what would be best?

[stormyskies]

Next month I have a foal to wean. I have only ever weaned foals together but my other foal is 2 months younger so that's not happening.
Both mare and foal are going to new separate homes at weaning.

Mare cannot be separated from foal and taken straight to new home as she is a sensitive sort and it just wouldn't work.

In the herd at the minute there is c and z who are the mare and foal to be weaned. There is other mare and foal, plus a welsh c mare and a 2 year old filly. All good friends.

How would you do it? Z is friendly with the 2 year old so was thinking could take them 2 out and leave c the mare in with herd. Would I put them in a stable or field. The 2 year old is a bugger and in a field may not be a calming influence on young z! I could pen them together though until settled and c has gone.

Or any other ideas?

Help!

[stormyskies]

However z also needs handling and that would be easier If she by herself and not with 2 yrs old! Think she would trust me more! She is very friendly but needs headcollar on her

[holiday]

I personally would have the two in but separate if possible in case the 2 year old hurts the foal. After a couple of days they would be fine to be turned out as long as z isnt shouting to mum and trying to climb through fences to her. It would be better if they couldnt hear each other then there would be less chance of z climbing!!!!! Can you turn them out in the new field so z has time to look round and know where she is?

[ladybumble]

Hi we had an orphen foal one year not quite the same i know but we brought up a yearling that needed feeding up and handling but she was a bit timmid but they got on well and in the long run it was the best thing we did.
If your mare is going to stress i'd leave her in the field and bring foal and 2yrs in for a few days, is it long before the mare could be moved to new home?
Just a thought, we where lucky would leave foals on over winter and the mare would kick them off then they all went in to a yearling field earlie spring, well apart from a rescue who had a dwarf foal they ran together till he was 6 and she still let him suckle!!!
Next year wil be my first foal in years so i'm a little out of date, you've had some good advice tho. good luck

[stormyskies]

Mum can go to new home once she is settled after foal weaning. Same with foal.

Yes that sounds sensible. Bring 2 in but separate stables.

[pencaedu]

We had a foal off a breeder about 7 years ago & he kindly let us bring the mare with him for him to settle in, as he doesn't breed from his mares every year - she eventually left when he was 3 - and he was still suckling!! Don't think either of them noticed that the other wasn't there when they were finally separated!