Every horse person weans
a different way and since there really is no right or no
wrong way, that is A okay. The following is just some of
my observations over many years of going through this
trying time with my babies. No matter what way you use,
the following counts though. First the weaning pen must
be securely fenced to hold frightened babies from
escaping. The fencing must not only be sturdy but safe.
No barbed wire, no broken fencing, nothing for the foal(s)
to get hurt on or tangled in. No junk in the pen for them
to get hurt on either. A decent shelter, water available AT
ALL TIMES and excellent
quality hay, grain or foal ration. Preferably they have
already been eating hay and grain with their Mommas so it
is not such a big shock to their systems. Preferably
quiet adult horse(s) in the pen right next to them so they
have adults around to turn to for comfort. This not the
time to halter break them or deworm them or vaccinate
them. Wait a week or two until they have settled down and
adjusted to being weaned.
Unless you have a real
good reason for weaning before Mimimum 3 and a half months
old. DON"T DO IT!
They need their dam's
mentally as babies as well as the milk she supplies. The
optimum time to wean is around 5 months old. The mares
quality of milk begins to decline shortly after the 3rd
month, but she teaches them a lot about being a horse in
this big old world while they are still with her. Just
about as bad as weaning to early is leaving the foal(s) on
their dams for months. Especially if she is bred back.
She has a new foal growing inside her, that is taking up a
lot of what she eats at it is, without having to continue
to make milk for this years baby. And it is pretty hard
to insure this years growing foal is getting the correct
amount of feed they need, while Momma and/or the other
adult horses are pushing them aside for the choices
amount. All foal(s) should have at least one other foal
their same age with them for one on one companionship.
And to continue their learning about herd hierarchy. And
so they settle down quickly. Being all alone in a pen
does them no good mentally what so ever.
One of my preferred
methods is abrupt, Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind, weaning.
Sounds cruel? Place the babies in their weaning pen WHICH
they have already gotten used to with their Mommas, load
the mares up and take them right out of sight or sound.
The babies cannot see their mothers or hear their calls.
They settle down in scant hours, especially if they have
an adult horse or two next to them. The mares do the
same. So although it sounds cruel, how come they settle
down so quickly? Hmmmm!
Another
GREAT method is
gradual weaning for owners that have the time. You
separate them for a few hours during the first day only.
The second day, a bit longer before letting them back in
together. Etc. The mares are in a pen next to them for
these first few days, so they can still touch each other,
even nurse through the secure fence. Then at the end of a
week, you separate them for good, moving the mares as far
away as possible so they are not in a pen next to the
babies any longer.
One way I do not agree
with (just my opinion here), is starting by first removing
only the biggest, oldest foals, leaving the younger ones
with their dams, working up to all being weaned. Those
older foals are probably already bossy with the younger
ones. Now, they have established the weaning pen as their
own territory. They have already settled down. Then you
throw in the last of the babies, who are upset with being
weaned and get picked on something fierce by the older,
settled, territorial, dominant foals. This does not
happen so much with them being weaned all together at the
same time. It of course doesn't matter if you have
separate weaning pens according to times weaned.
And the worst way to wean
in my opinion? That is where people leave the foals with
the herd and begin removing one mare at a time instead.
Unless moved right out of sight and sound, the mare
herself is frantic. She knows her baby is in danger
without her being there to protect it. The baby tries to
nurse from other mares, even geldings. They get kicked
and bit. With no Momma to look after them, they have a
difficult time getting anywhere near feed, even water.
This one I consider just plain silly. You are taking a
chance of that foal getting seriously injured and not
getting enough food, weather it is hay or grain.
No place to
haul your mare(s) too for the Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
method? No time in your hectic work life for Gradual
weaning? You know it is best to wean them all at the same
time? You know the last one, Removing One Mare at a time
is not so great? Then do what has worked for hundreds of
years. Wean them today, move the mares so they are at
least not right along the same fence line and try to
ignore the frantic calling back and forth and the babies
pacing the fence. They do stop after a few days. And
life goes on.