Just like human babies, foals have to be weaned from their dams too. This however is often a very challenging task. Horse owners who have little experience with weaning may unintentionally introduce methods that could be harmful to a weanling.
Making Sure a Foal is Prepared
Foals need to stay with their dams for a period of time after birth since their only source of food and optimum nutrition at this time is their mothers' milk. As they grow older however, it is ideal to wean them for their own physical and emotional well-being. Foals can be weaned when they are at least three months old. Weaning beyond six months may prove both difficult and emotionally damaging to a foal.
Since foals also have individual personalities, they will not all be ready for weaning at the same time. You will know if the time is right if a foal is already comfortable with eating solid food and shows signs of independent socialization skills separate from its mother. Foals that are a bit timid may take longer to wean. Before you begin weaning procedures, make sure that you foal is in very good health.
Separating Foal and Dam
The most obvious way to wean a foal is to separate it from its dam. Separation here means keeping a foal and a dam completely out of sight and hearing of each other. Some horse owners may choose to wean abruptly, immediately separating a foal and its dam without the prospect of future visits. Some may choose to separate foals and dams slowly, allowing dams to be nearby in gradually decreasing frequencies.
You can get an idea on the best method of separation to use based on the foal's personality. Foals that show streaks of independence may be able to handle abrupt separations better than timid foals. This does not mean though that abrupt separation will work at all times for independent foals. Closely observe foals during the separation period to determine if you are on the right track.
Feeding Strategies
Feeding itself may be a strategy for weaning. Once a foal is helped into preferring solid food over its mother's milk, it will increasingly seek solids. A horse owner may choose between feeding foals more in a stable or more on the pasture away from their dams. Feeding on the pasture allows the foals better opportunities to socialize with other foals.
Wherever a horse owner chooses to keep foals, it is important to ensure that the area is safe and secure. Foals generally feel anxious when weaning and may run away, bump against solid objects or harm themselves.
Human and Horse Socialization
One strategy to help wean foals is to put them in the company of other weaning foals especially when they are out to pasture. This method however must be used carefully and judiciously. Some foals may transfer their attachments from their dams to their fellow foals. This can be a greater problem since foals attached to each other may behave violently once they are separated from each other.
Aside from introducing horse company, it would be better if you introduced consistent human company as well. This will teach your foal to get used to being handled by humans.
Scott Summers is an avid horse enthusiast. If you want to learn more about horses and horsemanship, he recommends Horseman Magazine.
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