Raising the "Only Child" Foal

[Blume_Farm]

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8016880]
Very true that another foal would not necessarily be the solution. But I think he could have benefited greatly from being with a group of mares (with or without foals at side) so he could learn some boundaries. Not only does a group of foals have playmates, but they also learn from a variety of adults so when they are first faced with a strange companion they are not big strapping fools just cruising for a bruising.[/QUOTE]

This is why I wean my foal with an older paint mare. She is quite the disciplinarian without being dangerous (ie; doesn’t kick or bite) and teaches them boundaries, respect of space, respect around food, etc.

This is a total guess, but I would think a rowdy youngster with another potential rowdy youngster would just make the situation that much harder. You need the older horses to teach herd dynamics. Otherwise a group of youngsters alone could end up being a herd of punks:)

[stoicfish]

Otherwise a group of youngsters alone could end up being a herd of punks

Lord of the Flies… :lol:

[horsechick]

[QUOTE=Kyzteke;8015608]
This^^^

The mare & foal should be part of the herd for a month or so BEFORE weaning, so the foal can get to know the group.

Then pull the mare out.

Asking a newly weaned foal to feel comfortable in a large herd of adults he’s never met before is WAAAY too stressful. You are just asking for ulcers or worse.

And without a mom to protect him/her, the rest of the herd will really be harsh on the little one.

Afew months of getting to know the herd and bonding with some of the other horses prior to being weaned is a much better way to go.

BTW, you need to be sure that your “herd” is weanling friendly. A six month old foal can really get beat up and hurt if you have even one “meanie” in the group. Not to mention the chance that the grown-ups will keep baby from getting the food it needs.[/QUOTE]

THIS. I have a small farm and one foal a year. At about 5 months I added my Haflinger in with mom and baby (mom and Haffie had been out before together so knew who was boss!) About 6 weeks later, I took mom away to another farm and baby did just fine hanging with Uncle Doc.

[Kyzteke]

I’ve had single foals & multiples and I don’t think it really matters long term. Groups of foals (especially colts) play more and things can get pretty rowdy, whereas if there is only 1 foal in a group with the rest being adults, things tend to be abit more sedate.

The only hard & fast rule is that NO HORSE (young or old) is raised alone. Even my stallion has a pasture buddy. But I don’t really think it matters if the group is mostly foals or mostly adults, as long as they all get along.

Having at least one quiet, level-headed adult in the group DOES tend to keep things abit more civilized, as you would expect.

[Sunnydays]

I haven’t had a “single foal”, but I generally turn my mares with foals out with the big herd (of yearlings, 3 and older horses, other mares with foals) when they are about 1 month old. Every time it has gone well, and the babes learn to read companions of all ages. The older horses are very tolerant of the babies. You do need space to do this.