Weaning Age

[barnchick277]

Hi Everyone!

I picked up an underweight 3 year old mare and her filly in August. Mare is slowly but steadily putting weight on and looks a ton better but definitely not where I would want her to be going into a Minnesota winter. Filly is 5 months now and has always looked good weight wise.

My vet who also does some breeding (not the breeder the mare and filly came from) weans at 5 months but from what I’m reading 6-8 months is better. I’m really leaning towards weaning her in the next week or so to help the mare get more weight on before winter but I’m just not sure.

My plan would be for the filly to live with my 2 older mares 1 of which had 3 foals with a previous owner and I was told she was an excellent mother. I have been putting that mare in with the filly when I take momma out for her grain and my mare is definitely taking on the role of a kind but firm boundary setter. My other mare is a gentle soul and has been fine in the pen with the filly also.

Would having these 2 as role models make up for any teaching the filly would miss being weaned early?

Thanks in advance!

[Marla_100]

Depends- some mares are good disciplinarians and some are hands off.
I worked at a good sized breeding farm for several years and the best method, IMO, for both mare and foal was a gradual weaning. This means your filly spends longer and longer each day away from the mare. There was almost no emotional toll on either the foal or mare.

[Scribbler]

I’ve also seen foals remain with their moms until they are yearlings and in a herd, don’t even notice mom going away. If the mare doesn’t need to go back to work I’d leave them together over the fall and just feed. Foal will be eating hard food soon anyhow.

[B_and_B]

Flip side on the mare’s weight is the impact on filly going in to winter. A thin 3yr old mare is really not going to be as impacted by winter stress as a weanling. It, in my mind, is easier to make up calories for the mare than the stress on the filly with weaning. I’d keep gradually separating them, and when separated mom always has plenty of high calorie food as does the filly and other mares. Your food bill may be a little high, but the impact is less.
It sounds like you already have the potential for a gradual weaning set up, I’d keep with that.

[JB]

5 months is pretty close to 6 months. But, since you just got her and are putting good groceries into her, would it harm her to keep the filly on her another month? What are you feeding now? At 5 months, milk production shouldn’t (in theory!) be taking that much out of the mare, but some are just dairy cows

[barnchick277]

I guess I hadn’t thought as much about the stress on the foal since I’m so concerned about the mares weight. The mare had not been handled until I got her and it has been a very slow process as she is suspicious and untrusting of everything. I’m doubtful I’ll be able to get a blanket on her so want to make sure she has enough weight to do ok without one

She is currently getting 8lbs of Triple Crown Senior with a cup of flax seed and free choice grass/alfalfa mix hay. Our usual hay is only about 20-30% alfalfa but we had a drought over the summer and the alfalfa was more hardy so our current hay is probably in the 60-70% alfalfa range.

Mares udders don’t seem huge but I have never had a mare and foal before so don’t know what is normal.

Sounds like doing a gradual weaning over the next month is the way to go. Mare doesn’t seem to care at all when they are separated and filly is usually fine as long as she has company so if I keep on with our current routine and extend the time hopefully it will be stress free

[Marla_100]

Start now to put small things like a 2x2 rag or scart against her and rub her with it, until you can rub her all over with it. Back off if she’s too nervous. But just quietly persist. All the while talking quietly to her and lots of “good girls”.
Then put the rag on her back and let it sit there. Then put it near and on her head and let it sit there.
If she’s ok with it, enlarge the rag or scarf to something larger. Within a few days you should be able to place a folded up blanket on her back to just sit there. Gradually unfold the blanket to be larger and let it sit on her back. You can even do this while she’s eating if she’s OK with it.
Then when it’s totally unfolded let the straps and buckles hang loosely with the blanket over her back and shoulders. If she’s OK w/ it you’re 95% there. Do this for several days and let it sit on her for 5-10 minutes. Do lots of patting all over her body and talking quietly.
Now you’re ready to buckle it for her to wear it. Just go slowly and it should work.

[barnchick277]

I’ll try to start adding that to the daily handling. She’s still not fully comfortable with me touching her all over but we’ve made a lot of progress. I know for a fact she wasn’t abused so I don’t know where her fear response is coming from. She does give very clear signals if I am pushing her outside of her comfort level which is helpful. She is very treat motivated which has helped quite a bit, if she’s uncomfortable with something I’m doing and moves away from me she always comes back to see if I have a treat. I can tell she wants to trust me she’s just not quite there yet

[Marla_100]

If she’s able to have a halter put on her, I like to halter them w/ a long lead line and so she knows I have the lead line in my hand so she can’t completely walk away.
Tiny treats or carrot pcs. are a great way to teach them “Yes, good girl” then…treat.
Just don’t allow them to mug you or search you for treats. Teach the word ACK, for no, don’t do that.
Also just sitting near her or working around her in her enclosure gets her used to you. And to your voice.
Sounds like you’re well on your way to ‘gentling’ her. Good Job!
My favorite saying…“Every Day in Every Way, She’s getting Better and Better”.

[barnchick277]

She is now halterable and leadable, I’ve just started using a blocker tie ring to “tie” her and work on picking up her feet which luckily aren’t in too bad of shape even though they have never been trimmed

I am working on her staying out of my space about the treats and she is improving although she has never been pushy enough that I’m concerned over my safety. I did spend the first month she was with me not really asking anything of her and letting her decompress. I spent a lot of time just hanging out in her pen which also helped with the filly who was completely untouchable but is now very friendly and let’s us rub all over her

Thanks for your advice!

[Luseride]

What does the mare say? I have had some that started weaning their foals themselves at four months and one that because of a move and facilities the colt was a yearling. I find if I watch the mare quite often I can see signs that she is ready to wean and it makes it all easire.

[Scribbler]

Fear doesn’t necessarily come from abuse. It’s just a normal horse reaction to new things. Generslly slow acclimitization gets them over it. You will also need to be hter breaking the foal already too.

[JB]

Most mares will start “weaning” their foals as they get older. Many foals will start some sort of weaning in that 4 month range too, which really only means they aren’t as needy of mom’s protection, they aren’t as needy of milk as their bodies start maturing to be able to handle forages.

Those things don’t mean it’s ok to complete the weaning process, as there is a whole lot more to that relationship than how often the foal will, or needs to nurse. It’s about the mental benefits the mare brings to the foal at least into month 6, but also some important physical benefits, such as bigger cannon bone circumference in later-weaned foals. That is what the more recent (which isn’t even terribly new now, at least 4 years old or so) research showed.
It’s Time to Re-Think Early Weaning of Horses - Expert advice on horse care and horse riding (equisearch.com)

[barnchick277]

Mare let’s the filly do whatever she wants. She doesn’t seem to care if the filly calls to her when they are separated though

[barnchick277]

Definitely taking things very slow with this mare and the filly too. Almost have the filly ready for a halter and hope to get it on her within the next week

[barnchick277]

Very good information in that article! Thanks for the link!

[JB]

@barnchick277

Mare let’s the filly do whatever she wants. She doesn’t seem to care if the filly calls to her when they are separated though

This is to your (and the mare’s weight) benefit, as she isn’t terribly concerned about where the filly is.

[barnchick277]

Before I picked them up they were in a large herd and some of the older broodmares stole the filly several times so I don’t think the mare is as bonded as she should be which will work in her favor.

We did manage to get a halter on the filly today which we consider a huge win! She was completely untouchable when we picked them up at the end of August and would kick at anyone who tried to touch her. She’s coming around nicely