As I mentioned in an earlier post, Annie seems to be very lonely. She turns away from her hay and stands by the gate. She is flighty and jumps at imaginary ghosts. Is she feeling like an outcast? I do turn her out with Scout every few days but I think she's wanting to join up with Yalla! again. She is an alpha mare and her herd is being kept from her. Is that the problem? It has been a month since I separated Annie and Yalla!. Does she still miss her baby? Do you think it's been long enough? I would certainly hate to have Yalla! start nursing again.
I often hear Yalla! neighing to me from the barn, even when I am walking the dog or out by my cars. I notice that she sees everything happening, even in the distance. She seems to be very level headed and after an initial, 'what's that' she heads right over to investigate. Is this part of her cowhorse breeding, that she seems to be so curious and aware of everything going on around her?
Notice how Scout could care less?
Someone sees it all - song: Goodbye Mr. Ed, artist: Tin Machine, album: Tin Machine II
9 comments:
Finally caught up with your busy week - congrats to the battle of the band winners (2nd place is winning in my book)!
Yalla has changed so much, I wonder what she'll look like at 2! She does have a wise look in her eyes.
Poor Annie. Maybe for some mares the separation is harder. I know Lily seemed relieve - she was, at best, a reluctant brood mare.
Finally caught up with your busy week - congrats to the battle of the band winners (2nd place is winning in my book)!
Yalla has changed so much, I wonder what she'll look like at 2! She does have a wise look in her eyes.
Poor Annie. Maybe for some mares the separation is harder. I know Lily seemed relieve - she was, at best, a reluctant brood mare.
I don't know too much about mares and foals but they probably do miss each other. At least for now. Yalla is just beautiful though, I can't wait to see what she looks like when she grows up.
I'm afraid I can't help much here -- no experience to draw on. However, you have a good instinct so I would trust that.
Dan
I haven't an answer. Broken Arrow would still nurse if he was not seperated.
So, you think Yalla will still try to nurse?
Everybody, thanks for your comments. Yes, I am worried that Yalla! will try to nurse. Every day she checks under Nadia. Annie was a very good mother to Yalla!, very loving and doting. I never saw her pin her ears at Yalla! so if Annie still has milk I am afraid that the weaning will all go south and we'll have to start over.
Is it at all possible for you to take Yalla off your property? Board her somewhere where she is not within sight/sound/smell of her dam? (or to remove Annie but that may be more stressful for the herd)
I have no personal experience with foals but have often heard that this is the best way to wean - to completely seperate dam and foal.
When we weaned GinnyBelle, we left Baby with Ginger & Blue - her favorite herdmates & put Ginny with Butter & Windy. Baby would stand by the gate and watch Ginny. I can't remember what happened... early winter maybe & we had to put them together, but it was sooner than I wanted to. I think she might have snuck a try at drinking a time or two, but it was never a problem. It seemed Baby kept her weaned.
We gave Ginny to our friends. (She was an unplanned baby & they had more use for a part draft than we did another one) and I felt bad separating them again. It seemed like for months, Baby would run to the fence everytime I pulled in with the trailer. Broke my heart! We are going to try to get them together this summer and see if they remember.... It will be 2 years.
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