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 Midget Lover
     
Location: Kentucky | I have a very independent foal. My plan was to wean at 5 months and send him to his new owner, but now I'm thinking he can be weaned earlier just because he is so independent. He is not started on grain yet, so it wouldn't be any time soon, but sooner than 5 months. I know people wean early because of medical reasons, but wasn't sure if "independence" could also be a reason. |
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | I bought my filly at 5 months and she was fully weaned, so weaned early. Totally 100% fine. I say go for it if you get him eating well etc. |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I wean at 3-4 months of age. |
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 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | I weaned a filly at 3 months, she was eating good hay and grow colt in her beet pulp. Her dam wouldn't let me catch her so needed to wean earlier than I wanted. She turned out a great barrel horse.
A colt I weaned at 4 months- he was a stinker- rearing trying to nip when being brushed and just a pain. Cut him as soon as he dropped both. Sold him to my trainer and his son took him over. He's turned into a great ranch horse out on the 666 ranch. It all depends on the foal and their health when you need to wean. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | I had a colt that kept escaping from his mom to go hang out with my old gelding. I'd put him back up in the stall and he figured out how to get underneath the rail to go with the gelding (now my foaling stalls have a bottom rail to prevent this). This was at about 3 months old. I stopped moving him back to the mare because he was eating hay/grain fine and the gelding loved him and mom didn't care. He didn't even try to nurse on her through the fence. He turned out just fine. I had a friend give me a hard time about it saying a baby NEEDED to be on a mare until at least 6-8 months of age. But it all worked out fine. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | 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. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Mom doesn't care about him, and he doesn't care much about Mom. He is 36 days old and already doesn't want to be stalled with her.... he'd rather go on adventures while I'm taking Mom and another mare to the barn! He needs to be cut also, but it's too hot right now. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| I always went five months- until I had a momma die when her foal was 3 months old. The foal never suffered at the loss and turned into a very nice horse. I also had a momma die when her foal was just a month old- the baby was eating grain at the time and I added milk replacement pellets to the mix and got her a kind gelding to buddy around with, and she never suffered a lick
either. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM
LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some.Â
I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you.
If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time. |
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 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 10:44 AM Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you. If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time.
There is no way they could prove the horse didn't grow that extra inch becaue it was weaned 4 instead of 5 months. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Whiteboy - 2014-06-25 11:00 AM
cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 10:44 AM Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you. If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time.
I agree. Good luck proving that. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 11:44 AM Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you. If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time.
Of course I would be asking the seller if they are OK with it. I am not going to just drop him off at her house when I want to. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Whiteboy - 2014-06-25 11:00 AM
cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 10:44 AM Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you. If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time.
Joint problems, bone density, can come from malnourishment, weaning early can contribute to this.
Also studies have shown foals have more of a tendency to develop ulcers when weaned, which can also contribute to poor digestion, malnourishment and other problems.
I just caution the op on weaning early if the agreed upon time was 5 months as it could end up biting her in the but. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Was weaning date in the contract Murphy? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | As long as its eating good and you got her on the best feed and hay I would not worry about it. When I had my babys I always kept them with mom till they were six months old, but I'm old school. You're mare and baby you do what you want  |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Hey Murphy, I found this on a forum lol....
Is it ok the wean my foal at just shy of 4 months? -
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My mare has her first foal this year in mid June. It is now the first of October and the foal is doing exceptionally well. The young filly is very well socialized, growing very well, and eating solid food perfectly. I know there is a logic discussion that early weaning can be harmful to the foal and have read a lot on subject - since we usually do not wean until at least 6 months. However we are only a few weeks away from what promises to be a very harsh winter and my mare is extremely thin. I would say she is about a 3 on body condition, with all ribs showing as well as her hip bone visible. She is in perfect health- been wormed, good teeth, etc. but the foal at side is preventing her from gaining back weight she lost (due to prior pasture mismanagement by an ex-employee). I have begun the mare on a grain supplement plan to help her gain back some weight however she is still gaining back at a very slow rate.
My plan for weaning was to separate the mare and foal into separate but adjoining pastures with strong corral fences just during the day for a week or two and then for the entire day. The mare is not bred back and has a tendency to pace when nervous so I am afraid that this may be counter to trying to put weight on her.
Any suggestions? Best Answer Only an idiot would wean a foal that young - people with brains wean their foals at about 6 or 7 months of age. If you do separate them, and as you have said the mare has a tendency to pace, then you will put no weight on her whatsoever.
If you want your mare to gain weight, feed ad lib hay, put a rug on her so she doesn't have to spend all her energy keeping warm and stable her at night when it is coldest (rug her for the field).
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 11:14 AM Whiteboy - 2014-06-25 11:00 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 10:44 AM Murphy - 2014-06-25 9:49 AM LRQHS - 2014-06-25 10:37 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 think this colt would be fine with weaning at 3-4 months. I need to start introducing him to feed. He is already nibbling at hay and grazing some. I would be discussing with the buyers as if the weaning time was agreed upon, and you wean earlier and the foal doesn't turn out as tall, has medical issues, etc they may be able to come back on you. If the foal was not already sold, then you could do whatever, but since the foal is already sold, you may need to keep the foal on till the agreed upon time. Joint problems, bone density, can come from malnourishment, weaning early can contribute to this. Also studies have shown foals have more of a tendency to develop ulcers when weaned, which can also contribute to poor digestion, malnourishment and other problems. I just caution the op on weaning early if the agreed upon time was 5 months as it could end up biting her in the but.
Ulcers would develope fromt he stress of leaving mom. For some foals that is not an issue especially for very independent foals. For a healthy foal there is no risk of those forementioned issued. From the words of Bill Day, PHD, Equine Science.
The main concerns for the timing and method of weaning are stress and an accompanying increased probability for illness or injury. While there is some disagreement among experts just how the deed is to be done, all agree that the foals should be eating comfortably on their own from a creep feeder before weaning and most consider it best to wean between 4 and 5 months of age if possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself while deciding when you should wean. - Is the foal currently ill or has the foal recently recovered from an illness? If the answer is yes to either of these, you should wait until the foal is healthy before proceeding.
- Does the foal remain close to the dam at all times and appear to panic when separated? Before weaning, foals should be showing definite signs of independence by associating freely with other foals without being too concerned about the location of the dam.
- Do you have another foal of similar age? Misery loves company. Regardless of the method used, having company will make things go more smoothly. It is best to group foals that have been raised together in order to reduce the risk of exposing the foal to new diseases during this time.
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Whiteboy - 2014-06-25 12:21 PM Was weaning date in the contract Murphy? Yes.
ETA: I do not forsee the owner have a problem with picking him up early. She is pretty excited about him.
Edited by Murphy 2014-06-25 11:51 AM
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| http://www.equinews.com/article/effect-weaning-age-foal-growth-and-bone-density Another interesting article, study on weaning at 4.5 months vs 6 months. The only observable difference between the two weaning dates was na almost unmeasurable growth depression in the cannon bone circumfrance. Bone density, height and weight were not impacted in the long run. |
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