Question:
Can you wean a filly at 3 months old?
Melynda A
2008-05-18 18:53:09 UTC
We have 2 fillies. One is with her mom and is 3 months old, the other is 9 weeks old and we have had to bucket feed her since birth. We have moved them into the same pasture and the mother is not letting the new bucket fed filly into the barn and is really mean to her. Her own 3 month old is almost weaned by herself, rarely stays with the mom and hangs with a 3 year old gelding that we have in the pasture with them and with the 9 week old filly. We were thinking of moving the mom and seeing if things would be better for all concerned. We have been feeding Mare's Match to the bucket baby and both are getting Mare's Match pellets with Mare and Foal textured feed. We would just like to hear from anyone who has weaned at 3 months or any advise you can give. Thanks so much for all your help.
Ten answers:
horsybill
2008-05-18 19:46:21 UTC
Yes you can wean the filly at 3 months. That is not a problem. Depending on how the mare takes it, it should be fairly easy. The foal may be a little stressed but if she is familiar with the other filly and the gelding, it shouldn't be stressed too much. Once you make the break, make it clean, don't try and wean gradually. If you can keep them both far enough away that they can't get next to each other, that would be best.
g_kira1
2008-05-18 20:38:26 UTC
Yes you can, but you shouldn't. The mares milk actually runs out of nutritional goodness around 2 months. I am not saying there is no point in the foal nursing, what it means is that at 2 months they can get their nurishment that is supplied by the mothers milk elswhere. By the time they are 2 months they should be grazing, eating hay and possible grain.



It can be done, but no I wouldn't just because your foal will learn valuable behavioral lessons from being with the mare. Things its best to let nature teach the foal. From a training stand point, people tend to smother the foal, and baby it rather than let them out to the pasture to be horses. I can't tell you how many horses were ruined by people treating them like pets or their kids with no boundaries ( I am not saying you would do this).



If you do decide to wean, leave the babies be babies. The most they need to know is how to lead, and how to have their feet trimmed. If you decide to train them or send them out, the trainer will be very thankful.
2008-05-18 19:11:17 UTC
I've not weaned any myself at 3 months, but a horse I bought who is now 2 was only 4 months when I bought him, and he had been weaned at 4 by the owners.

Really, the foal no longer gets any valuable nutrients from the mare after 4 months, so weaning then is fine. Many people don't like to wean at 3 months because they feel like the foal will have separation anxiety when they are older....but mine is just fine. As a matter of fact, he had never been touched when I got him...no halter, no nothing...so he even had a late start...but he's just fine, and I don't think he's suffered from being weaned at 3 months. You should consult your vet though to set up an appropriate feeding ration/protein percentage. Weaning is the most critical time for them to get the proper nutrients!
danyelle
2016-05-25 11:05:44 UTC
You don't want to get too carried away. She is just a baby and not even weaned yet. When my filly was at that age she was leading, moving off pressure, comfortable grooming and picking up her feet. When she was weaned we worked on tying, trailering, and blanketing. At a year I started working on lunging, basic groundwork, going for walks around the property, and bomb proofing. She is fine with pads and what not. She is 14 months now, and I was going to introduce a saddle as she gets closer to two. There is no rush, just take your time. Foals need to learn things one at a time, before they start getting a million mixed messages about everything.
lj
2008-05-18 19:06:02 UTC
I think in your situation it's probably better to wean the foal.



My friends 2 year old mare was weaned at 4 months, because her dam was really sick and they didn't know if she would make it much longer. The filly did fine, they of course kept a very watchful eye on her and had her on a proper diet, but she was a normal filly. She was kind of adopted by another mare and foal, though. =] Never nursed from the mare but was with them constantly.
Jan H
2008-05-18 21:07:33 UTC
You're begging and planning for a dead foal.



"We have moved them into the same pastuer and the mother is not letting the new bucket fed filly into the barn and is really mean to her."

She will KILL that foal if it is forced to nurse or, alternately, the foal can starve to death. If she's not nursing it now she will not when her own foal is removed and she's looking for HER foal. Not all mares are suitable as nurse mares.
Melissa B
2008-05-18 19:23:21 UTC
Very bad idea to wean before 6 months. They still need the essential nutrients from the mothers until the age of 6 months. I strongly recommend you do not wean before 6 months. You will not only stunt the growth but may end up causing immune system damage.
Mulereiner
2008-05-18 19:07:58 UTC
I have done it, do I recommend it, no.



Mine was a circumstance where the filly was mine, the mare wasn't. Filly was injured, owner of mare wasn't caring properly for her and would of permanently injured her. So I weaned her at 2 mths if I remember right.



The filly bonded to me, was a witch to everyother person that came around and ultimately I had to sell her because she was a danger to my son when I had him, she was jealous. I regret it, I hated doing it, but she would of hurt my son had I not.



If you can and if this isn't the situation you are facing, leave the filly on the mare until 6mths, but I also know crap happens and sometimes you have to wean early.
barrel racer chick
2008-05-18 18:59:21 UTC
the foal should be weaned at 4 months at the earliest but usually you would leave them till 6 months other wise it can stop there growth i would never wean any of my foals before 6 months!
barrelchaser
2008-05-18 19:03:44 UTC
we have always weaned our foals at 3 months especially if they are showing obvious signs of independence but i've heard anywhere from 3-6 months weaning age


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