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Post by bramblesmum on Jan 8, 2011 13:52:37 GMT 1
Hi all I have been away for 11days and left my horse being looked after by a friend whos son rides her regularly and who is relatively experienced in horsecare.
However on coming home I have found 5 of the 11 haynets I made up still there and pony was thrilled to see me with a net yesterday, she is pregnant due in June and i am concerned the lack of feed could have caused her problems.
Is this likely? She is out in a field but the bushes are bare and there is only very short grass, she normally gets 5 sections of hay a day???
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Post by julz on Jan 8, 2011 14:01:59 GMT 1
Honestly dont know, but maybe a chat with the vet could make sure all is well?
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Post by jen1 on Jan 8, 2011 14:09:28 GMT 1
The foal will be fine as she will be, the foal if anything will have taken some of her reserves so to speak, mare foal down with healthy foals with no care at all all the time, if you are worried speak to a vet,
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 8, 2011 14:10:17 GMT 1
 Of course it's not ideal, but if the mare looks well then you should be ok. The fetus takes everything from the mare it needs to grow and if she had been underfed to a dangerous extent it would show in her condition. Even if she has lost weight the foal should be fine. As she is not due to foal until June, the fetus is tiny at the moment anyway and as long as she gets maintenance rations and a vitamin and mineral supplement she will be fine until the last 3 months, when her protein requirements rise considerably as the foal does 75% of it's growing in that period 
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Post by bramblesmum on Jan 8, 2011 14:15:21 GMT 1
Thanks guys I am going to weigh her today as was dark last night shes on formula 4 feet as well as alfa a and her hay and has been doing well on that, just was concerned and panicking lol, needless to say they wont be left in charge again.
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 8, 2011 14:15:22 GMT 1
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Post by bramblesmum on Jan 9, 2011 23:00:34 GMT 1
Thanks SS weighed her today and she has lost about 30kg which is somewhat concerning, shes now what I would consider verging on underweight, would you consider upping her hay to see if her weight can be increased a little?
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 10, 2011 8:52:37 GMT 1
Well if she was mine she would be having hay adlib I wouldn't want a brood mare losing weight as it means the foal is taking more than you are giving her. Perhaps more Alfa A or the addition of something like a Pasture Mix would be a good idea. The main thing is how does she look ?
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Post by jill on Jan 10, 2011 9:19:35 GMT 1
As all of the above, but as with any animal there are more complications from being over weight than under - underweight can usually be put right fairly quickly. Try and make sure she isn't fat, at least up to the last 3 months which is when the foetus develops fairly rapidly.
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 10, 2011 10:05:50 GMT 1
Jill just to say I am soooo pleased to see that I wasn't mad when I originally spelt foetus with an "o" Blimming American spell check plus the article from the link I posted  I should have listened to myself lol
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maislow
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,815
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Post by maislow on Jan 10, 2011 10:43:59 GMT 1
For me I would want her on adlib hay too & I would up her feed a bit too & maybe add some oil to her feed.
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Post by bramblesmum on Jan 10, 2011 10:45:36 GMT 1
She looks tucked up around the belly and hip, but not to the point that screams neglect just more than she would normally be, is perky in herself and coat is healthy?
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Post by mandal on Jan 10, 2011 11:20:20 GMT 1
Great link SS3.
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Of course it's not ideal, but if the mare looks well then you should be ok. The fetus takes everything from the mare it needs to grow and if she had been underfed to a dangerous extent it would show in her condition. Even if she has lost weight the foal should be fine. 
I should have listened to myself lol 
