THE NEXT EPISODE IN MY FOAL SAGA

[Nevenka van Niekerk]

I am really starting to enjoy little Faith now, she is a honey. Starting to lead around without too much resistance. Had her feet done and she was an absolute angel. Now what age is the suggested age for weaning? And what is the best method? Some people say immediate weaning other say gradual weaning. I just don't know what to do. I have 2 mares and a donkey I want to put in with mother and baby eventually. So I have gradually started doing this. I think the weaning will just be easier if baby shares the field with at least one other person she knows. I have since put the 2year old in with them and even though she is not too fond of the foal, she hardly pays her any attention and mum manages to keep her away with not much effort. Yesterday I tried with the 3 year old pony. It's all of 12hh ,but an absolute little devil. She just went for the foal and chased her , I hate to think what she would have done if she caught her. What really upset me was the fact that I can imagine how traumatised mom must have been as she could not run fast enough to protect her baby. I am truly shattered that I did this to her. So now what? Do I put the 2 year old in with them and let them form their own little herd until weaning? Please if someone has experience wih this, please help me. I am really very concerned. (Debbie?)

[Debbie Marshall]

This sounds absolutely idyllic and a perfect solution where it works. I have seen youngsters of two and a half who tower over mum still drinking. Do yours always wean naturally without being back in foal? Is there something you do to encourage weaning?

[Nevenka van Niekerk]

This does sound ideal. I do not have other foals and am not in a hurry. Wonder if I should give this a bash. I suppose as long as mums condition allows. Just worried about those big teeth. Would not mind weaning the foal a little later.

[Nevenka van Niekerk]

Hey all the mares are together finally. But baby has taken to the donkey. Boy oh Boy, they are best pals. But all getting along fine. Just worried about the weaning issue. I can take mum out the paddock to feed her and if baby has hay, she does not even look at her mom. Without she stands at the fence and looks at mum, but no drama. She seems very independent as she is off playing with her friends most of the time. Who has the most stress during weaning? Mum or baby? And how long does it take for mum's milk to dry up. I am thinking of starting to work mum a bit, but I don't want any accidents with the foal panicking etc. It is possible to seperate them. But the property is not big enough to keep them in paddocks where they can't hear each other. They won't be able to see each other, but I am certain that they will hear each other. What experiences have you guys had with weaning?

[Debbie Marshall]

As for who has most stress during weaning = it's usually the two legged mums!!!!!

All comes down to personality type and differs from situation to situation.

There is another method of weaning which is probably the least stressful of all = if you can make it work.

If you have something like a diamond mesh fence you can put mum one side and the filly and her friends the other. That way there is no separation anxiety as such and as soon as either the milk has dried up or baby has lost the sucking reflex you can put them back together if you wish. Udders rarely dry up completely = at least not quickly = but the sucking reflex will probably disappear after about two weeks or so. Again this is an individual thing which could take longer.

There is no reason that you shouldn't start working mum and the foals reaction to her being away should get better each time allowing you to extend the separation time. The more you do it the less likely baby will be to panic.

Baby is likely to call for mum more than mum will call for baby (again individual and can be the other way around). Mum is likely to call when her udder becomes full and she is looking for baby to give her some relief. If you milk mum just enough to prevent this happening, without milking so much as to encourage more milk production, you are able to reduce the probability of mum calling too much.