Weaning

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Study: 'Nanny' Horses Reduce Weaning Stress for Foals

Researchers found that the presence of "nanny" mares reduced the amount of weaning stress foals experienced.

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Photo by Christine Aurich, DVM, PhD

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Feeding Foals

A foal's diet during the first year impacts his musculoskeletal health and future athletic performance.

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Photo by The Horse Staff

The "nanny" group of foals showed the least amount of stress from weaning. Over the first few days of weaning, these foals whinnied and paced less and ate and slept more, compared to the foals in other groups.

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Study: 'Nanny' Horses Reduce Weaning Stress for Foals

October 03, 2011

Researchers found that the presence of "nanny" mares reduced the amount of weaning stress foals experienced.... Read More

Article

Feeding Foals

January 01, 2011

A foal's diet during the first year impacts his musculoskeletal health and future athletic performance.... Read More

Article

Seeking Solutions to Separation Anxiety

August 26, 2010

When teaching young horses to accept separation from their pasturemates, it might seem like a good idea to train them in pairs first for a while before training them alone. However, new equitation science research suggests that pairing them up might ... Read More

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TheHorse.com Presents Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Weaning July 28

July 28, 2010

Do you have questions about weaning strategies and health concerns for recently weaned foals and/or their dams? You're not the only one! Join us on Wednesday, July 28, from 8:00-8:30 p.m. EST for our Ask the Vet Live Q&A chat event on weaning...... Read More

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Ways to Wean Young Horses

July 01, 2010

There are many ways to wean foals, but a method in which the foal can make a gradual adjustment to being apart from his dam or herdmates is often the least stressful. There's no best way to wean, however, because many factors enter the equation... Read More

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Treating Equine Proliferative Enteropathy

June 28, 2010

If a foal comes down with signs of equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), confirm the diagnosis, treat the affected foal, and monitor the herd for additional cases, Connie Gebhart, PhD, said at the 2010 ACVIM Forum, June 9-12 in Anaheim, Calif... Read More

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The Heartbreak of Separation Anxiety

November 01, 2008

Separating horses from their buddies can be problematic and sometimes even dangerous to horse and handler—here’s how to ease the pain of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a relatively common condition among horses,... Read More

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Weaning Foals

June 01, 2005

There are many ways to wean foals. Bob Coleman, MS, PhD, PAS, an equine extension specialist at the University of Kentucky, says there are basically two methods--abrupt weaning and gradual weaning. "Whether you put the foals in a pen and... Read More

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A Meal Away from Mom

July 01, 2003

The question of whether to feed foals concentrate separate from mares (called creep feeding) has often posed a dilemma for horse owners. On one hand, owners want to be certain that foals are getting all required nutrients and growing to their... Read More

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Life Without Mom

July 01, 2003

One of the most traumatic times in a young horse's life is when he is separated from his mother at weaning time. From birth, he has been dependent on the mare for sustenance and protection. At weaning time that changes, and the youngster must... Read More

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Effects Of Weaning On Growing Foals

January 22, 1999

Every foal must be weaned from its dam at some point. However, when and how the weaning process is undertaken may have significant effects on the growing horse. One of the physiological responses often noted at weaning is a... Read More

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Weaning Strategies

August 01, 1998

No one looks forward to weaning time. There's nothing quite as heart-rending as the sound of a panicky foal, galloping up and down the fence line calling desperately for the mother who's been taken away--unless it's the sound of his dam calling... Read More