multigenerational turnout for mares

[wehrlegirl]

Hi all.. question for those with experience with this; What is your experience or opinion on turning multi-generations out with each other in one large(r) herd? As in mares with foals at side, yearlings and two year olds, open mares? If mares and offspring are related does this become a factor? Reason for asking is Ive seen some South American Breeders do this but have rarely seen it in the states where most tend to be pastured in age groups. Since I only have one yearling who is with all the mares and have two foals on the way I was wondering what peoples experience with this is.

[Reiter]

I currently have 9 out on a 15 acre pasture! Plenty of room to get away if someone gets picked on, but they all get along and stay together! There's 2 adult geldings (one of them a pony), 3 mares (no babies this year), 2 yearlings (geldings) and 2 two year olds (a mare and a gelding). They are in horsey haven out there and I love watching them! I just took pictures yesterday, maybe I can figure out a way to post them! :)

[Edgewood]

I too do it all the time. Mares with foals are in with with yearlings, 2 year olds and open mares. I have few if any male horses on my farm, but it works well from my standpoint.

Then the young ones learn manners from their older counterparts

[ponygirl]

I do this. I have always done this due to the fact at one point I only had 1 large pasture. It works very well for me.

[pintopiaffe]

Yep.

Grandma, her foal if any, weanlings, yearlings, her granddaughter, etc. etc.

Right now I do the girls in one group and the bachelors in another. Years past it's been family groups, until I had the daughter of the stallion old enough to be a 'problem.'

It is the most natural... My Grandma mare often babysits ALL the foals.

I do think that this type of turnout is conducive to adoption, God forbid.

[Waterwitch]

I've had as many as 3 generations plus various other herd members (mini-donk, etc) turned out together. Works just fine as long as there is enough space, food, and water resources.

[wehrlegirl]

Have you had any problems with older youngsters getting too rough?

[railmom]

I too do it all the time. Mares with foals are in with with yearlings, 2 year olds and open mares. I have few if any male horses on my farm, but it works well from my standpoint.

Then the young ones learn manners from their older counterparts

This is how I do it too. Nothing like a momma mare to teach the youngsters manners :)

[Waterwitch]

Never...the mares usually keep that in check.

[pintopiaffe]

The opposite... I would HATE to deal with a yearling or 2yo that was ONLY out with creatures it's own age. :eek:

A good mare teaches youngsters about ALL things important. ;)

[winsmorefarm]

I do the same with my horses, but if they have not been out together for awhile, I stay out with them to keep an eye on things, as the pecking order can change.

With a mare and newer foal I do not, because I don't have a large enough pasture. I have put a yearling or two in with mare and foal (3 - 4 months old +), BUT before I put them in together, I put them in pastures next to one another to buddy up first and make sure that momma mare is alright with new potential pasture mates. I do that for a week or two and then if all goes well, will introduce yearlings into mom's pasture while I keep watch. We've had a few mares that rule with the hind end and that could be an issue if you aren't careful, which is why we follow a introduction protocol - NEVER cold turkey turnout.

Generally if there is plenty of grazing, everyone to too busy eating to worry too much about who is with them, BUT as the grazing disappears, tempers seem to flare easier and the hierarchy gets challenged a bit.

You can also put some lavender oil in their nostrils shortly before introduction and that generally helps to calm some nerves too.

[wehrlegirl]

thanks all.. I appreciate the advice :yes::yes:

[CurlyLindsay]

I have 7 turned out together now, 6 of which are related. Mom, daughters, sisters and a cousin. I even have a (related) gelding out with them now and they do fine, actually the gelding tends to buddy with the youngest horses and provide the most discipline.

[Reiter]

Here are the pictures:
http://www.posemucklfarm.com/FOALS.html
Didn't know how else to post them, so I stuck them on the website. Just scroll down!
And just in case anyone is wondering. The fact that my little boy is out there with the horses is a testament to the GOOD temperament of my horses not to bad mothering skills! ;)

[Waterwitch]

And just in case anyone is wondering. The fact that my little boy is out there with the horses is a testament to the GOOD temperament of my horses not to bad mothering skills! ;)

My horses have good temperaments too, but they are still horses. All it takes is to have the boss mare approach a group of insubordinates and even adult humans can get run over if the herd scatters.

Just sayin' ;)

[JoZ]

I think I would still go for the multiple generations/ages for pasture turnout... like everyone has said, it teaches the youngsters lots of important lessons AND provides security and nurturing.

I am not sure I feel the same way any more about dry lot turnout (which we are forced to use during the winter). Without the grass to occupy them, things can get a bit raucous. Of necessity, the square footage is smaller for our dry lots too. My friend lost a lovely TB weanling filly when she was disciplined by a mare with an unfortunately-placed kick. I know accidents can happen anywhere but we are both still recovering from that. I am sure the benefits outweigh the risks but I certainly think the more space and the more grass, the better! :cry:

Oh, and the group had been together in pasture all summer, so it wasn't lack of familiarity.

[Reiter]

Yes, and he's only allowed around the horses with me there and I'm never more than a couple of feet away from him, ready to scoop him up and out of there if they decide to go running. I've been around horses my whole life I'm well aware of what they can and cannot do! I did not grow up with the close supervision that I keep on him and did some crazy things in my days, but that's another story! ;)

[ahf]

I'm a same gender out-out horseman. Multi generations (mares, foals, yearlings, 2yo) have worked out fine with me...but I don't do boys....UNLESS the boys are foals.

I've not had anyone get too rough...except one two year old that, when removed from the older mares, got a little rougher than I liked with the yearlings. I put an older mare back in, and that stopped.

Like JoZ, I've also had periods in "only cohort" turn-out where the top dog got a little uppity. Turned out an older mare, and comeuppance quickly occured. God bless my two foundation mares. They do an awful lot of the heavy lifting for me!

[wehrlegirl]

How long are you all waiting to bring in a mare with a foal at side? When our first filly came last year I didnt have a choice but to put her in with her dam and the other mares and it was fine..wonderful... but Im always worried a new foal could get run over as everyone takes their places in the herd.

[ahf]

I wait at least a week, and usually 10 days after foaling. THe mare and foal share a fenceline with the rest of the herd, and the foal "met" everyone over the fence by the time they get turned out together. As a matter of fact, this is one of my "signals" that all is well and good with the impending herd turn out. WHen the broodmare will allow the foal to briefly visit with others in the herd over the fence before intervening, the time has come to put them together.

Now that I think about it - one maiden broodmare took two weeks before she would let anyone visit over the fence. I haven't had a maiden in a while.

[Hampton Bay]

I waited about 2 weeks to turn my mare and filly out with my then 2-yo gelding last year. They shared a fence line for a bit, and then once everyone seemed OK they all went out together. It made things very convenient when I weaned the filly. Just took mom away and filly stayed with big brother.

[wehrlegirl]

I waited about 2 weeks to turn my mare and filly out with my then 2-yo gelding last year. They shared a fence line for a bit, and then once everyone seemed OK they all went out together. It made things very convenient when I weaned the filly. Just took mom away and filly stayed with big brother.

Hey, thats a smart idea! Saves $$$ by not having to ship her to another farm.

[jdeboer01]

Has anyone ever had a yearling try to start nursing again if he/she is put back in the same pasture with her dam and her dam's new foal? I'd love to be able to put my yearling back out with her dam, but her dam is not a big disciplinarian, and I'm afraid she'll let her nurse. Does this ever happen?