She over 5 months old now and it was time--probably past time--so we separated Lovey from her mama on Sunday morning. I expected the mare to be bad and I did expect the filly to be upset. And they were.
Today is day 4 and this morning it seemed like things were getting worse instead of better. Mama is fine about the whole thing and her bag is drying up nicely. Lovey is a whole 'nuther story. She's been furiously angry. The filly I could brush and lead and scratch anywhere and walk up to in the pasture was replaced by this wild thing I could not get near!
This morning, still unable to lay a hand on her, I carried the feed into the stall and got body-slammed into the wall. When I brought the hay, I got both hind feet. I was quick but not quick enough. She nailed me with one hind foot on the thigh of my right leg. Then she proceeded to throw herself against the stall walls. I yelled at her, long and hard, and she sorta froze there and stared at me but at least I was able to get out in one piece.
I was expecting even worse for tonight, but she surprised me. This time when I opened the stall door, she just stood there. I took hold of her halter and let her eat out of the bucket, then led her to the feeder, dumped the feed and led her back to the door. Gentle as a lamb. Repeat performance for the hay and the water. All sweet and quiet.
Mama meantime has come into season and spent the afternoon teasing my stallion across the fence. It's hot wire and he respects its "bite" so he did not challenge it. But obviously the filly is the LAST thing on mama's mind right now. She doesn't even bother to answer when the filly calls to her.
Hopefully all of this means we have turned a corner and the worst is over, cause I am getting too old for this sh-t! Even her daddy wasn't this bad to wean!
Rusty
Today is day 4 and this morning it seemed like things were getting worse instead of better. Mama is fine about the whole thing and her bag is drying up nicely. Lovey is a whole 'nuther story. She's been furiously angry. The filly I could brush and lead and scratch anywhere and walk up to in the pasture was replaced by this wild thing I could not get near!
This morning, still unable to lay a hand on her, I carried the feed into the stall and got body-slammed into the wall. When I brought the hay, I got both hind feet. I was quick but not quick enough. She nailed me with one hind foot on the thigh of my right leg. Then she proceeded to throw herself against the stall walls. I yelled at her, long and hard, and she sorta froze there and stared at me but at least I was able to get out in one piece.
I was expecting even worse for tonight, but she surprised me. This time when I opened the stall door, she just stood there. I took hold of her halter and let her eat out of the bucket, then led her to the feeder, dumped the feed and led her back to the door. Gentle as a lamb. Repeat performance for the hay and the water. All sweet and quiet.
Mama meantime has come into season and spent the afternoon teasing my stallion across the fence. It's hot wire and he respects its "bite" so he did not challenge it. But obviously the filly is the LAST thing on mama's mind right now. She doesn't even bother to answer when the filly calls to her.
Hopefully all of this means we have turned a corner and the worst is over, cause I am getting too old for this sh-t! Even her daddy wasn't this bad to wean!
Rusty
