Weaning & Inspections
Thoughts to manage the two events
(from Hilltop Happenings - August, Copyright 1997 Hilltop Farm, Inc.)

By Susanne Owne Hassler

About this time every year, I receive many calls from breeders questioning the timing of their foal's weaning with the upcoming inspection and fall breed show season upon them. Since there are many differing opinions on the subject, I will share the view we maintain at Hilltop Farm.

Breeders who access inspections or breed shows early in the season are not as concerned about this tricky combination of events. Foals typically show very well at their mother's side. Still, many breeders are faced with foals at five or more months of age at the time of inspections or breed shows. The often too independent foal at this age, combined with the concern of the early new pregnancy of the broodmare, may warrant weaning in advance of the events. Just how much an effect will weaning have on the foal's appearance and performance? The following are some thoughts to consider:

Weaning requires advance preparation and can be accomplished with several approaches. The important factor underlying a foal's preparedness for weaning is his/her own consumption level of grain, or creepfeed. Undoubtedly, a gradual approach to bringing a foal up on creepfeed insures the least assault on the foal's development. If the creepfeed program is not initiated early enough in advance of weaning, the switch in nutrition at weaning time could have deleterious effects on the foal's growth. The incidence of physitis and other forms of DOD often attributed to weaning is linked to the sudden switch of dietary intake. Initiating a creepfeed at two months of age or before is widely considered appropriate preparation for weaning at four to six months of age.

If sufficient time has been allowed to prepare a foal for weaning, the actual weaning process can be accomplished by either a gradual or abrupt method. Your facilities and personal preferences will help you in making your choice. The gradual method allows mare and foal to get used to their physical separation slowly, perhaps starting at meal time and increasing this time apart. Safe stabling is essential to ensure that neither the upset mare nor foal hurts themselves while separated. Adjoining stalls where mare and foal can see, touch and hear each other, provide a good starting point. With gradually increasing the period of separation, and in some cases the distance, this system prepares the mare and foal without too much stress involved. Abrupt weaning is most safely handled when the facilities or fields for the mare and foals are sufficiently separated that the mare and foal can neither see nor hear each other. {Often both mare and foal are so READY for weaning that the above are not always serious factors!}

With weaning comes a dramatic change in the foal's dietary intake, primarily the amount of roughage that the foal will begin to require. The weaned foal often takes on a belllyish appearance due to the switch in the majority of its digestion to the hindgut, the place of roughage fermentation. In some instances, the inherent stress of weaning can also draw on the foal's topline. Although these factors cannot entirely be avoided, the best prevention is good dietary preparation.

The foal's mental state following weaning is a product of its environment, personality & readiness to be separated from its mother. A calm field mate helps the foal to adjust. These 'friends' can accompany a weaned foal to a breeding evaluation or competition and provide calm security. A weaned foal will likely require more practice to prepare for the inspection than the unweaned foal who can follow its mother. However, the weaned foal has the advantage of being able to perform without being hidden from its mother. If a foal can have a safe weaning, it will have the advantage of having center stage.

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