Fall has arrived and winter is coming, so it’s time for weaning. As my foals are usually born mid-summer (easier on the humans for foal watch and less mud), we don’t think about weaning until November or December. Ahmi was born June 9th, so she is almost 6 months old. Alamet almost 5 months and Tess a bit over 4 months.
Over the years, I have figured out a low stress way to wean. Very little drama, almost no screaming from either moms or babies and no (so far!) vet visits. The first time I weaned a foal, I went with the rip the bandage off route (this was 25 years ago). After the vet left, I decided there must be a better way.
These days, once the foal seems pretty self-sufficient; which means spending most of it’s time away from it’s dam, hanging with friends, I start separating dam and foal for short periods where they can see each other. They still go in together at night (mostly because I don’t have safe facilities to keep them separated at night). Once the foal spends most of the day with their friends, the mare goes further away until one day, the foal hasn’t seen mom for a few days. I always try to have at least 2 foals, as this makes it much easier. This year, this means 3 foals out with 2 mares. (Ahmi out with Seika, Tess, Slari and Alamet). Next step will be Slari moving out to hang with Aya during the day and Seika babysitting the 3 fillies.
These photos show Ahmi getting to know Tess. Alamet is acting as the facilitator, going back and forth between Ahmi and Seika and Tess. Slari is there, she just isn’t paying any attention. Aya is eating as fast as she can in the front paddock.
After the fillies are out with one mare, I will add in another mare who will act as a babysitter when the last mama leaves. Annie (Anastasia – 24 year old retired broodmare) is a Nanny extraordinaire. After 10 foals, she is in charge, firm but not mean and she tells those foals to mind their Ps and Qs. The youngsters will go in to stalls for short periods of time until they are fine all night long. At that point, the fillies that aren’t mine (Ahmi and Tess) will head to their respective homes. Alamet will probably hang out with Annie for awhile, until I decide who her herd will be.
It might take some time doing it this way, but I end up with well-adjusted, well-socialized youngsters with (so far) very few owies. I’m sure I’d do it a bit differently if I had more land, but you work with what you have!
Below is a short video of Ahmi getting to know Tess.