Weaning Foals can be pretty traumatic, so we do it over a period of time.  A "web-reader" pointed out that this is called "interval nursing" in the show cattle field.  We never wean a foal unless it is already eating grain, alfalfa and coastal hay by itself.  This may sound crazy, but we like to wean on the "moon signs" in the Old Farmer's Almanac.  Don't ask me why, but we've always had virtually stress-free results.  Approximately 2 to 5 days prior to the actual weaning date listed in the Almanac, (depending upon the age of the foal: 2 days for older mature foals of 5 or 6 months of age, and 5 days for 3 to 4 month old foals) we bring the mare and foal into the barn, as our mares stay out in the pasture year-round. 

We walk the mare and foal into a stall and immediately remove the mare from the stall and either tie her up outside the stall, (with a hay bag and water bucket) so her foal can see and touch her, or put her in an adjacent stall, if they can see and touch one another.  Mares are less stressed when they can get "nose-to-nose" with their babies and eat at the same time.  If the mare gets unduly stressed, which often happens with young mothers, they can fret and "slip" or abort the foal they're carrying, so it's very important that all stress be kept minimal. 

In 4 hours, we put the mare back in with the foal to let it nurse, then immediately put "mom" outside the stall again.   You can start this project on a Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and put the mare back in at noon for a few minutes, then leave them separated until 4 or 5 p.m.  when you let the foal nurse again and then separate them again.  At 9 or 10 p.m. put the mare in with the foal overnight.  Repeat the process on Sunday.  The foal will be feeling pretty comfortable, knowing that "mom" is right there and will eventually be back in the stall. 

Monday morning, you  can generally kick mom back out in the pasture, if Monday is the date listed on the Farmer's Almanac for weaning.  You get the picture?  If the mare is still fretting, have your vet give her a small shot of a tranquilizer, like "ace", and kick her out in the pasture.  When the drug wears off, the mare will generally just go about her business.  If she has a "side-kick" to run with, that's even better.  If you wean two foals together, that's a little easier too.

Cattlemen call this weaning technique, "interval nursing".

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