Rollestone Farm Stud & Livery

Can you beleive it is weaning time already!

Yesterday we weaned Mac, Alfie & Taz...Mac and Alfie are in the big foaling box together and big grown up Taz has a whole stable to himself! Such grown up boys!

Here's some bad pics of them as they were taken with my phone...

Ghost was so funny - he loved his new neighbours and spent ages 'chatting' with them through the bars!

Ah bless 'em, they look calm enough, are they coping OK so far?

"Uncle" Ghost looks like he'll be taking them under his wing and teaching them all about being big grown up boys

Just out of curiosity, can you tell me how you wean your foals - gradually or just going for it?

We go for the shock tactic bless them - I hate it but it does work well for us. We lead mares and babies into the barn, put both into a stable then take the mares out and shut the babies in - removing mares straight away and putting them in the furthest field away. I leave the radio on to hide the sounds of neighing and a few hours after we seperated them yesterday they were all settled. Boys are fine, very calm and chilled about it all. Mares are out with the other babies so seem fine

I feel so mean leading them in as they have no idea what we're about to do But then all being well they'll be back out together in 6 weeks so it's not forever - just long enough for the milk to dry up...

Unless I can convince Chris to let me barn the babies this year then I can keep them in the warm!

So, do the babies stay in completely for the 6 weeks then Sarah?

I don't know about all this keeping them warm over the winter - you'll end with a bunch of wimps sling em out in all weathers, then they'll grow up to be tough and strong

What about Big Dyl?? Is he seperated from Lola yet?? Would love to see more pictures.... and when will you wean the rest?
Ghost does look sweet in the photo - bless him, hes telling the babies what is expected of them!!

No they only stay in for a few days - then they're slung back out with their friends and 'aunties' to keep things as normal as poss for them...

Dylan is still out with mum at the moment - Lola is notoriously difficult to catch so will have to time it right with her, mind you Dyl is easy enough to catch so I'll probably end up catching him and having her follow...! lol

Today Kate & I put the big boys in the arena to try out the new camera... I still haven't got the hang of it but it was fun practising!

Pics from here http://flickr.com/photos/22788020@N07/2 ... 868410988/

Got some lush pics Sar, but i do like the one of the 2 pally boys

Springo was weaned in a shared stable with another weanling and was always handle in pairs which made him a total nightmare !as he was totally a horse horse with no trust once seperated , had no confidence at all as he d never developed as an "indervidual".he proved impossible to even touch on his own & was bloody hard work !
i was going to wean Faith with Bea ,but i ve decided to wean her partly on her own as well so she learns independance & also bonds with us & appreciates us as "friends " too . Faith was born much later than your boys so will wean at end of November still quite early for her but i need her weaned by then & shes strong & mature for her age & Kai has already had enough of her!

oh forgot to say stunning photos your boys look really well

Great pics Sar

I just fell in love....with Taz! Have to confess I haven't paid him much attention thus far, but he is an absolute stunner, beautiful head.

Iwant him......Do you accept payment in £5 instalments

Yes Fran I was a bit like that - not really paid him a huge amount of attention up to now - but he is growing on me and he really does have a beautiful head!

Yes Fran

Is that yes to £5 instalments

I love the colouring round his eyes and muzzle, do you think he's just going darker pally or changing completely?

Glad everything is settled and all is well. My weaning starts today, yes six months has flown..

Its horrid isnt it. They get over so much quicker than we do though. They seem to get so big and then when you take mum away they suddenly seem so small again.

Just think next year Ghost will be nuzzling his own offspring - bet that doesnt happen often.

Kosmo's new owner cant take her until end Feb so she will be a very good 8 months by the time we wean her. Mischa is a very disinterested mother but always very happy to feed them. After they are a month old she seems to lose all protective skills and leaves it to the others to babysit her offspring. Maisie has naturally adopted her younger sister so I suspect that will be a harder separation. Think the foaling box is going to seem very crowded soon.