Underweight rescue due to foal in 2 weeks!!!

[Guilherme]

@Lily pearl

Here’s some photos of her condition, including her terrible feet. Apologies if these upset anyone.

Mare needs some TLC to be sure. I start with the BEST quality grass hay you can get. Adding some alfalfa would not hurt. Adding a very good quality prepared grain feed starting with modest amounts and ramping up as fast as you dare. Adding oil is another way to add calories quickly. The reason you NEED to do this is because once lactation begins a mare’s nutrition needs really rise (will double over daily needs in many cases). If she’s wormy or has other gut issues you’ll have an inefficient conversion of food. That means more input to get the same output.

I’d also plan on having milk replaces and maybe colostrum replacer near at hand once the foal hits the ground.

Last, and far from least, a mare with sore feet won’t feed well. Prompt and correct foot care may even be more important than anything else right now.

You certainly have a “full plate” right now. Best of luck to you in this project.

G.

[Green_pastures]

OK, so vet has been this morning. Was given the go ahead to start her on a high fat balanced diet, starting at 3kg/day and gradually increasing to 6kg/day. We also have milk replacers(have to order in colostrum so won’t be here for a week unfortunately) and have vaccinated her for tetanus(at vets directive). Will be trimming her feet today and will see how bad the cracks are.
She has been carefully introduced to my big boy to keep her company(my nanny gelding/has kept all my other rescues company), and shes been noticeably calmer since they’ve been together.

And best news of all - nil worm burden!!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Great update. Glad she has a friend to keep her company now. Keep us posted on her progress. Can’t wait for baby pictures!

[2tempe]

She is a lucky mare to have landed with you. And it looks like she will be a pretty mare when she gets some weight back on. Follow up pics of her and foal are required:yes:

[hoopoe]

I really enjoy stories like this because I feel I learn so many new things…

OP I hope your forward journey is filled with happy surprises.

Do check a few more fecals before and after the foal

[Green_pastures]

Good news and bad news and an ask.

Bad news:
Another mare(from the same stud) arrived this morning.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Good news: she’s in better condition than the previous mare, and is slightly younger and at only 9 months of pregnancy, although she’s still way skinnier than my own mare who is at 7 months! Other good news, the original mare has perked waaaay up, and nickers when I walk past.

The ask is, does anyone recognise what this is in the photo below? I had thought it might be scarring but it’s not scabby, it just seems like a discoloured and hairless patch of skin. Vet is equally unsure.

Thanks!!

[erinmeri]

The picture is small on my phone, but it looks a bit flakey. Maybe ringworm? Of course it could be just a rub or could be something else but if you don’t want to culture it, and since ringworm presents in a variety of ways (typically hairless, often flakey, usually localized), I would ask vet if it wouldn’t hurt to treat with a topical antifungal safe for pregnant mares to see if that helps.

These mares are so lucky to have landed with you!

[JB]

Ringworm or the start of a sarcoid would be my guess.

[Didi]

Wishing you the best of luck. so many jingles coming your way and bless you for what you are doing for these poor mares. You are a Godsend.

[kookicat]

Sugar beet pulp and oil is my go to for adding weight. I make it quite wet and let them have it ad lib. You could start off with a cup (dry) and a small amount of oil and gradually increase.

[paint_hunter]

High on my list of differentials would be a sarcoid (occult form)

[hoopoe]

I would not worry too much about the skin on an undernourished horse. Looks like it could be a sarcoid. Give this horse a few months of quality nutrition and then assess if needed.

[hoopoe]

Lily, how are your ladies doing?

[SuzieQNutter]

I also would not rush to put her out in a herd. I have no experience with foals but do with calves. If she was a cow I would say do not try to feed her up too much. The goodness will go to the calf not to her and then you can have calving problems with the calf being too big for the cow to have an easy birth. I presume it would be the same with all 4 hoofed animals.

[JB]

It’s not all the same though, it can be “dangerous” to think that

Many studies have shown that the mare’s uterus size does a very good job controlling birth size. Of course there are exceptions, some stallions are known to produce large foals, some mares have a narrower pelvis and have trouble regardless, and sometimes yes, a foal does get too big (potentially an issue with the fescue endophyte causing a delayed foaling).

Of course, don’t aim for, or be ok with a fat mare, that’s not healthy no matter what, but can add complications to foaling.

Feed the mare for proper nutrition based on her stage of pregnancy, and feed according to her calorie needs

[WildLittleWren]

Any update on your girls?

[Green_pastures]

Hey, sorry for the slow updates, busy with exams and work - my feed bill has doubled because of these two! Will post some pics soon but they are improving well. Shedding their long winter coats and looking very patchy but they are actually quite nice underneath it. Mare 1 is fully bagged up and very restless so hopefully a baby soon!

[Didi]

You are doing a wonderful job! Jingles on continued improvement for the mares and healthy foals!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

When did the vet estimate her to foal? Can’t wait to see the baby! She looks like a different horse.

[Biscotti]

Subscribed to this! Can’t wait to see the baby