Post by spirithawk06 on Aug 23, 2014 17:15:53 GMT
I separated Melody and Tilley for now. I feel horrible because Melody keeps screaming for her mother, but even with feed, Tilley is dropping weight. She's not bad, but is getting there. I can see her ribs and I'm starting to be able to see more of her topline. (She was overweight even before she became pregnant, not anymore.) Melody is 4 months old on the 25th.
I see conflicting sides on when and how to wean a foal on the resources I've read. I was figuring on waiting a bit longer, but Tilley is kicking at Melody most of the time when she tries to nurse and they are usually on opposite sides of the field.
The field itself is starting to get rather sparse and the pasture is still pretty lush but I can't let Melody into the back because Apollo tries to run her down and Tilley can't run fast enough to protect Melody. That was twice that Apollo nearly killed Melody despite them sharing a fence line and getting along on opposite sides of the fence. (Once was us letting her in the back with Tilley, and another time, a friend let all of our horses into the front field with Tilley and Melody.) So I need to either put Apollo in the front field (fence jumper), or keep Melody in the front and wean her.
I was planning on putting Tilley in the front with her at night and in the back during the day and just giving her feed. Mel has 2 goats for company as well as all the ducks and chickens and she shares a fence line with her dam.
What do you guys do or what would you do in this situation?
I see conflicting sides on when and how to wean a foal on the resources I've read. I was figuring on waiting a bit longer, but Tilley is kicking at Melody most of the time when she tries to nurse and they are usually on opposite sides of the field.
The field itself is starting to get rather sparse and the pasture is still pretty lush but I can't let Melody into the back because Apollo tries to run her down and Tilley can't run fast enough to protect Melody. That was twice that Apollo nearly killed Melody despite them sharing a fence line and getting along on opposite sides of the fence. (Once was us letting her in the back with Tilley, and another time, a friend let all of our horses into the front field with Tilley and Melody.) So I need to either put Apollo in the front field (fence jumper), or keep Melody in the front and wean her.
I was planning on putting Tilley in the front with her at night and in the back during the day and just giving her feed. Mel has 2 goats for company as well as all the ducks and chickens and she shares a fence line with her dam.
What do you guys do or what would you do in this situation?
