Ihave recently had a baby and never before have I looked at weaning from the point of view of a mother. All I know is that I really want to do the best for my child!
The same goes for your foal. The best time to start feeding a foal is two months before it is to be weaned. Weaning is a personal thing – in the wild, the mare will wean her foal at a year, just before her next foal is born. In captivity foals can be weaned from six months, but I prefer nine months.
Once a foal has been weaned, it’s up to you to provide it with a good diet. Remember that you’re creating the foundation for good bones and muscles and ensuring there’ll be no problems in its adult life. It is very important that a young horse’s diet contains adequate essential trace elements, like copper and zinc which promote optimal cartilage and bone growth. Protein is important for cell renewal, tissue and muscle repair, so it’s vital that it’s included in the diet.
Stabling and nutrition
If you stable your youngster, it’s extremely important that there’s never an absence of grass. The young gut is very sensitive and a constant supply of good-quality hay is essential to gut health.
It is also a good idea to soak the hay that’s hung up in the stable, as young horses are susceptible to harmful mould spores and dust.
Very often, hay and grazing lack some of the key elements required for the foal’s further development, so it’s recommended that you introduce your colt or filly to a cube or meal designed for youngsters. A feed is good if it contains soya hulls, lucerne and oil.
These ingredients are digested slowly, so the release of energy is slow and constant. This kind of feed will help steady the temperament and promote good growth. Young stock feeds contain high levels of trace elements. You’ll need to feed 2kg to 3kg per day, mixed with 500g of chopped lucerne. But I can’t stress enough the importance of not letting youngsters get overweight. Excess weight will put unnecessary strain on the joints, which may lead to problems later on. Remember, play is also very important for growth! Turn your foals out in a large field to play and grow. – Kim Dyson (082 888 6511). |fw
