When would you expect a foal to stop looking for milk

[Deleted]

My foal was weaned at 5 months. She's now 9 months and is stabled and grazed with her nanny Iggy who is a gelding. She persistently tries to suckle from his sheath despite the beatings she gets. When will she stop this as I was hoping to bring her mum back home next month but won't be a good idea if she is still looking to suckle.

[richvale]

We weaned our foal at seven months and put him in the stable for a week until the mare had no more bag.  Put him back out with his dam and two other yearlings and he tried to suckle but Mum said No.  He hasn't tried since and out with her all day.  It is the first time that we have not sent the mare away and it has worked out great.  I think both the foal and Mum were ready for weaning.  If Mum has dried up I don't think she will let her foal suckle again.  Good luck.

[judyh]

Be careful. I had a mare separated for a month.
The foal went straight to suckle ( at 7 months ) - the mare let him and I left them till spring as she wasn't in foal.
Did him no harm , was a brilliant dressage horse whom I lost at 20 .
Just watch your mare, mine was an excellent mum, when she hadn't a foal at foot she was ONCE turned out with a mare and foal and pinched the foal .
Luckily she was good to catch.

[Deleted]

Well the mare has been gone for 4 months but I don't really want to bring her back if the foal is going to try suckle as it was a tough weaning for both and I don't want to have to do it again. May suck it up and keep her away for a bit longer. Just wondered of it was a habit of the foals or some still look for milk.

[gillwales]

In the wild the mare will drive them away before foaling the following year. Some babies like the milk bag too much! I found they were more likely to keep trying to suckle when with an older nanny rather than their peers. I think it very unlikely that your mare will produce milk now.

[Deleted]

I never wean as early as that - I wait till mums start driving babies away of their own accord - then i wean them - never had this prob.

[Deleted]

We had to wean due to health reasons otherwise I would have left them alone for another month or so. But it wasn't doing the foal any good still being on mum.

[gillwales]

I have weaned early and the foals have thrived. Things like that will vary due to circumstances.

[gilbertgrape]

Jan 19, 2014 0:32:15 GMT gillwales said:

I have weaned early and the foals have thrived. Things like that will vary due to circumstances.

very true I adapt to circumstances. One was weaned I September but his mum didn't mind at all. The other is still suckling at 7 months and it has helped her through this awful weather.She is nearly as tall as mum ( Welsh As) They will suckle til next foal comes and usually a weaned foal will not be allowed to suck from mum who has decided views on a pesky baby trying it on..

[sarahp]

I will wean from 4 1/2 months if it fits the circumstances, never had any ill effects from it.

[boothsdale]

It varies from pony to pony - I used to turn my mares out with older youngstock while they were drying up and once caught a 2yr old suckling one of the mares (not her mother!)

[Deleted]

She's still doing it with the gelding. They will have their own stables soon so wondering when she can't be with him all the time she might stop. She only does it when he's not paying attention

[gillwales]

lmao!

I bet... although maybe he secretly likes it

[Deleted]

I hope not ill never be able to look him in the eye again lol

[gillwales]

louabelle!!

[Deleted]

Lol!