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September 2002 Open Breed Issue |
CONTENTS Ride
The West West Nile Virus Encephalitis Want To Trail Ride Close To Home?
Gallop Pole
REAL ESTATE Baxter
Black
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The Gallop
Pole Weaning Time is frustrating, but there are seven, general steps which may be helpful in this natural process toward survival of a healthy mare and foal. 1. RESEARCH the theory of natural weaning among wild horses and settle on what is valuable to your domestic situation. Nobody helps wean a wild horse, but you are the third member of the domestic weaning team. 2. WATCH your mare and her nursing foal regularly for prolonged periods of time without distraction. Mark the foal's tendencies to take a different direction from the common bond. Infancy fades with teething and strength will seek independence. 3. REMEMBER that you are not a horse. Attribute none of the characteristics of your own motivation and behavior to your horses. You can't know what they know, and vice versa. 4. BREAK apart your own particular weaning situation into elements and analyse them with a view to the importance of each. Key parts will always fall into the broad catagories of Time: before, during, and after the weaning interval in relation to the space surrounding your horses' domestication. Situational questions (eg. water, feed, shelter, containment, etc.) will test your confidence and ambition. This is expected and good because it will make you create a list. Every weaning problem has a solution. 5. SHARE your list with somebody who has history with a weaning situation similar to yours. Go over your list with them on their ground and physically compare their space to yours. The solution to all your weaning problems will come from people who have had successful, repeated experiences and solved problems just like yours. You can't help wean your foal without outside coaching. 6. PLAN the exact timing of weaning initiation and its duration on the ground where it can be maintained. Decide what the post-weaning relationship between mare and foal will be and how it can be sustained. Inform your veterinarian of your intentions and don't worry: there is nourishment beyond mare's milk. 7. STICK to your plan. If it is good, believe in it, and it will work. To waver from your plan will weaken your horses and bother your mind. Monitor your mare and foal. if either starts going bad and you can't bear it, call the vet before you waver from your plan. Nature is reliable, but your horses rely on you to help them survive Weaning Time. |
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