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2_foalsThere are many different methods of weaning foals, and each person involved in this process will have their own opinion about how it should be done. The first consideration is at what age should foals be weaned?

Most studs agree that 4-6 months is a suitable age for weaning. By this time the natural weaning process has already begun. The mare’s milk is much more watery than when the foal was born, and the foal should have been eating grass for some time now. Also, foals begin to spend more and more time on their own in the paddock. If the mare is back in foal, she is usually entering the second trimester of pregnancy by this stage, and having to feed herself, the foal on the ground and provide the energy for the growing fetus can place a large strain on her reserves. It is also best to wean foals towards the end of summer and early autumn, when the weather is still reasonable, not too hot or too cold. Weaning is a stressful time, and doing it when the weather is cold and wet or 40 degrees or more can make the foal more prone to illness. Mare and foal should both be in good health at the time of weaning, including having been dewormed. Also, it is a good idea to have started to feed the mare and foal hard feed about one month prior to weaning. This will help prepare the foal’s digestive system for the switch from a predominantly milk diet to solid feed. Most foals are already eating hard feed alongside the mare by the time they are three months old. However, be aware that some mares become possessive of their feed and act aggressively towards their foals, preventing them from eating hard feed. After weaning the routine of feeding can be a comfort to the foal, and the hard feed provides a good way to maintain your foal’s weight through the winter.

After making the decision to wean the foal it is necessary to ensure you have suitable safe and secure facilities for doing it. Decide if you are going to place the weaned foal into a stable, yard or small paddock, and ensure that the walls/fences are high and strong. Foals sometimes try to jump over or through the sides of the enclosure, so there must be no sharp or loose objects that the foal could injure itself on. Ideally the foal will already be familiar with the stable/yard that it is placed in. A familiar environment is one less factor for the foal to stress about. Ensure all feed and water containers are secure and unable to be knocked over. It is also important to decide where the mare is going to be placed after weaning. The mare will cope better than the foal in an unfamiliar environment, but it must still be a safe environment as mares can run the fence for several hours after weaning. It is usually better to be able to put the mare out of earshot of the foal so that they cannot hear each other calling out. Ideally plan to be around when you begin the weaning process, such as on a weekend, in case the mare or foal injures themselves trying to find each other.

The quickest and least time consuming method of weaning is to place the foal in the stable/yard designated for it and take the mare away to where she is being placed for weaning, ideally where the mare and foal cannot see or hear each other. This can be the most stressful method for the foal, but the process of weaning is not prolonged, and in some cases the mare and foal are already quite independent from each other and barely notice their separation.

A more gradual method of weaning involves placing the mare and foal in separate but adjoining paddocks or yards, so that they can see each other and perhaps touch noses over the fence, but the foal cannot drink from the mare. The foal becomes accustomed to the yard it is in as well as the feeding routine. Gradually they will spend more and more time away from each other until the mare can be taken away to a paddock where the mare and foal cannot see or hear each other, but by this time the foal is used to being on its own in its yard.

The most time consuming method of weaning involves separating the mare and foal for only short periods of time initially, and gradually increasing the length of time the mare and foal are separated until eventually they are not reunited. Some people believe that this method only prolongs the weaning process and is actually more stressful because the mare and foal undergo the separation process multiple times. When the mare and foal are separated, they do not understand that they will be reunited later that day, they just experience the anxiety of the separation process. However, it does give the foal a taste of independence before it has to do it full time, and the mare’s milk will start to dry off with the reduced demand.

Where there is more than one foal to be weaned, the temptation is to wean all the foals together and place them all in a paddock together. Be aware that foals weaned in a group can try to drink from each other seeking out the comfort of the mare’s milk, and they can bully each other. However, the foals also seek comfort from each other and this can reduce the stress of weaning, though it can create a new problem whereby the foal develops insecurites about being on its own. To avoid this problem, wean the foals at the same time but initially keep them all in separate stables or yards, or place them all together in a paddock but stable them all separately for several hours each day so they learn to spend time on their own. This also provides the ideal opportunity for you to begin to handle the foals, if you have not started this already. Alternatively, an older, good natured horse can be an ideal paddock companion.

Foals can call out for their mothers for several hours, and in some cases days, after weaning, and can appear to become quite depressed. Once the foal has calmed down, this is the time to place it in a small paddock with some companions. Maintaining a regular routine and providing the foals with companions in a warm and safe environment will get them through this difficult process.

After weaning don’t forget about the mare. Most mares cope much better than their foals with the weaning process, but they must still be monitored to ensure they do not harm themselves in the immediate period after weaning. A paddock is the safest and least stressful environment for the mare to be placed into after weaning. One of the most important points to remember is to check the mare’s udder for the development of mastitis. Mastitis is uncommon in mares but requires veterinary attention if it occurs. The udder becomes hot, swollen and painful. The mare may be reluctant to eat and move, and may have a fever (temperature greater than 38.5°C). Do not be tempted to strip out the mare’s udder after weaning; this mimics suckling by the foal and encourages the udder to produce more milk when you want it to produce less. It is best to do nothing to the udder other than monitor it for signs of mastitis. Initially the udder will enlarge after weaning but the mare should remain bright and comfortable, and the udder will begin to reduce in size again after a few days.

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