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Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

238.0. "Weaning Problem" by NIGHT::MONTVILLE (Sharon Montville) Thu Mar 26 1987 16:14

    My mare had a filly late last June.  At the end of November, I
    weaned the filly by moving the mare to a boarding stable.  I
    brought the mare home this week, and guess what?  It's like they
    were never separated.  Except, at least the filly has not tried
    to nurse.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Anyone out there
    have any suggestions?  I currently have them at opposite ends of
    my 4-stall barn, which open into separate corrals; however, they
    do share a fence line.
    
    Last night when I separated them, the mare went crazy in her stall,
    but after 15 minues she finally settled down.  This morning when
    they were turned out, the mare was calmer but the filly was crazed.
    I think this situation will probably die down within a couple of
    days, but I hope I'm not being too optimistic.  The last thing I
    want is a couple of herd-bound horses.
    
    If it wasn't such a pain in the neck, it really would be "cute".
    There is no doubt in my mind that the mother-daughter relationship
    is still intact.
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238.1Playmate for FillySQM::MURPHYIs it Friday yet?Fri Mar 27 1987 09:3616
    Hi, Sharon!  Never had this problem myself but it seems they've
    been separated long enough to have the baby fully weaned.  It may
    be just a desire to be with another horse (horses are, after all
    a herdbound animal) and like eachother's company.  The mare should
    be dried up now and if the filly attempts nursing, she should be
    able to refuse it.  They may just want to be together to scratch
    each other's withers and keep each other company.  You didn't mention
    if they had pasture mates already.  Some horses can't be turned
    out without another horse with them.  I understand if they get too
    attached though, this could cause serious problems when you wanted
    to take your mare out on a trail ride, etc. and leave the filly
    home.  The filly is still young and sounds like she needs a playmate.
    
    Good luck!
    Pat
    
238.2Situation improvedNIGHT::MONTVILLESharon MontvilleFri Mar 27 1987 11:3712
    Thanks, Pat, for your response.  It seems that time is solving the
    problem.  The filly does have a companion - a pregnant mare.  They
    are together on one end of the barn, which opens into one corral.
    The filly's mom, a gelding, and a burro are together at the other
    end of the barn, which opens out into a bigger corral.  When the
    pregnant mare gets close to foaling (end of May), I'll move the
    filly to the bigger corral with her mom.  I'm hoping that by then
    they will have accepted that they can't always be together.  I'll
    be riding the mare this weekend, and it will be interesting to see
    how willing she is to be out of sight of her filly.  Since both
    the mare and filly have calmed down alot, I'm not expecting much
    trouble.