I got the fillies moved in with the geldings yesterday afternoon, so now Truly and Bluebell are in a maternity pasture by themselves. It went better than I'd expected. First I put the boys in the barn, tied to posts, with the gate closed. Then I let the girls check out the pasture by themselves and they ran around for about 10 or 15 minutes. Then I let Tennessee in there with them and they all three ran around for about another 15 minutes. There was a little squealing, but no punches were thrown. Tennessee hasn't gotten that kind of exercise in quite a while. When he got tired and came beck to the barn, I put him back in and let Bob out with them. He was the one I was most concerned about since he's just been gelded 2wks, but he was more tentative than I expected. Just young I guess. After about 10 minutes out with the girls, who by this time were pretty well "run out", I let them all out together. It was funny coz Blade was trying to keep Bob away from the girls and they had several little scuffles, but nothing more than is normal for them. All in all, I guess they ran around and around for about an hour and a half before everybody got tired enough to stop. Hope was calling for her mother quite a bit. It was kinda sad coz she'd see Bob from across the pasture and because of his color, think it was her Mom and come running, then she'd get close enough to see that it wasn't and she looked SO disappointed. Then she'd run back towards the trailer and call for her there, then she'd see Bob again and the whole cycle started over. Poor girl. But at least she's got plenty of company 'til she gets over it.
It sure can be a complicated orchestra moving horses around and trying to figure the best introduction sequence. Glad it went well with no major scrapes.
Weaning is a sad shock for a babe... are they out of sight and sound now? Or can they still hear each other where they are? Was momma more than OK with it?
Always fun trying new horses together.
Weaning is difficult. I've heard a varity of ways, but none are easy. I could never get Dot and Belle out of hearing range of each other but could get them out of sight. It never bothered Belle, but Dot was sad. I've heard, but haven't tried successfully, that it is less stressful on the baby if the mother and foal can stand in pens together where they can see and sniff each other but foal can't nurse. I tried it here but Dot managed to get her head thru the panels to nurse, and Belle let her.
I thought it odd that Belle had a bag for over a year after Dot stopped nursing. her bag was full but not enough to cause pain, but she had milk. Is that normal?
Becky