Easing the Bond, Weaning Horses with Care

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Easing the Bond, Weaning Horses with Care

Weaning season for horses is often a dreaded time of the year. Although necessary, the process includes an overload of stress on the foal, mare, and owner that must listen to the heart-wrenching whinnies. In the wild, a mare that becomes pregnant will naturally wean her current foal to ensure she can nourish the new life developing within her, but in a domestic setting, the responsibility falls upon the owner.

Throughout the process and when challenges arise, it’s important to remember this is a pivotal stage in the foal’s growth and development. So as stressful as it may be, the process requires careful attention to both the foal and mare’s care and nutrition.

Preweaning Horse Care

Although you can wait until after weaning to start gentling (training the foal to accept human touch), there’s several advantages to starting just days after the foal is born and continuing throughout the preweaning process. Younger foals are smaller, easier to control, and more curious, making it easier to bond with them. As foal’s get older, it’s often harder for them to relax and build trust as they are not used to it.

Also, during preweaning horse care, it’s important to guide the foal to eat on their own. They will begin eating small amounts of grain within weeks after birth and at two months of age, it’s time to provide them a nutritionally balanced feed. This is where a well-designed creep feeder becomes an invaluable tool during the preweaning phase. The creep feeder enables the foal to access feed while preventing the mare from consuming it, facilitating a gradual transition to independent feeding.

Weaning and Nutrition for Horses

The question now is, what feed should be put in the creep feeder? That’s where Sentinel’s team of equine experts can offer guidance on the nutritional needs of the foal (and mare) during this transitional phase. As the foal and mare will need feed formulated for their specific nutritional needs, Sentinel’s equine nutritionists can help you select the right feed and create a management plan.

One of Sentinel’s top-selling horse feeds for foals and lactating mares is Safe Start. Sentinel Safe Start is a highly fortified, high-protein, high-fat horse feed that provides the precise nutrition needed for healthy foal growth and mare milk production and composition.

Growing foals have specific dietary requirements that differ from adult horses. Working closely with a Sentinel equine nutritionist will help you determine if Safe Start or one of Sentinel’s other top-selling horse feeds will be best for your situation. Not to mention, for young developing horses, it’s important to have a feed that includes a wide balance of nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals. Protein is essential for foal growth, muscle, and bone development along with hoof and hair. Proper levels of vitamins and minerals also support healthy growth and immunity.

Another important consideration in feeding is the frequency and portion size. A Sentinel equine nutritionist can help you make these decisions and provide clear instructions to ensure the foal receives the right amount of nutrition at each stage of their growth.

The Weaning Process for Horses

When to start weaning and what horse weaning process to use will be dictated by the owner’s operation and what is feasible. Most people will wean their foals anywhere from 4-7 months of age, and this is also a good time owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine the appropriate schedule for getting the foal vaccinated and dewormed.

Horse owners use different strategies when it comes to weaning, while some wean gradually, others wean more abruptly. Regardless of what you choose, minimizing stress during the weaning process can be important as stress negatively impacts the foal’s well-being.

Gradual weaning involves slowly separating the foal from the mare over weeks or even months. This can consist of the foal being removed out of sight (and sound) for a specific amount of time each day, increasing the time and frequency as it goes on. Another gradual weaning approach involves separating the mare and foal into different enclosures with a shared fence. This allows nose to nose contact but provides the foal with its own feed and water source.

The other type of weaning is abrupt weaning. This process involves an immediate separation of the foal from the mare, out of sight and sound. Each method has its pros and cons. Gradual weaning can be less stressful, but it requires much more time and effort. Abrupt weaning is more stressful initially but saves time and resources.

Help Eliminate Stress When Weaning Horses

When weaning, there’s no way to fully eliminate the stress that will be put on the foal or mare, but you can help ensure both are kept in safe environments and are physically healthy to withstand the stress they will be placed under. Ways you can help alleviate some stress during these transitions, include:

  • Nutrition: as mentioned previously, nutrition is very important. Proper nutrition will ensure the foal is going into weaning healthy and maintaining a good body condition throughout.
  • Environment: weaning the foal in a natural environment or one they have become familiar with can help alleviate stress. If they have been in a small paddock since they were born, you don’t want to stick them in a small stall during weaning.
  • Company: if you have other foals to wean, weaning them together can allow them to socialize and not be alone during the process.
  • Out of Sound: unless the owner is allowing the foal and mare to have nose to nose contact, keeping them out of ear shot from each other is important. Stress is enhanced when they can hear each other’s whinnies, but not see each other.
  • Routine: maintaining a consistent routine on when the owner will be feeding and visiting with the foal can help the process.

While weaning season for horses can be a challenging and stressful time, it’s an important step in the foal’s development. By providing a safe environment and proper nutrition, you can help minimize stress and support the well-being of the foal and mare. Patience and careful attention during this period will lay a strong foundation for the foal’s future growth and development.

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