Hi Chloe,

I'm having a bit of a problem getting my foal away from my mare....he's still suckling, even though we've tried weaning him.

I've tried putting her in a separate field and she goes mental.  Tried the same with him...and she still goes mental.  It's getting ridiculous now.  Even our gelding is getting in on the act and he's jumping the gates trying to get to the mare.

It wouldn't be such a problem, but Pandora, our mare, is losing weight.  She's being fed, has as much hay as she wants, and is up to date with her worming.

Do you have any ideas on separating her and the foal?

Any other horse people....I'd be really grateful for any help.

Thanks

Lisa

(PS, she's a Welsh Mountain Pony)

Hiya

To be honest, I'm not sure. I know a lot of the Natural Horsemanship ways are to leave the foal with the mare for longer these days, to be raised within a herd... but I'm just not that au fait with youngsters.

Go to Intelligent Horsemanship and go to the Discussion Board. You can post without joining and there are some seriously clued up horsey folk there. Its Kelly Marks site, and whilst I am not totally into IH I do believe in a lot of the stuff she teaches about Perfect Manners.

How old is he now?
C :)

Friends of mine who had to wean last year took the foal right away to another farm so that they couldn't hear each other, and kept the mare stabled for a short while (a matter of a couple of days).

Alternatively as Chloe suggests, leave them together until they seperate naturally, and increase the mares feed maybe add sugarbeet or something.

Good luck

Hi Chloe.

Pandora, the pony was really poorly in the night.  Very bad diahorrea, and general lethargy.  I got the vet out and he's taken blood samples and has given her an injection to calm her stomach.
She's got to stay in for a week now.  She seems a bit better this evening and is eating and drinking, thank God.
The vet thinks she MAY have salmonella, due to the stress of having the foal.  I've never heard of it before, but he's the expert.

He told us to take the foal away from her, and we've done that now, so hopefully she'll start to get better.  The foal is ok.  He's in a field with our thoroughbred, who's known him since he was born and adores him!
I was watching the foal and the TB tonight....the TB keeps whinnying at him and following him everywhere.  It's so sweet!

Anyway, thanks for your help, and yours too Julia.
I'll let you know how Pandora gets on.  Keep your fingers crossed for her!

Lisa