Weaning Woes: Tips to Minimise Stress for Mares and Foals

From the April 2014 issue of The Stable Magazine – www.thestablemagazine.com/april 2014

Whether you own one broodmare and one foal, or fifty mares and fifty foals, weaning is an inevitable process for every owner/breeder. 

The method you choose and the timing of the weaning may vary, but all foals must be weaned at some point - and the best we can hope for is a stress free process, and healthy and happy horses. We’ve put together a few tips, hints and facts about weaning that are good food for thought when it comes to separating mum and baby.

CONSIDERATIONS

When it comes to weaning, you have options There is not one ‘tried and proven’ method. There is no ‘right age’ at which to wean a foal. Your method of weaning and the age at which you choose to wean your foal is up to you. In fact, it would be disastrous not to consider what is best for mare and foal, and wean your foal on the first of April because the calendar says that it’s time.

Weaning time very much depends on the health of mare and foal, how the foal is coping nutritionally, whether it is still relying on the mare to meet the majority of it’s nutritional requirements, and whether or not your circumstances force you to wean early. Will another month or two make any difference? Possibly. Possibly not. You must consider the options taking into account the individual needs of your mare and foal. A textbook cannot tell you when is ‘right’.

Your property and available facilities will also impact the method you choose for weaning. If you choose to take baby from Mum ‘cold turkey’ and move them to opposite ends of the farm, it won’t be very pleasant for any involved if ‘across the farm’ is fifty metres away. Have you got a safe place for your mare and weanling? Have you walked the fence lines to check that they are safe and in good condition?

Is baby particularly attached to Mum at this point in his development? Or is he independent and usually off on the other side of the paddock, harassing the neighbouring good-natured geldings? How often does the foal feed? Is he grazing well? Eating a good percentage of roughage? Stealing mum’s grain?

All of these factors should be carefully considered prior to weaning. Preparation and vigilance is the key to a successful weaning - have a general plan, but be prepared to hold off on weaning if the mare and foal aren’t quite ready.

WHEN TO WEAN?

As mentioned previously - there is no ‘textbook’ right time to wean your foal from your mare. Certain factors will certainly influence the timing. If the mare is not coping with the demands of her growing foal, or if her health is being compromised, foals can be weaned early. On properties where horses are business, and time is money, foals may be weaned early (or all in a large group) because this is what the stud/breeder needs to do in order to operate the business efficiently. If you are under no time restrictions, if your mare and foal are doing well, if there is no reason to wean early - then please, do not wean early.

Foals can be weaned anywhere from four months onwards.(Would this be our choice? Definitely NOT.) Some breeders choose six months, some choose around eight. Basically, you need to make sure that the foal is eating well and able to cope with the weaning before you consider weaning him.

Generally, the older the foal, the easier the weaning should be, as generally the older foal (let’s say an 8-month-old) is more independent and self-reliant than say, a 5-month-old.

DO NOT WEAN...

If the foal is unwell. Adding stress on top of any illness can lead to a poor immune response, which  can have disastrous results. Vets and professionals also recommend completing any medical routines (worming, hoof trimming, vaccinations, etc) prior to weaning, so there is no added stress after the foal has been separated from its mother.

FOAL HANDLING

Foal handling prior to weaning will also make the process easier - not only will it ensure that your foal recognises you, but it also enables you to earn the trust of the young horse, which can make farrier visits, worming and vet visits a much more pleasant experience. Your foal should have already been on a regular worming program before he is weaned.

WHICH METHOD?

There are three basic weaning methods for separating mum and baby. In a nutshell, we have no contact, gradual weaning, or weaning in proximity.

In the ‘no contact’ method, the mare and foal are separated and (usually) placed on either end of the property. This is common when large groups of mares and foals are to be weaned. Some breeders will choose to run all mares and foals together for a week or so prior to moving the mares out, so the foals can socialise and begin to get to know each other. Then, mares and foals are separated - mares are run together, and the foals are turned out together. It is definitely the most stressful (for the horses and for the caring horse owner), as mares and foals inevitably call for one another. If they can hear each other, it can take a longer period for mares and foals to settle.

Putting all weanlings together is not necessarily the best idea either. Studies, including one completed at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agriculture Research and Extension Center (MAREC) showed that while weanlings preferred another weanling (as opposed to being by himself, we assume), weanlings housed with other weanlings displayed higher blood cortisol (stress hormone) levels than those of weanlings that were left without a buddy. It is a possibility that other weanlings also calling for their mothers can raise the ‘herd mentality’ and cause stress in all members of the new weanling herd.

In the wild as foals are gradually weaned, their dams will gradually ‘shoo’ them away to discourage nursing, often as the mare is once again in foal and expecting a new arrival shortly. Easy done, right? Not always so in domestic horses. Offspring can nurse until they are years old if the mare allows. Not a very practical option if the mare is your much loved riding horse.

During weaning, foals do require a companion. Some people have weaned foals with goats and other animals - but none replaces the old reliable gelding. A wiser herd member who will be gentle on the young horse, but set a good example and teach him to be a productive member of a herd.

You should also ensure that your foal is placed somewhere that is familiar to him, if possible. If he is familiar with his paddock, there may be less stress involved, rather than being separated from mum and in a foreign environment.

Option two for weaning is the gradual separation method, where Mum and baby are placed in separate paddocks for periods of time that you slowly increase, reducing the foal’s reliance on Mum for both comfort and nursing.

Option three is a separation where mare and foal are placed in adjoining paddocks - however where the foal is unable to nurse from the mare. This method is probably the least stressful for the foal, especially as the young horse could also be housed with another young horse or older gelding baby-sitter. Mare and foal will still be able to see each other, and will have limited contact over the fence.

Wherever you choose to house your weanling, be sure that the fences are secure, and that there is no chance of injury. Foals are not always respectful of fences, and may try to go under, over or through them - so ensure that your fencing is as safe as possible, on the off chance that your foal does attempt this.

YOUR MARE

Once the foal is no longer drinking, the mare’s udder will reduce in size, and milk production will come to a stop. It is important to keep an eye on the mare’s udder at this time to ensure there are no symptoms of mastitis.

Ensure that mare and foal are both placed on appropriate diets after weaning - the mare will not require as much energy from her feed in comparison to when she was feeding her foal - and the foal will need to be on an appropriate diet to ensure that he receives all of the necessary vitamins and minerals necessary for a growing horse - as well as a diet that meets the growing horse’s daily energy requirements.

Whichever method you choose, and at whichever age you choose to wean your foal, make the situation as stress-free as possible, and if in doubt, consult your veterinarian for advice.

Thank you to The Stable Magazine for this article, which was originally published in their April 2014 issue. Check out The Stable Magazine online now for FREE. Read this article and many more at www.thestablemagazine.com