Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [Guest] Problem Colt-Please Help

Hi Lisa (sorry-couldn't find your address)
I agree with Kim on the caution with wire fencing and would add that my 
favorite way to wean is to put my mares and babies in together and then 
start removing a mare at a time. Doesn't seem to matter to much if the 
mare is near or far so long as the foal is already bonded to his/her 
buddies. I just weaned a baby this way on Monday-- the dam was put into 
a paddock next to the baby pasture and no screaming or trauma ensued.
If there is only one foal, I put one of my geldings who loves to "steal" 
babies in with the mamma and foal after the mamma is tired of a kid on 
her teat all the time (starts around 3 months that most of my mares 
would like a break from time to time.) That gives my opportunistic 
Durvish (now 30 years old) time to move in and befriend the young'n. 
Then sometime between 4 and six months (depending on how much the foal 
is sucking the mare down--- happens with big foals no matter how much 
mare and foal I give mom and foal (in creep feeder so Durv doesn't get-- 
Mom takes care of her own--- he has to be content with his older horse 
feed), I can wean with very little trauma just by removing the mare. I 
always try to leave the foal(s) in the same environment if possible. 
Anywho, this works for me.
Happy baby!
Bette

Ridecamp Guest wrote:

> Kim Johnson belesemo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Lisa, can I make a recommend?  Anytime you are weaning don't leave a foal in
> any kind of wire....

---
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy
Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com


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