| Just like human babies, foals have to be weaned from | | | | streaks of independence may be able to handle abrupt |
| their dams too. This however is often a very | | | | separations better than timid foals. This does not mean |
| challenging task. Horse owners who have little | | | | though that abrupt separation will work at all times for |
| experience with weaning may unintentionally introduce | | | | independent foals. Closely observe foals during the |
| methods that could be harmful to a weanling. | | | | separation period to determine if you are on the right |
| Making Sure a Foal is Prepared | | | | track. |
| Foals need to stay with their dams for a period of time | | | | Feeding Strategies |
| after birth since their only source of food and optimum | | | | Feeding itself may be a strategy for weaning. Once a |
| nutrition at this time is their mothers' milk. As they grow | | | | foal is helped into preferring solid food over its mother's |
| older however, it is ideal to wean them for their own | | | | milk, it will increasingly seek solids. A horse owner may |
| physical and emotional well-being. Foals can be | | | | choose between feeding foals more in a stable or |
| weaned when they are at least three months old. | | | | more on the pasture away from their dams. Feeding |
| Weaning beyond six months may prove both difficult | | | | on the pasture allows the foals better opportunities to |
| and emotionally damaging to a foal. | | | | socialize with other foals. |
| Since foals also have individual personalities, they will | | | | Wherever a horse owner chooses to keep foals, it is |
| not all be ready for weaning at the same time. You will | | | | important to ensure that the area is safe and secure. |
| know if the time is right if a foal is already comfortable | | | | Foals generally feel anxious when weaning and may |
| with eating solid food and shows signs of independent | | | | run away, bump against solid objects or harm |
| socialization skills separate from its mother. Foals that | | | | themselves. |
| are a bit timid may take longer to wean. Before you | | | | Human and Horse Socialization |
| begin weaning procedures, make sure that you foal is | | | | One strategy to help wean foals is to put them in the |
| in very good health. | | | | company of other weaning foals especially when they |
| Separating Foal and Dam | | | | are out to pasture. This method however must be |
| The most obvious way to wean a foal is to separate | | | | used carefully and judiciously. Some foals may |
| it from its dam. Separation here means keeping a foal | | | | transfer their attachments from their dams to their |
| and a dam completely out of sight and hearing of | | | | fellow foals. This can be a greater problem since foals |
| each other. Some horse owners may choose to | | | | attached to each other may behave violently once |
| wean abruptly, immediately separating a foal and its | | | | they are separated from each other. |
| dam without the prospect of future visits. Some may | | | | Aside from introducing horse company, it would be |
| choose to separate foals and dams slowly, allowing | | | | better if you introduced consistent human company as |
| dams to be nearby in gradually decreasing frequencies. | | | | well. This will teach your foal to get used to being |
| You can get an idea on the best method of separation | | | | handled by humans. |
| to use based on the foal's personality. Foals that show | | | | |