Weaning Velvet - UPDATE

[Deleted]

I hadnt found a solution to weaning my foal velvet, as noone has a filly foal that I know of, who will let her go and join them

If anyone has filly in Hampshire, who needs a friend, please let me know!!!

So - I decided to keep mare and foal at home, together until the spring and wean them then. Bit later than ideal, but at least they would have shelter for the winter.

However, I have barely any grazing and have had to rest one paddock as reseeded. Therefore have only been turning them out in dry weather and in the school when the field is wet.

Trouble is they dont run around in the school and when I go to bring them in, Velvet starts leaping about, rearing and generally being bonkers.

Not her fault, as she is just full of unspent energy, but I am going to end up getting hurt

Therefore - what shall I do?

My friend has my old LR pony section a, who is a nice big field. Shall I wean velvet off and turn her out with the section a?

If so, whats the best way to do this?

Velvet is 4 months old.

[sageandonion]

LP I freely admit knowing absolutely nothing about mums and babies. However, have you looked at the pros and cons of natural weaning? i.e. just leaving them to it and it happens when nature decides. My friend did this with her arabs and it worked really well.

I would be interested on peoples opinions as, to someone who doesn't breed, this seems to be a perfectly reasonable and nice way of doing it and I wonder why more don't.

[brindlerainbow]

LP I put a reply in freindly chat!!!

[brt]

I would wean her and put her with the older L/R pony, it will teach her manners and field politics.

Mum must be getting a bit fed up of her by now i should think too!

When i weaned mine, the mums didn't bother at all! think they were relieved to be honest!
Mine went out with my 5yr old gelding section A and they learnt the rules very quickly lol!!

[Deleted]

I wouldn't wean her at 4 months, she needs leaving till she is at least 5 and preferably 6, they do so much better left on mum that bit longer.
I feed my babies twice a day when they are weaned to encourage correct growth, hope that helps.

[brt]

Sorry, just seen she is 4 mths old, i would leave her till 5- 6 mths

[armada]

Its a rotten time of year to wean such a youngster off mum, especially if she is going to have to go and live outside with the other pony. Some can drop back terribly when weaned even with hard feed, and this wet cold weather wont help.
I understand completely how you feel with regard to your safety, having been floored countless times by playful babies, (although I dont have private health insurance now, I keep my teeth insured for that very reason!!) you may just have to do the unthinkable and turn just her and mum out in the wet paddock, and deal with it come spring.

[Deleted]

It is such an awful time of year isnt it.

I am perfectly happy to keep them together, but cant find a field with shelter where they could be together

The posh KWPN stud local to me, said they would have her in to wean with theirs, but their foals all stay in all winter in stables of two. She may as well stay at home with mum, with the very little grazing, but food / shelter and attention, rather than that.

I guess I should start wearing a helmet to turn her out ............ LOL

[paulal]

I would leave her on mum till New Year as well. I had to wean our filly foal at four months due to losing our mare with a bad bout of colic - absolutely heartbreaking watching that little one. She then within two weeks had a bout of colic herself and ended up in Leahurst for a week having surgery. She was a lot shyer and quieter than our colt from last year but boy has she changed (through no fault of her own) now. She is very grumpy around food and not the loving little filly she was before mum went. I know everyones ideas and circumstances are different but if you have a a choice leave her with mum and hopefully they will settle with a routine of turning out either in field or paddock. Hope it works out whatever you decide - only you will know x good luck x

[Deleted]

My vet saw her yesterday and says she is ready to wean, as she is very independent.

I can take her away from mum already and neither of them bother. She often escapes, by limbo-ing under the stable rope, then running off round the garden!

She is on hard food/hay and is halter broken, picks up feet, ties up - away from her mum and leads/trots up in hand - as she has been handled since she was born.

She is too confident if anything

[paulal]

Sounds like you have made your mind up - you know yourself and at least you have the option of the section a at your friends - go with what you feel is best for all concerned. Let us know how you get on. Hattie has been on box rest until last week and now that she has limited turnout she actually seems to be coming on a lot better - she needs to be back out with company. Poor Hector our exmoor will have his work cut out for him.

[Deleted]

paulal - Havnt made up my mind at all?

Since Jamie died I seem incapable of deciding anything.....

Have had two kind offers to take Velvet -Harrythepig has other fillies, she can go off and live out with.

Or Lukey has a lovely section a, in wales, who she can go out daily with and come in at night.

By the time I decide what to do, she will probably be 5 or 6 months anyway!!!!

[ponymum]

Hi LP, I would tend to agree with the others, leave her a month or two longer with mum, then make a decision, yes she is independant, but that is because she knows mum isnt far away. sounds like you've done a brilliant job handling her xx

[ferret]

i would leave her a bit longer yet , i know how you feel at her being a bit of a diva , my foal was a terror for the last few weeks he was with Mum but was much better when weaned , but i would try and leave a bit longer , can you not turn them both away with the sect A now and then in a month or so bring Mum home and leave Velvet there with her new mate ?

[holiday]

Im looking to wean my similar age fillies after xmas, I personally would have them turned out with hay and sacrifice your paddock, even if you section off a part to "trash" rather than keeping them in.
Our foals go out whatever the weather and we deal with the paddocks the following spring, they to be honest dont look pretty in any shape or form over the Winter, but its amazing how quickly the grass comes back, if you can roll and drop some seed on just as its drying the old grass will return and the new seeds just help fill it out again, within 6 weeks its pretty much repaired.

We are also starting to acheive the "mud" look, we are on clay and any bit of rain trashes our small paddocks but ive learnt to ignore them now!!!!!!!

[Guestless]

I imagine a vet would say my foal was ready to be weaned too as he is quite independent. I've been taking him for walks on his own to build up his confidence and he really enjoys them but boy is he ready to say hello to mum when he gets back

I think they can all be prats at times - I've been bringing my mare and foal in daily cos she's the one with the abscess and it needs poulticed and Rufus can be a little git while I'm leading him - so the high jinks may not be so much about being in, but more about being a youngster.

Could you do a little light-hearted free schooling before you bring them back in to get rid of some of the exuberance? I don't free school my foal, but I have free-schooled his mum and he just joins in and has a lot of fun.

[Deleted]

Good idea about the free schooling guestless - I will give it a try xx

[sarahp]

Could I, in a spirit of trying to be helpful, put down a thought here? It is very easy with a much loved foal to allow them more license than is ideal, much stuff that seems entertaining in a foal might not be so in a big horse. I'm afraid mine are expected to behave properly at all times when being handled, they have plenty of play time when loose in the field. But I don't really handle them much until after weaning, and find they come to hand really quickly - but are never allowed to behave like prats!

I think I'd go with ferret's solution, if you would be happy for Violet to be turned out.

Like holiday I keep a field that I'm happy to be trashed over the winter - but as I have natives it's very handy to have one that doesn't produce much grass through the summer anyway so it doesn't get reseeded. It's outside the kitchen window, near the house for hay feeding, sloping and well drained so doesn't get too muddy and sheltered too with a copse in the corner that they love so ideal.

[sageandonion]

I was just wondering. Might a little diva foal think free schooling is mummy playing and then be rather surprised when mummy says we aren't playing any more?

[Guestless]

Nov 12, 2010 11:56:45 GMT said:

I was just wondering. Might a little diva foal think free schooling is mummy playing and then be rather surprised when mummy says we aren't playing any more?

I guess it depends how you do it. I've always let my foals join in free schooling but never "chase" them (wrong term really - I don't chase, but encourage if that makes sense!) They choose to join in as mum canters round.

I regularly free school though so I do play things by ear and don't let them get out of hand. My ponies all love it and it is an easy way for a few of them to get exercise at one time.

Possibly not a good idea unless you have experience of it though.

I agree with sarahp too - my foals don't get away with being "youngsters" and get told off when they play the fool. It's cute now, but not so cute when they get even bigger and bolshier! It's not so easy to discipline them when you are leading them at the same time as their mum...but I do try.

[harrythepig]

I have just gone through the horrible diva stage with my filly foal. I think she took the meaning of Halloween to literally. There were times last month (when she was 4 months) I would quite happily of weaned her on the spot.
However, I stood firm, laid down my barriers (that means wearing a chash hat) and she has got to her 5th month still on Mum. I'm starting to make plans for weaning now. (hence PMing you) and all being well I will get to the start of December when she will be 6 months.
They are alwats fed separately now. Gracie is put in the stable next door and they often stay apart for half an hour. Others might not agree but it suits me and they get to eat their own feeds quietly.

If you do want to move her for weaning, it might be a good idea to use the next month or two to choose where to take her, so you are 100% happy with your choices.It is stressful enough without any additional worry about her safety and wellbeing.

[Deleted]

I think Velvet must have read my posts, as when I put her in the school today, as my fields are literally under water....... she had a whale of a time, bucking and leapings, showing off and having fun.

She came in like a lamb, 2 hours later

Velvet already eats her brekky and her t on her own.

[paulal]

Good luck LP. After reading these posts I am seriously considering sectioning a part of my back field off where I can see them and then having turnout all year round without worrying about wrecking the field. I have to admit that the fields do tend to come right once the spring comes along. They are all so much better when they are turned out. Interesting thread.

[Deleted]

The annoying thing is, my property is surrounded by 6 acres of pasture land, that never gets used for anything!!!!!!

The owners are millionaires and wont let us buy it, rent it or lease it. Its so frustrating

[Deleted]

Hi everyone - just to let you know - Violet and Velvet are now living at Harrythepigs yard, with her broodmare, foal and 2 year old.

Violet will come home, once Velvet turns 5 months and Velvet is going to stay and play with Harrythepigs foal till next year.

I am very grateful to harrythepig, for offering me her help with this, as it has taken a big load off my mind, knowing that Velvet will be safe and happy, whilst playing with someone of her own age.

I am going to put Violet back under saddle, when she comes home, as my grey mare is out of action, until her foot repairs

I think Violet will enjoy being spruced up and into light work again

[heathers]

thats great news,
well done harrythepig for helping our lovely lovepink

[harrythepig]

HTP says thank you for thanking me.

It is nothing - I enjoy being on the end of rearing, bucking youngsters. LOL

Velvet and Violet are both a credit to LP and I am sure Velvet and my foal Gracie will enjoy the next few months playing, planning and plotting their days together under the watchful eye of Aunty Cookie.

Both mares and foals are currently sharing a field and stabled next to each other (there is agrill between so they can see and talk to each other) at night to help them both settle before the big split. I intend to add Aunty Cookie (my 2 year old) towards the end of the week one the girls are happy together.
Separation from both sets of mums is due at the weekend/early next week.
Once this has happened I will post some pics of the happy trio.

[sageandonion]

Harrythepig, any chance of you doing a little blog and poss even some photos of the little diva girlies so we can see how they progress. Who do you think will be top dog?

[harrythepig]

Of course!

At the moment both mums are playing the 'you keep your baby away from my baby or else game'. Meanwhile the two foals are desperately trying to get together.
I'm sure in the next few days the foals will on one side leaving their mothers to talk about how disgraceful the younger generation are and agreeing it wasnt like this in our day......

Meanwhile Aunty Cookie is looking on with my other 5, waiting to get back with her younger sister. They are inseperable and Cookie will be playing mum to both foals in a week or so's time. Gracie has frequently tried to drink from her elder sister so it could be entertaining to see her share her with Velvet.

[Deleted]

This is all very lovely news, espcially after the emotionally draining day I have had with my other mare today:(

It has cheered me up no-end to think of them all, playing their little "herd leader" games and trying to sort out who is the most important

Some piccies would be lovely!!!

I darent go and see them, until I pick Violet up to bring her home. Once I left Lilly at Walmsleys today - all I wanted to do was drive the lorry to Ringwood, to snatch Violet back now!