weaning a foal

sherriawright · 06-27-2008, 10:39 PM

Ok, I have a mini/pony cross that had a foal May 12. I know that I should wait until 6 months to wean, but I am a planner. Where I board at has only horses, so my two are the smallest on the place. When it comes time to wean, what happens if I don't seperate the two? What happens if I just leave the two together? Will the mother wean on her own? I am not planning on getting rid of the foal or the mother.

snickers · 06-28-2008, 05:21 AM

On the norm, No. The Dam will not wean the foal, unless bred back.
I have seen foals sucking on their Dam that have never been weaned until they were 2 years old.
The foal becomes more dependant on the Dam than it would if weaned.
May have to seperate side by side where they can see and nuzzle each other until the Dam is all dried up and pray when you put them back together she dosent produce milk again.

kaykay · 07-01-2008, 06:55 AM

We generally wean at 4 months. I have one right now I will have to wean at 3 months because hes pulling his dam down so bad.

I had one I never officially weaned until she was a year old. The dam never kicked her off. That mare would have let her nurse forever LOL.

Normally if you seperate them for at least 2 weeks and then put them back the mare wont let the weanling nurse. But I have had the odd mare that let them nurse again and had to be seperated longer

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06-27-2008, 10:39 PM
sherriawright Weanling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 459	weaning a foal Ok, I have a mini/pony cross that had a foal May 12. I know that I should wait until 6 months to wean, but I am a planner. Where I board at has only horses, so my two are the smallest on the place. When it comes time to wean, what happens if I don't seperate the two? What happens if I just leave the two together? Will the mother wean on her own? I am not planning on getting rid of the foal or the mother. __________________ The art of riding is keeping the horse between you and the ground.

06-28-2008, 05:21 AM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 8,855	On the norm, No. The Dam will not wean the foal, unless bred back. I have seen foals sucking on their Dam that have never been weaned until they were 2 years old. The foal becomes more dependant on the Dam than it would if weaned. May have to seperate side by side where they can see and nuzzle each other until the Dam is all dried up and pray when you put them back together she dosent produce milk again. __________________ " You cant fix stupid " Ron White Life is to short to argue with ignorant people.

07-01-2008, 06:55 AM
kaykay Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 555	We generally wean at 4 months. I have one right now I will have to wean at 3 months because hes pulling his dam down so bad. I had one I never officially weaned until she was a year old. The dam never kicked her off. That mare would have let her nurse forever LOL. Normally if you seperate them for at least 2 weeks and then put them back the mare wont let the weanling nurse. But I have had the odd mare that let them nurse again and had to be seperated longer __________________ Breeding AMHA/AMHR/ASPC horses in pinto colors! http://www.baxterspaintedpasture.com Visit our newest site! www.americanshetlandpony.com Miniature Horse Conformation Book by Kay Baxter