One of my mares goes lame after we wean her foals. This has happened twice now. The mare and foal run in a pasture all summer without any additional feed. At weaning (around 5-6 months) I bring them home and feed them both grass hay for a few days befor I pull the foal off. I continue to feed the mare grass hay for a few more days befor turning her back out to pasture. Within one day of pulling the foal off she is lame, acts like a founder type lameness. It can take her up to a week to get better. She is a heavy milker and I was wondering if I could do something this year to keep this from happening. I am affraid that over time this reaction could cause major problems.
Karen Moon (209.206.253.86)
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 02:18 am:
Ann, Since your mare is used to being out in the pasture, is it possible she could be a little arthritic? If you are confining her in a small area when she's used to getting alot of exercise perhaps she's getting sore. I also had a mare act as if foundering a couple of years ago and it turned out to be thrush. So now when I have to bring her in off of pasture to a corral type situation I always make sure to keep her feet cleaned out and keep a bottle of thrush-x handy. Don't know if this will help or not, but, just a suggestion.
Ann (207.177.53.87)
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 01:41 pm:
Karen, I will keep an eye out for thrush, I had not even thought about that. The pen we put the mares in is quite large so I don't think that it is from not moving around enough. This seems to be a toxicity problem although I can not say that for certain. Her udder swells from taking the faol off and she is lame. Then as the swelling goes down and she drys up she is better. My concern is the damage that this could be causing. Is there some kind of a safe shot for mares that will cause them to dry up faster? (safe in that you can give it to a bred mare)
Kelly (63.172.47.201)
Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2002 - 05:36 pm:
Ann- You might try expoising the foal to hay or feed for a month before you wean. That way, the foal can creep feed for awhile and not be as demanding on the mare.
I would bring the mare and foal up a bit earlier this year. Do you have access to a pen at the pasture, where you could curtail their grazing for part of the day? That would be an ideal situation in which to introduce the hay. This will help the mare acclimate to the weaning, change in feed and sudden lack of nursing.
deb (12.149.180.240)
Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 05:50 pm:
I have a 3 month old colt that when he is walking away from me I can see him lose balance. It's as if his leg has buckled or maybe its in his back. I can stand beside him and push him sideways and he doesnt fall or anything but he isn't solid. Will he grow out of this. He runs with the other babies, but they seem to have more energy.
Deb Blacketer (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.96.60.167
Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 04:27 pm:
I have a six mo. old colt that has lost a lot of weight and is very weak in the hind end. Could this be a vit defiency I am really at a lost.
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