Do we wean at 3 months, or at 6, some wait until 8 months others even 11. Weaning of foals, an event that can be one of the most traumatic in the life of a young horse. The methods for weaning are as varied as the horse being weaned, there is no perfect way to follow, no right way. But there are certain beliefs that if followed, regardless of the age of the foal being weaned or the method employed will contribute to an experience that is as stress-free for the mare and foal as possible. The wild horse lives in small bands and not in fenced pastures or corrals. Time, money and circumstances usually dictate that the foal be managed in a more domestically traditional way and that it be weaned at a younger age than its wild brethren. Today 6 months of age is considered a fine time to wean. The first consideration is the area where the birth took place and how much area does the mare have to raise the foal. Tennessee extension horse specialist, Frederick Harper, Phd. “Between 60 and 90 days, depending on the mare, milk production is not going to meet the growth needs of the foal. If this foal is to continue to grow at optimum levels we want to start creep feeding that foal before we reach that time. If we get the foal eating well with a balanced, properly managed creep ration before we get to this milk- production drop-off point, then we’re going to bridge that gap as well as the gap when we wean the foal.”

Make weaning as stress free as we can for the foal. Any time a foal is stressed, it increases disease possibilities. Try to get the foal eating before you wean it. That will usually gap the stress area between being on the mother, being weaned and being on its own. Dr. Harper recommend that whenever you’re going to wean, regardless of age of the foal, get them eating well and don’t do anything else. Wean them and delay everything else, or deworm them a few weeks before, but do one thing at a time.

When it is time for the foal to make the break from mom, if possible have another equine companion to be with. The buddy system works. This will make the separation less traumatic. Whether one weans a foal at 6 months, 8 or 11, remember the animal’s social as well as physical needs can help prevent the trauma so often associated with weaning season. Try to make it as natural as possible. For most cases when working with animals, the closer you can get it to what’s natural the better.