Tips on bringing mare back to work after weaning foal.

[ponynut]

It seems like forever since I was riding Tarot but it t is only since June- when we knew for sure about our bonus filly.
Kizmet was born 1/8/01 but because she has grown so much my vet advises she is weaned very soon and has given me loads of advice to avoid DOD which Kiz could develop if she stays with mom. This will begin on 1st Dec.
This weekend we are going to tack her up and mooch her round the school with her foal following to get her used to being tacked up again and a rider on board but has anyone any advice on getting her back to being a riding horse? She has lived out 24/7 since Oct 2000 including foaling so is still moderately fit. However work can only be done at weekends. Work gets in the way of fun!

This will be her only experience of motherhood for a good few years! An accidental but gorgeous resulting liaison with a just cut stallion a month before we bought her!

[ponyvet]

Take things nice and slow. she's going to be unfit and have forgotten lots of her training, so she needs a slow gentle reminder. lots of light slow work, walking and trotting, but avoid any fast work whilst she regains her fitness and becomes more supple.

otherwise I hope things go well with weaning. My weaniling is feeling very stressed out at the moment. Partly with being away from mum, partly being shut in a stable and can't see mum, and also as she can see all her other pony mates walking past when they go out for rides! only a couple of days left and I'll stick her back out!

[lamprellsarah]

yeah ponyvets right lots of slow work!!! when the foal is weaned maybe just take her for a short walk, in hand then maybe the next time ride her down the road and back, treat her as if she was a good newly backed horse, meaning just take it slow and remind her of how it used to workand what she is supposed to do
good luck !!