Some time ago, my vet described a visit to another customer, where she saw a mare nursing what looked like a fully grown pony. When my veterinarian asked that client about it, the customer confirmed that the mare and the other horse were mum and child. The mother of 20 years old and the child of 16! These 2 horses were never separated and because of this, the child wasn't weaned. This made the gelding completely useless for any purpose in the slightest. If he was taken away from his mother for even a short spell, he disintegrated into an absolute mindless panic. He never moved from his position at the very bottom of the herd's pecking order over the years, and this made him an object to be bullied by even the weakest and newest of newcomers. The mare had got tired of defending her son; he was pocked all over his body with old and fresh teeth marks and scars in the unmistaken shape of hooves.
While this situation is comparatively rare, thank the Lord, it does teach you that it is critical that a baby horse be weaned in the right manner at the right time. This is a crucial contribution to the development and growth of the baby both as a riding partner and as a unit of his herd.
While there's no fixed guidelines about the right age to wean away baby horses, it's a matter that's decided on an individual basis. The right age to wean varies from case to case.
If you talk with a dozen professionals, you'll get 13 suggestions concerning the 'best' methodology of weaning away a young horse. There are , however , some facets of weaning you want to pay close attention to.
1. Ensure that the baby is eating solid food like hay or grass without difficulty before initiating weaning.
2. When you're sure the time is right, physically separate the mare from the her foal, but let them stay within vision of each other.
3. Gradually move the foal further away from its mother, so they are not within visual range or reach of one another. Make sure you don't wrestle them apart by force.
4. Give the baby as much attention as you can by socializing and bonding with it, you are easing the discomfort of its separation from its ma. Further, you are also helping the baby adjust to humans and paving the way for some solid bonding with humans later in its life.
Once you are done with these 1st weaning steps, what follows also must be performed with care. It is an inbuilt instinct for a baby to want to remain in proximity to its mother, and it is clear that you have got to be awfully sensitive about weaning a baby if you don't want it to be scared badly. You have to get the process right and what it boils down to is this: you are the most knowledgeable and the best judge of your horses. At the 1st sign of trouble, ask your vet or rope in some neighbors who are veteran horse people. Certainly some of them will have been thru your sort of experience before, and will have some answers for you.
While this situation is comparatively rare, thank the Lord, it does teach you that it is critical that a baby horse be weaned in the right manner at the right time. This is a crucial contribution to the development and growth of the baby both as a riding partner and as a unit of his herd.
While there's no fixed guidelines about the right age to wean away baby horses, it's a matter that's decided on an individual basis. The right age to wean varies from case to case.
If you talk with a dozen professionals, you'll get 13 suggestions concerning the 'best' methodology of weaning away a young horse. There are , however , some facets of weaning you want to pay close attention to.
1. Ensure that the baby is eating solid food like hay or grass without difficulty before initiating weaning.
2. When you're sure the time is right, physically separate the mare from the her foal, but let them stay within vision of each other.
3. Gradually move the foal further away from its mother, so they are not within visual range or reach of one another. Make sure you don't wrestle them apart by force.
4. Give the baby as much attention as you can by socializing and bonding with it, you are easing the discomfort of its separation from its ma. Further, you are also helping the baby adjust to humans and paving the way for some solid bonding with humans later in its life.
Once you are done with these 1st weaning steps, what follows also must be performed with care. It is an inbuilt instinct for a baby to want to remain in proximity to its mother, and it is clear that you have got to be awfully sensitive about weaning a baby if you don't want it to be scared badly. You have to get the process right and what it boils down to is this: you are the most knowledgeable and the best judge of your horses. At the 1st sign of trouble, ask your vet or rope in some neighbors who are veteran horse people. Certainly some of them will have been thru your sort of experience before, and will have some answers for you.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
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