how to wean your weanlings
Weaning foals can be a traumatic experience for both mare and foal- Get them used to coming inside the barn being handled in a gentle way and haltered
- Get a routine every day with the mare and foal building confidence
- Do preparatory work to help the weanling grow into a confident young horse
To practice separating mare and weanling we do this:
We take either weanling or mare out of the stall, and walk away. If they are extremely upset, we just walk away a bit away then return. That'll be enough for that day. Next time we do the same, and soon they will realize that it's no big deal. Soon we can take the mare / weanling and go outside the stall, and come back.
Having a lot of horses can make it hard to get everything done without help, do a little at a time. It's not a matter of how many times you handle your horses, but how you handle them. With correct handling and consistency horses learn new things fast. Don't forget to be patient. We take our time with each horse and do a little along the way, the right way.
Once we have weaned the babies, we don't put them back with the mares. We see too often they start drinking from their mother again. We are building on the "old" routine from the time mare and foal were together. Now they are separated, but doing the same routine. This builds confidence in the weanlings and the mares. Then we take it from there, and develop happy confident young horses and relaxed mares.
Pia
www.eagletreehorsemanship.com
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