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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
  
Location: Oklahoma | I am really trying to decide what to do. My good mare has a foal at her side, he is now 3 months. He is a very independent sucker and usually nowhere near momma unless he is nursing or running her off her dinner. She doesn't worry about him much either, he doesn't come when he is called anyway. LOL He is quite the character.
I plan on weaning the end of the month as I missed the weaning days early this month. What are the pro/cons of going ahead and starting to ride her? She has been off for a year now, so is pretty chunky. I don't plan on doing a lot, just enough to get her heart rate up at first. After I wean I know I will have to give her a few days for her bag to go down.
I see people hauling mares with foals at their side a lot, and never agreed with it, but I do remember riding our wet mares when I was younger.
Thoughts?
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 Midget Lover
  
Location: Kentucky | I don't see a problem with it. My 30 day old is already an independent dude and is also usually no where near mama. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 274
| We wean at 3-4 months old, I would go ahead and wean the foal if it is eating decently. At this age the mares milk is pretty clear and really doesn't have as much nutrients in it. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I rode my mare with the baby attached to her side. It was really cute and fun. Have some great pictures from it too. Neither my mare or colt seemed to mind. My baby just ran along the side of us. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I started lightly riding my mare when her filly was a couple months old. I didn't want to do too much with her since she was lactating and that puts a lot on their bodies. But I would save her for last when everyone else was already ridden, I would get them locked in the arena where the baby could run around but not run off, and then i would do some light rides. that way when the filly was weaned Lucy was somewhat in shape already. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 630
| My mom is running my old rodeo mare with a foal at her side. We just load them and go and have had no issues. We will be weaning at 90 days and I think the baby loves the Extra attention he receives at the races. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | good info, my baby is right a 2 months and eating grain/hay good..
we have put a few 30 minute rides on momma while leading baby around off away from her...
we plan to wean next month, so at 3 months.....
now another poster wrote "she missed the weaning days" what are those? or did i take it out of context?
thanks for the info..... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | clover girl - 2015-06-10 9:00 AM I am really trying to decide what to do. My good mare has a foal at her side, he is now 3 months. He is a very independent sucker and usually nowhere near momma unless he is nursing or running her off her dinner. She doesn't worry about him much either, he doesn't come when he is called anyway. LOL He is quite the character.
I plan on weaning the end of the month as I missed the weaning days early this month. What are the pro/cons of going ahead and starting to ride her? She has been off for a year now, so is pretty chunky. I don't plan on doing a lot, just enough to get her heart rate up at first. After I wean I know I will have to give her a few days for her bag to go down.
I see people hauling mares with foals at their side a lot, and never agreed with it, but I do remember riding our wet mares when I was younger.
Thoughts?
what does this mean? "missed the weaning days" |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | I would guess "weaning days" is referring to weaning by the sign. You can look up the days in a Farmer's Almanac. |
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  JMHO
Posts: 1869
Location: Oklahoma | I sure would be riding her. Either pony the colt or have him near by where he can see her. I love to pony my babies off my mare. It was so good for them and they always seemed to stand tied better after being ponied a few days. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I guess I have a different view on things. Riding a horse is risky enough when you have it's full attention. Riding a mare who's job is to protect her baby is even less safe because of that distraction. For those people that wean at 2 or 3 months, A mare's job is not to just feed the foal. She also has to teach it how to be a horse. 3 months is usually not enough time to provide a good education.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
Location: texas | Dreamin of 3cans - 2016-05-20 12:31 PM
I sure would be riding her. Either pony the colt or have him near by where he can see her. I love to pony my babies off my mare. It was so good for them and they always seemed to stand tied better after being ponied a few days.
Well i have quit running her and my 2 daughters are riding her and showing her in 4h.....
Man having a baby sure does do a number on them, i am hating the way my mare is looking right now....
So my kids ride and i walk and work with baby on leading, stopping, backing up etc.....
Momma is already getting after baby, ears pinned, teeth showing, kicking at her, and she lets baby nurse when she wants not when baby wants.... When we are out for a ride, she doesnt even ney for baby
Will try to post some pics....
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