At some point I’d like to add another horse/pony. My thinking is that it would be another for the foal to socialize with. She’s 6 weeks old now and very independent.
I have two options. A quiet pony that wouldn’t hurt a fly - obvious choice. Choice #2 is my other maiden mare who can be a little nasty to others so I dont think thats a good idea.
Or should I not worry about it and keep them alone until weaning.
Any thoughts?
The foal is old enough and you want them well socialized before weaning so when you take mom out at weaning time the foal is comfortable with the buddy you will be leaving them with. And yeah the pony sounds like the more obvious choice.if the pony can socialize over the fence from an adjoining pasture/ paddock first it would be best.
We keep our moms and foals separate for about a week or so and then introduce them back with the rest of the herd. I always play it by ear and only do so once the foal is healthy and strong enough…in case they get into a bit of trouble and need to move out of the way quickly. 
We do the same as Daventry. After a week things settle down and they are easily introduced back with the herd…
We, too, do “about” the same as Daventry. Unless we have two born very close together. We usually have 2+ foals at a time, so don’t need a pony and I have eliminated all the nasty mares…no matter how spectacular…from our herd!! A nasty mare WILL get “someone” hurt at some point!! I got rid of our last nasty mare 10 years ago. She was a gorgeous black/chrome TB mare. Super bred and an awesome mover…but even her own foal was fearful of her when she was witchy!! She now lives three states away with full disclosure!!
Oh, I love my bitchy mare. We are so much alike I will keep her forever and occasionally send her sacrifices but not my new foal
I would send the foal to grow up with a group of its peers. Then mama can be w/other mare. Young horses learn so many skills from their peers and make better adults as a result.
[QUOTE=Sparky Boy;8195450]
Oh, I love my bitchy mare. We are so much alike I will keep her forever and occasionally send her sacrifices but not my new foal ;)[/QUOTE]
I wish I could borrow your bitchy mare. I have a yearling filly that needs to be sacrificed…she is too big for her britches thanks to being raised with three pushovers. My mare is a bitch, except to the filly, who she allows to do absolutely anything with no scolding. My other mare is a wimp who is now pushed around by the yearling with only showy moments of rebellion. My gelding, who rules the pasture has a soft spot for babies and allows the yearling to walk all over him half the time (including eating food right out of his bucket). When he occasionally tires of being the nice uncle, he tries to give her subtle hints (pinned ears, small threats) which she completely ignores. If he backs it up with an actual bite, she just stands her ground and bites him right back. Since no one else has ever dared to do this, he has no idea what to do, and it simply never occurs to him to escalate and threaten to kick her (maybe he’s actually scared of her). She’s getting too big for her britches and is on her way to being a boss mare. As she’s 14 months old and 15.1 hh, she will be a BIG boss mare too.
More on topic with the thread…I had her alone with mom for about 3 weeks and when mom allowed the others to talk to the baby over the fence without freaking out, that’s when I put them together and had no issues at all. I started with just another mare, who I knew would keep her distance and was no threat, then added the gelding. Never a problem. After a few weeks over the fence, the “new” had worn off the baby and they were all more interested in just hanging out and eating together.
MANY (like 35+) years ago we had a bitchy mare…standing at the gate waiting to come in for dinner she fired off at the another mare…who ducked…and caught 2nd mare’s colt in the hind leg. Cornell took our $3,500 willingly and operated putting in plates and screws, THEN put him to sleep three weeks later due to infection…they didn’t even put a bandage over the operation site!! Just let him wallow around in a poopy stall!!! NO BITCHY MARES FOR ME!!
On topic but I have a question: would you put a 6 week old foal with mom out with another mare that has front shoes? I’ve been hesitant about this. Mare with shoes is mellow, not a kicker and not dominant. But she’s a riding horse so need her front shoes. Pasture is 6 acres.
[QUOTE=Meadow36;8197976]
On topic but I have a question: would you put a 6 week old foal with mom out with another mare that has front shoes? I’ve been hesitant about this.[/QUOTE]
Well, unless she is a deadly accurate striker, she’s unlikely to do much damage with the front hooves, whether shod or barefoot.
I wouldn’t worry much about front shoes either.
Yep, done. 
All 3 mares are now out together with mom and foal. For the most part they leave him alone; occasionally they feel the need to get snarky, pin ears and chase him off. It’s not often though.
So… The quite pony is taking a beating. My almost 5 month old filly and mom want nothing to do with him but last night I watched the filly run up to him, give him a double-barrel kick to the shoulder, squeal and run off back to mom to graze.
Good lord, is this another witchy mare in the making? How will she learn not to be a jerk? Maybe she does need some turnout time with my other witchy mare? They do spend lots of time sharing a fence line so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad?
To be fair, the pony has only been turned out with them for less than a week.
And the maiden mare isn’t always bitchy, she’s just the alpha - no questions. Put her in with a submissive horse and she’s fine, put her with another alpha and it’s game on.
Bitchy mare and mom/baby share a long fence line and tend to hang together as mom and Bitchy mare have always been BFFs
I also raise mine in a herd. When I have had a foal like this I find they have got away with it because the other horse (your case pony) is scared or at least very respectful of the mom. Usually once weaned and there is no “backup”, the other horses start to correct them for their bad behaviour and they are not quite as confident.
[QUOTE=Cindy’s Warmbloods;8310871]
I also raise mine in a herd. When I have had a foal like this I find they have got away with it because the other horse (your case pony) is scared or at least very respectful of the mom. Usually once weaned and there is no “backup”, the other horses start to correct them for their bad behaviour and they are not quite as confident.[/QUOTE]
Thanks. I hope that is the case here.
My mares foal privately but then rejoin the herd within a few weeks. My stallion also lives with the herd. He’s a wonderful parent with the foals and takes no nonsense from stroppy babies. He plays with them and even will share his bucket with them. He’s also great when it comes time to wean them.
I realize that not everyone can keep a stallion under these circumstances. It’s great for him – he has always been a regular horse and he keeps his offspring in good order.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
