How long do we have to keep the mare

[Linda]

and foal separated when weaning? I've had both baby's separated for about 3 weeks now. They seem not to have any interest in being around mom through the fence. I would like to be able to put them all in the same larger pasture again. I don't have a smaller pasture fenced in for the younger ones yet, and want them out of my yard. lol I use our large yard and barn for the baby's now. We're going on vacation next month and I need to get this over with and make it easier for somebody to feed and water while we're gone. Thank you in advance for your replies.

[MaryKansas]

Linda, I dont know how long it takes, but I'm interested in the answer if anyone knows!!

[Heather T]

Well....I would wait until there is another foal in the picture or a minimum of 12 months. The reason I say that is that Mage was put in with Tess after 4 months of weaning and she started right back like it was nothing...so be careful.

[Linda]

Oh gees, thats a long time. I'm so glad I ask. Thank you Heather. I guess we'd better get started with some fencing now rather than later. I had no idea they would do that. I know the mares bags are much smaller, but I see what you mean. We raise cattle and they could nurse for a year or more it we let em, so that does make since. I didn't bred either mare back for 2007 so I see now that could become a big problem. Thanks again.

[mysteryhorses]

I was told best to wait 3-6 months. Mine are away from their dam's from weaning until 2 or 3 years old. In most cases they are never, back in with their dams because they have sold. Mine are away this long from dams because weanlings to 2 year olds get fed different then my mares. Also feel it is safer for them.

With my first foal, I let him back in with dam after 3 months, found him nursing off his dam almost right away and got her producing milk. So I took him aways a way from her to a trainer for 6 months, When he came home put in with his dam and a new mare I got and found him not only nursing off his dam, but also new mare!!! In the end I took him away for another few months and then when he got put back in with his dam and other mare he did not nurse, because they would not allow it. At that point both mares were in foal. I found his dam would allow any of her foals to start nursing any time after weaning until she was in foal again.

[Linda]

Looks like I have my hands full. lol You're all are so helpful in my learning of what to do , when, and how to do it. This site had been such a great learning process for me. I thank you all for being so informative with my questions. Such wonderful people here on the great site. As you can tell, I'm so new to this and can use all the help I can get. (smiles) It's lots more work than I ever expected, but worth every minute of it. Love all my little guys and gals.

[twnpnds]

It can take a while for sure. It depends on the baby too. Some just seem more independent and after 3 months or less they no longer want mom. Others seem to want mom for the rest of their lives. LOL. Can always put them back with mom and see what happens.

[Tc]

We just put the foals back with their moms at 5 weeks. Mom's bag is dried up and babys have no desire to nurse anymore. They sure like the security of mom.

Tc

[Linda]

thank you twnpnds and whispererone. It does seem that they don't really want much to do with their moms, but mom 's still have some bag. I agree with you whispererone, they act like they need to be closer to their moms. I don't see them acting as peppy as I'd like to see in the baby's. I think I'm going to give it a try tomorrow and see what happens. If I see them trying to nurse, I'll seperate them again. thank you both very much for your responses.

[Marion]

Well, Linda how did it go?
I have had mares that weaned their babies when they got bred back and have had some that would let them nurse up until the next foal was born if I would let them. My weanlings are with my two year olds and now they don't miss their mothers at all. It has been two months since I weaned them though.

[Linda]

Hi Marion, Boy you should see Delijah now. Ya know how she's always been so timid and stays off by herself so much. You should come and see how aggressive she's become now that I got the 4 new ones here. I think she's going to be the "boss" around here now. Such a turn around. It's so funny to watch her, she's still so sweet, but now she has lots more spunk when it comes to dinner time. About time huh! lol The baby's are doing great. I did put them back into the herd yesterday, I'm watching very close to see what they are going to do with mom. So far so good. I did have to keep Macey in the barn as she became the mare from h*** and just don't know what to do about her. ( not that she was easy before) She became so much more hateful after she got pulled from her filly. She still acts like she wants to kill off the rest of the herd. I've tried everything I know to do with her. I just hate it when previous owners damage the spirit of a horse. She still doesn't trust anyone. Gees, hope she changes soon, its been so much stress on me.

Ok, I had to take the baby's out of the herd. it didn't work.