When to wean???

TrueColoursFarm · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 5:20 am Post subject: When to wean???

Here is another article that I came across that raises a lot of interesting points, and also adds another side to the benefits of early weaning of foals:

RacingQH · Member Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 75 Location: Eastern WA.

I think "whats the rush". What are the benefits of:

"the hand-raised foal often surpasses those raised by mares as to size and development at equal ages. "

Maybe if you are showing then or sending them thru a sale as a weanling it might make a difference. But why not jsut let them be "babies" for a few extra months? It is possible to feed them a nutritionally balanced diet while they are still on the mare.

My yearling filly was 13.2 at 6 months. That is pleanty fo "size" for me at that age. Her sire and dam are 15.1 and 15.3.

This is her at 3 months(She was foaled 5-02). I don't see how weaning her early would have been beneficial.

My 2yo was 15 hands at 18 months. Right now the yearling is as tall as she is(I haven't measured them lately.). And they are 11 months apart in age.

Inyureye · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:22 pm Post subject:

RacingQH - That filly is a looker. And what interesting white on the back only of her legs. Just a quality, darling girl. congrats on her.
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Cary · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 142

Inyureye -

The white on the backs of her legs is just baby hair that has not completely shed off yet.

I agree...she's a nice filly. A little light-boned for my taste but looking at mom she comes by it honestly! I'd like to see a picture of her now.

Cary · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 142

Roguelet · Moderator Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 143 Location: Indiana

My opinion is that you can do more damage than good by trying to max out a baby's growth potential. These babies that are fed all these high-end extras, supplements, etc. may look good in the sale ring and may bring more money from the buyers, who seem to think that "bigger is better," but it causes too much stress on the baby's joints. I think a baby should be kept lean (not "skinny"... there is a difference) and allowed to grow naturally. I think you end up with a horse that's much more sound in the long run. Also, I would not want to wean that early because it will cause stress for both mom and baby. They are not MENTALLY ready to be separated at that young age. And we all know; stress affects health.

I realize that every foal is different, and some are ready to be separated earlier than others, but 10 weeks in my opinion is absurd, and I don't see much reason for weaning at 3 months either. 5 months I don't have a problem with... but I see no good reason to wean any earlier, unless it's a health issue for the mare or the foal. I can properly feed a foal and still allow the social interaction and mental comfort that animal derives from it's dam at the same time.

I prefer my horses smaller as weanlings or yearlings but growing at a rate that their bones and joints at that age can handle, and mentally secure and happy. If fed properly (and they don't have to be weaned to do this) they will meet their optimal growth potential at the age that is appropriate for their own body, and you should have a sound horse for many years to come.
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RacingQH · Member Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 75 Location: Eastern WA.

Rebecca B · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:16 pm Post subject:

Nice filly! What's her breeding? I had to laugh
when I looked at her first baby picture, I had to
keep scrolling right to see HOW long her hip was.
Just kept going and going.

PegasusFarmsAppaloosas · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject:

RacingQH · Member Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 75 Location: Eastern WA.

Cary · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 142

RacingQH -

Thanks for sharing the current pictures! She's growing up nicely!! What are you planning on doing with her?

Rebecca B · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:

TX-WI · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:15 am Post subject:

Yep, each baby is different. I know of a farm that routinely weans at 3 months with no ill effect. I personally like for baby to be with momma until 6 months if possible if it doesn't bring momma down.

My 3 yearold bs filly was weaned at 2 1/2 months. Not my choice, her momma died. But the filly was grazing well and eating well. Although, she went thru a pretty severe depression over losing her ma, her big brother was a life saver. He let her eat with him and even nuzzle under his flank.

sometimes those babies just need the warmth and caring of another horse. This filly does get seperation anxiety but not too bad.
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Rebecca B · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

OK guys, here's a strange question for you. My
husband and I have managed horse ranches most
of our adult lives, and we weaned by either removing
one mare from the herd at a time until all the Moms
were gone and it was a group of babies with a barren
mare or two, or weaned babies two by two into big
stalls and then turned them back out together. The
first worked best, the second OK, they're pretty
distressed when separated into stalls. You have to
have extremely safe stalls.

But now, we have our very own little place, and only
bred one of our own mares this year. How do you
all wean in a "backyard" situation? I've seen a few
where the mare and foal are separated by a fence
but not really separated, and they don't seem to
end up weaned very well.

We're thinking it will probably work best to haul the
mare to a friend's place and leave her for two or three
months, but we'd rather not have her away all winter
as she is older and we like to take extra good care of
her. That would leave the filly home with two geldings
that she's fine with. Then when she's a yearling, for the
spring and summer she's going out with a group of
yearlings in large, natural pastures, then home for the
winter each year.
What have others done that worked or didn't?

TX-WI · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:21 pm Post subject:

IN the last 4 years, I have had that situation. Ended having to do seperation into seperate pens since I didn't have space or enough horses to provide companionship to baby. I made sure fence was high enough so either could not get head and neck over and not space enough lower thru the fence to get a head thru for baby. They could see, hear, smell, touch and I placed feeders next to each other in the corner so baby could eat near mom.

If your lucky, mom may say no more on her own or if seperate pen is not possible, make a weaning halter (you can buy them, too) by heating nails and poking the hot nails thru a nylon halter nose band. When baby tries to nurse while wearing the halter, they poke the mare and she weans baby that way.
_________________
gdh

I've started an exercise program.
I do 20 sit-ups each morning.
That may not sound like a lot, but you can only hit that snooze button so many times