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Expert
Posts: 1218
 
Location: Too far from home | I agree the foal will be fine weaning at 3-4 months. However, Cheryl brought up an interesting point. With the crazy "somebody has to pay for my suffering" society we live in, I'd amend the contract or at least get the new owner to sign an agreement. I've heard a story of a horse sold 5 years ago that is having ulcer issues and the owners are trying to pin it on the former owner. Let's face it: people are crazy and you have to cover your butt. |
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| There are a jillion reasons NOT TO WEAN PRIOR TO A FULL 6 MONTHS WITH THEIR MOTHER.
Mare losing weight is the owners fault .. not the foals ... owner should have increased the broodmares feed while pregnant and had a body scale of 7+/10 and after foal increased feed to maintain that body scale. .. It is almost impossible to founder a nursing mare ...
Weaning early can create every skeleton, muscle, ligament, joint, cartilage, bone density and temperament problems ever known to happen to horses. This first year of growth is at a maximum during the first 6 months of life.... a horse grows the most during their first year so why would you interfere with this growth pattern using an excuse of mare losing weight .... feed her where foal can share and solve your problem you created 7-8 months ago by not having the mare in super condition at foaling time.
Baby nursing the mare during the 5 and 6 month stages is very important ... this is where the colt has that security of his Mama and Mama teaches him some manners not to bite her tits and act like a brat which will be embedded in that babies mind on how to interact with other horses its entire life ...
And it is amazing at the shutdown of both mare and baby at 6 months old ... mare is tired of saying .. stop .. don't do this or that and baby is on full feed and digestive system is rolling along and he is ready to get his first annual shots 2 weeks before being weaned so they will give him immunity to certain diseases. .. Very little to no stress from either party and no interruption in foals growing process !!
And to me ... most important thing .... babies have taken a brand new interest in their humans ... they are very curious, have new brains, not stressed looking for mama, have the right amount of spook to move them around anyway you want and very willing to learn from a good teacher all the things that set them up for life!!
2nd important thing ... at 6+ months you are not having to undo the bratty attitude of a foal that has had too much loving human contact ...
IMO .. anyone that weans prior to 6 months is ignoring the lifetime results they create during that 60-90 days they take away from the foal and I hope they get the vet bills they created down the road when baby is 2-3 years old and put under saddle and riding training is started.
So think twice about weaning early and taking care of those broodmares prior and after foaling ... mares look good with after baby fat !!! .... lol ...
The following 3 photos ...>>
1.) condition of mare 6 months pregnant
2.) condition of mare and baby at 6 months weaning prior to mare being taken back to big pasture and baby kept at the barn
3.) baby as a big growthy yearling May 17, 2014
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-06-25 5:00 PM
 (15SEPT2012 LIQUID HIPS (2).JPG)
 (COUGARS MISS BEHAVIN 9-23-2013 (10).JPG)
 (COUGARS MISS BEHAVIN (23).JPG)
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 15SEPT2012 LIQUID HIPS (2).JPG (68KB - 204 downloads)
COUGARS MISS BEHAVIN 9-23-2013 (10).JPG (61KB - 188 downloads)
COUGARS MISS BEHAVIN (23).JPG (61KB - 183 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3300
| BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-06-26 1:27 PM There are a jillion reasons NOT TO WEAN PRIOR TO A FULL 6 MONTHS WITH THEIR MOTHER. Mare losing weight is the owners fault .. not the foals ... owner should have increased the broodmares feed while pregnant and had a body scale of 7+/10 and after foal increased feed to maintain that body scale. .. It is almost impossible to founder a nursing mare ... Weaning early can create every skeleton, muscle, ligament, joint, cartilage, bone density and temperament problems ever known to happen to horses. This first year of growth is at a maximum during the first 6 months of life.... a horse grows the most during their first year so why would you interfere with this growth pattern using an excuse of mare losing weight .... feed her where foal can share and solve your problem you created 7-8 months ago by not having the mare in super condition at foaling time. Baby nursing the mare during the 5 and 6 month stages is very important ... this is where the colt has that security of his Mama and Mama teaches him some manners not to bite her tits and act like a brat which will be embedded in that babies mind on how to interact with other horses its entire life ... And it is amazing at the shutdown of both mare and baby at 6 months old ... mare is tired of saying .. stop .. don't do this or that and baby is on full feed and digestive system is rolling along and he is ready to get his first annual shots 2 weeks before being weaned so they will give him immunity to certain diseases. .. Very little to no stress from either party and no interruption in foals growing process !! And to me ... most important thing .... babies have taken a brand new interest in their humans ... they are very curious, have new brains, not stressed looking for mama, have the right amount of spook to move them around anyway you want and very willing to learn from a good teacher all the things that set them up for life!! 2nd important thing ... at 6+ months you are not having to undo the bratty attitude of a foal that has had too much loving human contact ... IMO .. anyone that weans prior to 6 months is ignoring the lifetime results they create during that 60-90 days they take away from the foal and I hope they get the vet bills they created down the road when baby is 2-3 years old and put under saddle and riding training is started. So think twice about weaning early and taking care of those broodmares prior and after foaling ... mares look good with after baby fat !!! .... lol ... The following 3 photos ...>> 1.) condition of mare 6 months pregnant 2.) condition of mare and baby at 6 months weaning prior to mare being taken back to big pasture and baby kept at the barn 3.) baby as a big growthy yearling May 17, 2014
Really lol.... She me for weaning my baby's at 4/5 months when no amount of feed will make my mares look better than slaughter bound dinks... They will get weaned... And my yearling at 13 months is 14.3 and solid so I don't think it stunted her growth! Nor will it cause vet bills down the road!! Get off your high horse! |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| I"ve had two orphans (both at 3 days) and had to wean another handful early (2-3 months) for various reasons. ALL of them are full grown, healthy, and successful horses. One orphan, out of a 14.3 mare and 14.2 stallion, is a 15.2 giant of a horse. My early-weaned colt from last year is well over 14 hands now, huge built, and doing absolutely wonderful with his new owner.
Mare's milk loses the majority of its nutritional value by 3 months. Unless I saw a study over 10 years and at least hundreds of cases showing some specific lack in foals weaned around 3 months I ain't buying it.
I've had a few foals wean themselves at about the three month age, and also a couple times where the mare kicked the foal off the udder about the same age.
Since your foal is already showing the independence, I bet the weaning will take care of itself around the 3 month age. |
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| I prefer you put up your photos showing mares and foals just like I did ...
then we might be able to have a meaningful conversation ....
Until then your comments are meaningless...
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 Expert
Posts: 1229
Location: Royal J Performance Horses, AZ | LRQHS - 2014-06-25 8:37 AM
It's too hot down here to keep them on the mares past 4 months. They start pulling the mares down. I've never had a problem weaning between 3-4 months. Get him on a good 16% feed and he'll be fine.
I agree with the lady who never sent my Peee Cans! hehe ;p I yoke i yoke
I wean at 3-4 months all the time. and its not a problem at all. most are perfectly ready to leave momma by then. and as the above said it gets hot by us as well and drags the mares down like no other in these 118 degree summers. |
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Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-06-25 6:54 PM I prefer you put up your photos showing mares and foals just like I did ... then we might be able to have a meaningful conversation .... Until then your comments are meaningless...
I've had 2 mares that have never see a body score of 5+ no matter what I threw at them, including free choice alfalfa and 10+ pounds of fat enriched top shelf bagged feed (TC Complete or Senior) x 2 daily, and open pasture. Many race bred lines are not ever going to look like a chunky quarterhorse no matter what. And those mares, even if you have them at the 5 mark at foaling, are going to go downhill when they lactate. Add some age to the mare and the weight comes off even faster during lactation.
I don't know about anyone else, but I have to find or make time to take pics. Between full time work and trying to find time to ride and keep up with some house chores, pictures of my horses are few and far between.
The OP asked if it would be harmful to wean early. The answer from most common-sensical breeders is going to be - no, as long as the foal is eating well, drinking well, and has an independent personality. I didn't see anything about mares and weight from the OP? |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I was told to make sure the mares stayed no worse than a BCS of 5.. 7+ isn't necessary IMO. 5 is "ribs can be felt not seen" and pretty sure the BCS we learned stops at 9, not 10.
About weaning. we wean at 3.5-4 months.
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | No issue with mom and colt's weight. Both are healthy and look amazing. I disregarded what BHUSA was posting because it had nothing to do with my question.
Thanks to everyone for your help. I will most likely wean him at 3-4 months. |
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I have always weaned between 3-4 months and never had a problem. Moms and babies always do extremely well and none ever suffer from it. |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-06-25 3:27 PM
There are a jillion reasons NOT TO WEAN PRIOR TO A FULL 6 MONTHS WITH THEIR MOTHER.
Mare losing weight is the owners fault .. not the foals ... owner should have increased the broodmares feed while pregnant and had a body scale of 7+/10 and after foal increased feed to maintain that body scale. .. It is almost impossible to founder a nursing mare ...
Weaning early can create every skeleton, muscle, ligament, joint, cartilage, bone density and temperament problems ever known to happen to horses. This first year of growth is at a maximum during the first 6 months of life.... a horse grows the most during their first year so why would you interfere with this growth pattern using an excuse of mare losing weight .... feed her where foal can share and solve your problem you created 7-8 months ago by not having the mare in super condition at foaling time.
Baby nursing the mare during the 5 and 6 month stages is very important ... this is where the colt has that security of his Mama and Mama teaches him some manners not to bite her tits and act like a brat which will be embedded in that babies mind on how to interact with other horses its entire life ...
And it is amazing at the shutdown of both mare and baby at 6 months old ... mare is tired of saying .. stop .. don't do this or that and baby is on full feed and digestive system is rolling along and he is ready to get his first annual shots 2 weeks before being weaned so they will give him immunity to certain diseases. .. Very little to no stress from either party and no interruption in foals growing process !!
And to me ... most important thing .... babies have taken a brand new interest in their humans ... they are very curious, have new brains, not stressed looking for mama, have the right amount of spook to move them around anyway you want and very willing to learn from a good teacher all the things that set them up for life!!
2nd important thing ... at 6+ months you are not having to undo the bratty attitude of a foal that has had too much loving human contact ...
IMO .. anyone that weans prior to 6 months is ignoring the lifetime results they create during that 60-90 days they take away from the foal and I hope they get the vet bills they created down the road when baby is 2-3 years old and put under saddle and riding training is started.
So think twice about weaning early and taking care of those broodmares prior and after foaling ... mares look good with after baby fat !!! .... lol ...
The following 3 photos ...>>
1.) condition of mare 6 months pregnant
2.) condition of mare and baby at 6 months weaning prior to mare being taken back to big pasture and baby kept at the barn
3.) baby as a big growthy yearling May 17, 2014
Are you insane? |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| I would maybe try and get your hands on some Buckeye Foal Starter Pellets...maybe two bags?
This is a milk based transition feed-good for transitioning any foal from milk to grain.
Best transition feed on the market IMO.
http://www.buckeyenutrition.com/breeding/foal-starter.aspx
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| lonely va barrelxr - 2014-06-25 8:15 PM
BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-06-25 6:54 PM I prefer you put up your photos showing mares and foals just like I did ... then we might be able to have a meaningful conversation .... Until then your comments are meaningless...
I don't know about anyone else, but I have to find or make time to take pics. Â Between full time work and trying to find time to ride and keep up with some house chores, pictures of my horses are few and far between.
The OP asked if it would be harmful to wean early. Â The answer from most common-sensical breeders is going to be - no, as long as the foal is eating well, drinking well, and has an independent personality. Â I didn't see anything about mares and weight from the OP?
This mare is 19 in this picture and 10 months pregnant. She is all race bred. She was appendix registered until Barrelhorse had her papers changed to Permanent AQHA. She is 16-3. She gets 8 lbs. of a fairly inexpensive 14% pellet feed twice a day. She gets approx. 8lbs of coastal hay twice a day. She is in a small 2 acre pasture that has very little grass. There are loose minerals out at all times. Personally, I think she looks pretty good. I wean my babies at 6 to 6 1/2 months the same as my dad did for the past 50 years. A good simple feeding program works best for me. There is a picture of her foal that she had about 30 days after her picture was taken. The foal was 5 months old in that picture. So here you have an old, pregnant, race bred mare that is fat. It can be done. I am sure that Barrelhorse likes to know that the horses that he sells are well taken care of and that something will be done with them.
 (Honey sm image 2.jpg)
 (diva jun 2013.jpg)
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Honey sm image 2.jpg (89KB - 188 downloads)
diva jun 2013.jpg (86KB - 203 downloads)
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | magic gunsmoke - 2014-06-25 10:58 PM I would maybe try and get your hands on some Buckeye Foal Starter Pellets...maybe two bags?
This is a milk based transition feed-good for transitioning any foal from milk to grain.
Best transition feed on the market IMO.
http://www.buckeyenutrition.com/breeding/foal-starter.aspx
I will try that, thanks!
I offered him TC Senior last night with some healthy coat on top for taste but he was uninterested. He is not even interested in momma's bucket. He eats up grass and nibbles on hay, but isn't turned on to grain just yet. I wish he would be, it would be easier to get his butt in the stall in the morning! |
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