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Post by Guestless on Feb 16, 2011 14:54:15 GMT
I am not sure if I really saw what I am about to ask, but it's happened twice now so I'm a bit  I think I saw my yearling colt (not weaned yet) suckle from another mare. I have seen previous foals having a go at this, but my mares have never permitted it and have seen the foal off. I think this mare (maiden - never been covered) was letting him though. I thought I saw it the other week, but thought I must have been mistaken. This morning, I turned her out and happened to turn back as I was walking back to the yard and I think I saw it happen again. Bizarre!!  |
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Post by Louise Dixon on Feb 16, 2011 15:16:11 GMT
my two year old used to regularly suckle another mare when he was small, she didn't have a foal that year so had no milk but she didn't mind at all. it happens quite a bit with our sheep too
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Post by ponymum on Feb 16, 2011 21:16:17 GMT
my weanling and her friend used to be turned out with the other weanlings dam, she used to let them both suckle her one either side at the same time |
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kayjayem
Happy to help....a lot
Posts: 10,046
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Post by kayjayem on Feb 16, 2011 21:34:40 GMT
I had 2 mares and foals turned out together, one oldish experienced one who had had loads of foals and always looked well and milked like a dairy cow and one first time mother who was a bit tetchy and not really bothered about her foal. The older mare wasn't doing so well as usual and I was a bit concerned until I saw one day the young mares foal go for a feed from it's mum, get a kick so it went to grandma and she let it feed whilst still feeding her own. No prizes for guessing who was doing all the mothering in that field. I had to take the youngeer mare out and put her in a field on her own and she would feed her foal if she had no choice. I did feel a bit sorry for the foal though and weaned it early and had the mare broken, she obviously didn't like kids(equine ones)!
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Post by lils on Feb 17, 2011 7:28:42 GMT
last season i saw a very cheeky colt suckle off of his auntie, she was the closest mare to him, and didnt appear worried by it, nor did his dam!
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Post by holiday on Feb 17, 2011 18:28:22 GMT
Our friends had an orphan shire foal two years ago, he mum was sadly lst when he was a few weeks old. Once he was drinking his replacement milk well he was turned back out with the previous mares and foals he had run with and he managed to sneak up on his grandma and suckle between her back legs, she wouldnt let him suckle properly but tolerated him like that up until "both" her foals were weaned!!!!!!
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