One advantage to pasturing weanlings is that continual access to exercise may benefit normal hoof growth and wear. Stalled weanlings prob-ably will need more intensive and frequent hoof care.
Handling practices will vary with the use of weanlings. Weanlings that are shown in halter classes or fitted for sales will receive daily handling and training.
Brushing and other normal cleaning routines not only help the general health status of the weanling, they also serve to gentle and train the weanling to accept handlers. Those weanlings housed in pastures that do not receive the daily care of stalled wean-lings should be periodically handled, brushed and led. These handling sessions will better prepare weanlings for when they receive ground training and breaking to saddle in subsequent years.
Commonly recommended vaccinations include tetanus, sleeping sickness, rhinopneumonitis, influenza, rabies, West Nile and strangles. Deworming products are specific to types of worm infestation, and frequency of administration is influenced by product efficacy, reinfestation rates and environmental conditions.
Vaccination and deworming schedules will be influenced by your locale and management practices, so consultation with a veterinarian is recommended. The exact body condition and rate of gain needed to promote sound growth of muscle and bone is debatable and perhaps somewhat flexible.
Individual differences in genetic makeup create so much variation that general recommendations are limited in scope and accuracy. Generally, weanlings should be fed individually at rates to maintain a moderate body condition. Weanlings expected to mature at 1, to 1, pounds should gain between 1.
Most weanlings will consume between 1. Extremes in body condition should be avoided. Rations should be reduced when large amounts of body fat are deposited, and increased if the ribs or other bony structures become apparent.
Also, weanlings fed to grow at consistent rates will have less structural problems, when compared to those restricted in growth for several months, then fed to gain rapidly. There are numerous grain mixes available that have been formulated to contain the proper balance of protein, minerals and vitamins to energy for weanling horse needs.
This balance ensures adequate amounts of these nutrients at different energy intakes and rate of growths. Most weanling rations will have between 1. The concentration of nutrients in the grain mix will depend on the type and level of hay or pasture forage. The most common problems with nutrition of growing horses are from over- or under-feeding, making sharp increases in rates of gain by sudden changes in amounts of feed or by feeding unbalanced rations.
Unbalanced rations commonly occur when grains are added to commercially formulated mixes on-site, or feeding grains without vitamin or mineral supplementation.
Many weanling horses are turned out in pastures with other similarly aged horses. There are several advantages to managing weanlings together in a pasture as compared to housing in stalls. Weanlings will interact with one another, and the behavior the weanling exhibits later in life may be more characteristic of expected behaviors in all horses as compared to weanlings housed separately.
The need for forced exercise is lessened, and research suggests that weanlings managed extensively in pastures will have less frequency of bone growth problems.
This is most likely due to a combination of factors related to free access to exercise and nutrients in the pasture forage. Continuous, free access to exercise may benefit bone strength and hoof formation. Also, horses may be managed for slower growth rates in pastures.
Those showing or marketing young horses require horses to be managed and housed individually. Stalled horses generally receive more individual care, regulated feed intake and hair can be kept in better condition. Exercise is important, as stalling without forced exercise can inhibit development of bone strength in weanlings. Single exercise bouts should be short in duration and apply enough stress to stimulate sound muscle and bone growth without over-exertion.
Successful forced exercise programs for stalled weanlings have incorporated a number of practices: timed turnouts with other growing horses, ponying, longeing and use of mechanical devices, such as horse walkers and treadmills. One practical management method has been to follow short-duration, controlled exercise bouts with longer-duration, free-access turnouts.
Exercise programs must be individualized and adjusted with the development of each horse. Exercise level and intensity should begin conservatively and increased as positive responses are achieved. Evidence of mild soreness or joint swelling must be recognized before becoming severe and the subsequent level of exercise reduced until the horse responds more favorably.
Malinowski, N. Haliquist, L. Helyar, A. Sherman, C. Effect of different separation protocols between mares and foals on plasma cortisol and cell-mediated immune response. J Equine Vet Sci , 10 5 , pp. Adults may be used to alleviate weaning stress in domestic foals Equus caballus.
Physiology and Behavior. Waran, N. Clark, M. Considerations and suggestions stallion managers need to know to keep their horses happy, confident and well behaved. Owners should learn to supply the amount and balance of nutrients that will aid in maximum conception rates and meet the needs during gestation and lactation.
Home Weaning and Management of Weanling Horses. By Kris Hiney. Topics: Horses Livestock. In a domestic situation, it's up to you, the owner, to initiate the weaning process. In order to lessen the physical, if not the emotional stress, these steps should be taken prior to weaning to prepare the foal for his upcoming independence:.
Foals are usually weaned at approximately four months of age. Foals which spend a lot of their time exploring away from the mare and playing with other pasture mates will probably have little trouble during the weaning process. Sometimes, in the case of orphaned foals, weaning has to happen much earlier.
Weaning can be done in more than one way, depending on the facilities you have available. One way is to remove the mare to another location, leaving the foal in his familiar surroundings and with the company of other weanlings or an older "babysitter. There's no doubt that this method of weaning is stressful and usually involves lots of running around and calling on the part of both mare and foal. Some breeders separate the mare and foal during the day and stall them together at night, but evidence shows that this approach renews the stress factor each day and actually lengthens the weaning process.
Some breeders prefer to avoid the "cold-turkey" method and turn mares and foals out in adjoining pastures. This allows them to see, smell and touch each other, but prevents nursing. While both mares and foals will probably stand at the fence line for the first week, eventually they lose interest and wander away.
This last approach would seem to me to be the more natural and less stressful to both mare and foal if the facilities are available, but not all breeders have the luxury of two pastures separated by suitable fencing. Whichever way you choose to wean your foal, human interaction can lessen the stress factor and also go a long way in the future training of the foal. Behavioral Problems. Medications and Drugs. Horse Care. Farm and Ranch. Hoof Care. Injuries and First Aid.
Based on location of the facility and exposure to show horses that are coming and going, foals might also benefit from vaccination against influenza, rhinopneumonitis and strangles. Your veterinarian is your best source of advice on which vaccines your foals should receive, and for deworming recommendations. There are two weaning methods that are commonly used — the abrupt method and the gradual method. If there are multiple foals to be weaned and they have been pastured together so they are familiar with each other, the abrupt form of weaning seems to work well, as they will have their herd mates to console them.
After the foals have calmed down, replace the buckets and leave the foals alone the rest of the day.
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