Look for signs of independence when deciding when to wean your foal.

Question:

Is it okay to wean a filly at 4 months of age? She is eating grass, hay, grain and drinking water, all on her own. I’ve even walked her out of sight of the mare and she would eat grain without the mare showing her anymore. So is it OK to wean from the mare at 4 months?

– Dana Hendrix, on AQHA’s Facebook page

For the answer, we sought out Dr. Tom Lenz, equine health expert at Pfizer Animal Health.

Answer:

Dana, four months of age is the perfect time to wean a foal. The foal is usually eating and drinking most of the time on its own, and the mare’s milk supply has peaked and is starting to decline. I would wean the foal.

– Dr. Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, Pfizer Animal Health

In most cases, the birth of a foal is uneventful and happy. But it doesn’t hurt to do your homework. AQHA’s detailed Equine Breeding Techniques and Foal Health Tips report guides you through the entire process, from mare care and signs of labor to foaling complications and first-hours foal care.