I bought this 8 month old colt out of the pasture. This is the first time she has been away from the mare and the first time in a stall. I finally got a halter on her but now she will try to paw you when you approach her. I think over time she will get out of that. She will come to you and nibble feed out of your hand, so I think she will be ok. What would be the best feed to start with? I have some 9% sweet feed in the stable but she just nibbles at it. I keep hay in the stable at all times. When would be the best time to deworm the colt- now or wait a while?
8 month old colt....questions.
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I fed a pellet feed for horses of all ages plus a foal supplement to my babies. I think it was Strategy but its been a few years ago and my memory comes and goes (goes mostly):lol:
Most feeds will say for what ages. I just prefer a pellet thats lower in sugar. She's eating good hay too right?
If she wasn't used to humans its going to take some time for her to recognize that your not there to eat her. She is in survival mode so naturally she will strike out. She should calm down over time. Just spend as much time with her as you can. Keep it quiet and keep your movements slow. Don't rush her.
You should contact your vet as far as worming goes. It depends on where you live and your horsekeeping. Foals are notorious manure eaters so it may be good to have a fecal egg count done first. That way you will know what your going after rather than just randomly worming.
You should be able to just take a manure sample to the office rather than take the whole horse :lol:
Its so much fun to start them young. Congratulations and have fun.
ETA- If your new to this you might look inot Clinton Andersons Handling Foals, Weanlings, and Yearlings. I found it very helpful. I think I got mine used on Ebay. Another good site is Cherry Hills horsekeeping site. She has articles on a foal from birth to adult. The foals name is Sherlock so look for Sherlocks pages. http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse-training-care-info.htm
Most feeds will say for what ages. I just prefer a pellet thats lower in sugar. She's eating good hay too right?
If she wasn't used to humans its going to take some time for her to recognize that your not there to eat her. She is in survival mode so naturally she will strike out. She should calm down over time. Just spend as much time with her as you can. Keep it quiet and keep your movements slow. Don't rush her.
You should contact your vet as far as worming goes. It depends on where you live and your horsekeeping. Foals are notorious manure eaters so it may be good to have a fecal egg count done first. That way you will know what your going after rather than just randomly worming.
You should be able to just take a manure sample to the office rather than take the whole horse :lol:
Its so much fun to start them young. Congratulations and have fun.
ETA- If your new to this you might look inot Clinton Andersons Handling Foals, Weanlings, and Yearlings. I found it very helpful. I think I got mine used on Ebay. Another good site is Cherry Hills horsekeeping site. She has articles on a foal from birth to adult. The foals name is Sherlock so look for Sherlocks pages. http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse-training-care-info.htm
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My vets [yes, multiple] recommended I keep my filly on a mare and foal feed until she was a year, because of all it's "extras" for a growing baby. I had my little girl on Omolene 300, and switched to Omolene 100 when she turned a year [as read the Omolene 300 instructions.] She also gets high quality alflafa hay. As far as worming, my vet recommended monthly worming until they reach a year, than space it as required for your area, I worm every three months for my adult mare, ever two months for my little one who is now 16 months.
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I agree with Riccilove. We were told to keep our orphan on mare and foal feed, and you can give a milk supplement as well to help fat content. Good luck with your new youngster. As she realizes that you bring food she should become more friendly.
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My 8 month old filly is still with my mare although she rarely nurses. She is fed good quality timothy/orchard grass hay and Blue Seal Contender (16% protein).
For deworming she is dewormed monthly, I rotate between a double dose fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate. At 1 year I add in ivermectin and they move to an adult schedule.
For deworming she is dewormed monthly, I rotate between a double dose fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate. At 1 year I add in ivermectin and they move to an adult schedule.
Many thanks for the replies!
I'm about to start my trek out into the vast rural Mississippi network of roads, in search of some Omolene 300. Wish me luck!
What is the most economical method of worming the colt, since it should be done monthly? I have another 2 yr. old colt that needs worming also. He was put in the barn about 6 weeks ago. I bought a paste wormer then, but don't remember the type.
I'm about to start my trek out into the vast rural Mississippi network of roads, in search of some Omolene 300. Wish me luck!
What is the most economical method of worming the colt, since it should be done monthly? I have another 2 yr. old colt that needs worming also. He was put in the barn about 6 weeks ago. I bought a paste wormer then, but don't remember the type.
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I use paste dewormer on all my horses (don't like the liquid even though it's cheaper). Just stock up on the generics when it's on sale. My current supply of ivermectin cost me $1.99 a tube. Shop around.
And make sure you keep track of what you're deworming them with and when.
And make sure you keep track of what you're deworming them with and when.
I bought the Omolene 300. Problem is- she won't eat it, nor the 10% feed. She was eating hay until today. I don't think she has had very much hay today. Her stool is soft now and I saw her pass gas with a liquid mixed in. I think I should either turn her back out to the mare or either get the mare up and let them both stay together for a bit. I could feed them together and maybe she will start eating feed then. Could it be she is just sulking about being alone?
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It very well could be her just being stubborn. Why eat the food when she could have milk...
The only time my filly and mare are together is in the field. When they're in the barn they're in separate stalls. We had a blizzard here last weekend, so the horses have been inside for the past week while we were waiting for the snow to melt because the drifts were too high to open the gates. I did notice Cav had a bit of diarrhea one night - probably from not nursing in a few days. She was fine the next morning.
Keep an eye on her - she certainly won't let herself starve. Keep hay infront of her and let her adjust to the new feed. She certainly doesn't need the mare - most foals are weaned at 4 months. If I had the space to separate my 2, I would have done it a LONG time ago.
Let her get used to being alone for a little and go from there.
The only time my filly and mare are together is in the field. When they're in the barn they're in separate stalls. We had a blizzard here last weekend, so the horses have been inside for the past week while we were waiting for the snow to melt because the drifts were too high to open the gates. I did notice Cav had a bit of diarrhea one night - probably from not nursing in a few days. She was fine the next morning.
Keep an eye on her - she certainly won't let herself starve. Keep hay infront of her and let her adjust to the new feed. She certainly doesn't need the mare - most foals are weaned at 4 months. If I had the space to separate my 2, I would have done it a LONG time ago.
Let her get used to being alone for a little and go from there.
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its a lot of stress to be taken away from a mother and put into a stall when youre not used to it. the soft stool and changes in eating are normal. there is no good reason she needs to be back with mom either, we wean ours at 6 months, we put them in the trailer with mom, take them to another farm and put them out in the paddock, then load mom up and leave the baby there. also we dont feed the foals a lot of grain, mostly just hay. grain gives them too much engergy and they can get too hot, epecially the sweet feed.
I put the mare back with her for the time being. I will feed them together for a couple of days. The mare weaned her a while back and won't let her get her head under there. The mare is due to foal again in 3 months. I'll keep you guys updated.
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Be careful on switching feeds to frequently. I take at least a week to change feeds over. Adding a bit of the new one day than a bit more the next etc.
Since you have chosen the Omolene stick with it. I see no problem keeping the foal with the mare. Since she is bred back, she won't let her nurse now that she has started the process. If she does start to nurse again you will need to separate them again.
Since you have chosen the Omolene stick with it. I see no problem keeping the foal with the mare. Since she is bred back, she won't let her nurse now that she has started the process. If she does start to nurse again you will need to separate them again.
The colt was eating better this morning, beside her mother. I will give them a couple of days before I return the colt to the stable.
I remember, years ago, a horse trainer telling me that he used some sort of cattle wormer on his horses. The wormer came in a large, caulk-looking tube. He said you couldn't give a horse too much.
I remember, years ago, a horse trainer telling me that he used some sort of cattle wormer on his horses. The wormer came in a large, caulk-looking tube. He said you couldn't give a horse too much.
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