QuestionHELLO TONI,
HEY....I KEEP HEARING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LET YOUR MINIATURE HORSE GET AHOLD OF THE FESCUE GRASS...WHAT MY QUESTION IS . HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT GRASS OR NOT...OR WHATEVER THIS IS... ? AND WHAT SHOULD I STOP FEEDING THE MARE THAT COULD HAVE THIS IN IT...
AT THIS MOMENT I AM FEEDING MY MARE SUPER HORSE 12 8 / ONE AND ONLY (EQUINE ONE ) / ALFALFA CUBES AND HAY....SHE DOES GET ABOUT 3 HOURS A DAY ON GRASS OUTSIDE OF THE STABLES BARN....OTHER THAN WATER SHE IS NOT GETTING ANYTHING ELSE....THE HAY IS TIF 85...KINDA MORE LIKE STRAW BUT THAT IS ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME..SHE REALLY DOES NOT LIKE IT.....JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD BE FEEDING HER .. OR DOING FOR HER....SHE HAS ABOUT 4 WEEKS OR LESS TIL FOAL TIME...I BOUGHT THIS MARE BREED AND NOT AN ACTUAL DATE...I AM WORRIED THAT I GOT MYSELF AND HER INTO MORE THAN I CAN HANDLE...I AM TRYING NOT TO SEE IT THAT WAY BUT WITH ALL THE READING ALL ANYONE HAS TO SAY IS ALL THE NEGATIVE WARNINGS AND FAILURES.....SO STRESSFUL IT IS FOR ME AND I AM SURE MANY PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THIS WAS TO BE A EASY THING OR SO THAT IS WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE...........SORRY FOR WHINNYING BUT I HAVE BEEN READING FOR THE LAST 3 HOURS ON ALL THIS MOMMY AND FOAL TIME AND I AM STRESSED, TIRED AND OVERWHELMED...THANKS..SUE
AnswerHi Sue-
Thanks for your question and I feel your pain! I went through the same thing when I first started breeding horses and in fact, took them to other barns experienced in foaling when I started out. All of these mares had perfectly easy births with no issues which they would have done at home and later did.
That being said- sure things can and do wrong. The majority of births are uneventful or horses would be an endangered species. Ideally mares should be taken off fescue at least 60 days before birth if there is fescue in the pasture due to a fungus that can cause problems. I'm sure you have read all the bad things that can happen but in reality usually don't. I am not familiar with TIF 85 but usually a feed store or hay supplier can tell you what their hay is. I like orchard or timothy mixed with alfalfa. I supplement with alfalfa cubes, as well, when I can't get real nice hay. As little as you need, you should be able to get a nice bale or two from a feed store (call around) but it sounds as though you have a pretty good handle on things. There are commercial mare and foal feeds, as well.
You should have her vaccinated about 30 days prior to foaling as well as worm her at least 7 days before her approximate due date (Safeguard or Panacur is good). Keep an eye on her (check her teats and milk dripping or a waxy build-up will tell you when she's near) and have your vet on call and you should be good.
Your vet needs to come when the baby is born to do a SNAP test and can check them both at that time. Be sure to have iodine for the umbilical cord right after birth and your vet may want you to save the afterbirth for examination. They can answer a lot of questions over the phone. Mine had me do an enema and worm the baby. A good vet office should be able to help you over the phone and determine if they need to come.
Don't stress, just be watchful and ENJOY! It is the coolest thing in the world! Hope this helps. Best, Toni
