Working mare with foal at her side

[kisskat7601]

I want to start putting my mare back into LIGHT riding,,,like just walk very little trot. I did hop on her a few weeks ago and she spooked and silly me got dumped. So,,, what i wanted to do is lunge her first, I do have a round pen available so that I can free lunge her. I wanted opinions on if it's ok to free lunge her with the baby at her side. I thought it may be benificial to the foal to get a head start,,, The foal in 2 months now, Thanks

[P8ntCrazy]

You can either turn them together in the round pen an try working them and see how it goes. Works with some and not with others. You will just have to make it short sessions as to not tire out the foal. Or depending on the foal and how much he has been worked with you could tie it near the round pen or put the foal in a pen near the round pen. My foals do fine as long as they are in sight of the mare and I have a stall that is near the round pen. After about a week or so I start leaving the foal in the stall and begin working my mare. There will be calling when you first start doing any of this but they get over it rather quickly. Once the mare is doing good and I have the foal halter broke and leading well (around 3 months or so) I start ponying the foal at moms side. I normally work in short intravels again as to not tire them out. But by month 3 I take the mares out without the foal or the foal out without the mare. This way by weaning time Its not such a big deal and I am able to remove the mare to another location until she is dry. Hope This helps