave him alone.

Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks,
lawquin

JBandRio · 11-02-2009, 02:36 PM

Are the horses she's with continuing to treat her nicely, but still say "uhh, no, don't think so missy" if/when she tries to nurse on them?

If so, that's perfect

lawquin · 11-02-2009, 02:40 PM

My mares don't... associate (can't think of another word) with her. She will only follow the gelding. I left a lead rope on her so I can pull her away from him but when I let them run together she will wander then go up to him and try it again.

JBandRio · 11-02-2009, 04:06 PM

As long as the gelding is saying no, politely but firmly, and nobody is aggressive towards the filly, then leave them be. She'll start giving up and will work on other methods of socialization

Eastowest · 11-02-2009, 09:42 PM

Makes me chuckle as I remember once weaning a BIG older colt with an aged and very docile stallion for company, (a stallion who had been pasture bred and pasture kept with mares and foals.)

The colt sure enough went to try and nurse..... and before he knew what the colt was attempting, the colt latched on to 'Ol Mr. Stallion's Manly Bits like a vacuum cleaner!

Needless to say, Ol' Mr. Stallion got a very shocked look on his face! Told him no firmly but never agressively-- the colt soon got the idea, and after a few days they were playing and "neck wrestling" like bachelor colts and stallions will---

'Ol Mr. Stallion liked that type of socializing MUCH better.

Laura Lyon
Eastowest
http://www.eastowest.com

Snaffle Bit · 11-03-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastowest

Makes me chuckle as I remember once weaning a BIG older colt with an aged and very docile stallion for company, (a stallion who had been pasture bred and pasture kept with mares and foals.)

The colt sure enough went to try and nurse..... and before he knew what the colt was attempting, the colt latched on to 'Ol Mr. Stallion's Manly Bits like a vacuum cleaner!

Needless to say, Ol' Mr. Stallion got a very shocked look on his face! Told him no firmly but never agressively-- the colt soon got the idea, and after a few days they were playing and "neck wrestling" like bachelor colts and stallions will---

'Ol Mr. Stallion liked that type of socializing MUCH better.

Laura Lyon
Eastowest
http://www.eastowest.com

Poor Mr. Stallion!

lawquin · 11-03-2009, 08:29 AM

Okay. Thank you!

LuvMyTnWalkers · 11-07-2009, 06:22 AM

If she has found a friend with your gelding thats awsome.
now you don't have to worry about her nursing your other
mares. and trust me some mares will take one thats not theirs.
i would say just watch them he will let her know what he's got is not for
nursing and as long as he is gentle with her they will be fine.

he may even nip at her to let her know and thats okay too.
as long as it's not i'm really ticked and open mouthed biting

Anne Peterson · 11-07-2009, 06:29 AM

all foals will do this. Colts will try nursing fillys and fills will try nursing the colts. They will grow out of it.

11-02-2009, 02:21 PM	#1
lawquin Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 12 Images: 3	Weaning a range foal I bought a foal yesterday that has just turned 9 months old. She was a range horse and had never left her mothers side until yesterday. She kept neighing when we took her away and now we are keeping her in the barn at night and in the mornings. She has calmed down but it is only day 2. And now she is trying to nurse from my 9 yr old gelding. He doesn't strike at her but pins his ears back and runs or sidesteps. I let her run for a couple hours with him and some other mares but she won't leave him alone. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks, lawquin __________________ Momma always said, stupid is as stupid does.

11-02-2009, 02:36 PM	#2
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,018 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	Are the horses she's with continuing to treat her nicely, but still say "uhh, no, don't think so missy" if/when she tries to nurse on them? If so, that's perfect __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

11-02-2009, 02:40 PM	#3
lawquin Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 12 Images: 3	My mares don't... associate (can't think of another word) with her. She will only follow the gelding. I left a lead rope on her so I can pull her away from him but when I let them run together she will wander then go up to him and try it again. __________________ Momma always said, stupid is as stupid does.

11-02-2009, 04:06 PM	#4
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,018 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	As long as the gelding is saying no, politely but firmly, and nobody is aggressive towards the filly, then leave them be. She'll start giving up and will work on other methods of socialization __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

11-03-2009, 08:29 AM	#7
lawquin Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 12 Images: 3	Okay. Thank you! __________________ Momma always said, stupid is as stupid does.

11-02-2009, 09:42 PM	#5
Eastowest Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 516 Images: 26	Makes me chuckle as I remember once weaning a BIG older colt with an aged and very docile stallion for company, (a stallion who had been pasture bred and pasture kept with mares and foals.) The colt sure enough went to try and nurse..... and before he knew what the colt was attempting, the colt latched on to 'Ol Mr. Stallion's Manly Bits like a vacuum cleaner! Needless to say, Ol' Mr. Stallion got a very shocked look on his face! Told him no firmly but never agressively-- the colt soon got the idea, and after a few days they were playing and "neck wrestling" like bachelor colts and stallions will--- 'Ol Mr. Stallion liked that type of socializing MUCH better. Laura Lyon Eastowest http://www.eastowest.com

11-07-2009, 06:22 AM	#8
LuvMyTnWalkers Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 36 Images: 4	If she has found a friend with your gelding thats awsome. now you don't have to worry about her nursing your other mares. and trust me some mares will take one thats not theirs. i would say just watch them he will let her know what he's got is not for nursing and as long as he is gentle with her they will be fine. he may even nip at her to let her know and thats okay too. as long as it's not i'm really ticked and open mouthed biting __________________ Crooked Pine Ranch

11-07-2009, 06:29 AM	#9
Anne Peterson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ky Posts: 789 Images: 47	all foals will do this. Colts will try nursing fillys and fills will try nursing the colts. They will grow out of it. __________________ ******........TAKE A LOOK........***** http://www.horseclicks.com/horses/rbjnfj/ Cow girls don't cry.....SO STOP CRYING!

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