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Message |
    
Virginia Carson
Neonate
Username: Gigic17
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 01:10 am: | 
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My pony mare may be starting to refuse her 2 day old colt. He was born 5/12/15 early am. When he started to nurse she was obviously displeased but allowed it. But through out yesterday and today she has gotten worse and is biting him and moving around when he tries to suckle. I tied her up today for several hours with water and hay to allow him some good nursing and resting time(she is so restless that she doesn't allow him to sleep either) When he nurses while she is tied she bits the wall of the stall and is very displeased. Can someone offer any advise. Should I keep her tied as often as possible to allow him more nursing time? Is it safe for me to tie her for long periods? How will I know if the foal is not getting enough milk? Is there anything I can give her that will quiet her and calm her down that is safe for the foal? Should I make all efforts including tying her to keep her nursing her foal or should I assume it is not working and try formula. He is nursing although very difficult for him if she is not tied and he is not getting much. When she is tied he is nursing very frequently and not incountering resistance that he cant overcome. Please help. I am more than a bit worried. |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Jos
Post Number: 10083
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 02:41 am: |
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Make sure that there is not a problem with her udder such as mastitis that is preventing the foal from nursing. This could result in a compounded problem, as the udder will fill with milk, get sore, and then the mare will anticipate the discomfort were the foal to nurse, and prevent the foal from doing what will actually (in the long run) make things better.
Probably worth a call to the veterinarian... |
Kim k
Weanling
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 38
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 08:38 am: |
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Yes, I too would call the vet, it will be worth the farm call out to either help the situation or for the vet to advise you what is going on will work itself out.
I don't think the tieing for long periods is hurtful providing the actual tieing situation is not hurtful to mom and baby , it actually sounds as it might be helpful for now. Make sure you get the mare out to walk her-- with or without baby(whatever works), she might develop some maternal instincts if she is seperated for a few moments, worrying about baby, alot of times the baby and mares will nurse apon being reunited. Make sure that you have water available so baby can reach it too. And sometimes restraint is necessary for a bit to allow baby to nurse.
Best of luck
Kim |
TX Breeder (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 199.3.209.143
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 10:38 am: |
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I support all of the advice above, with one suggestion; tie her up more frequently,versus longer. The foal will naturally nurse for short periods, many times during the day. Are you in a postition to do that? |
bonnie wood
Neonate
Username: Dixiemissieyahoocom
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 05:36 pm: |
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my mare is 14 years old and had her first foal on may 14,2006 she seams to be happy with the foal but she getting very nasty with everyone and thing. what can I do |
Jan Owen
Yearling
Username: 1frosty1
Post Number: 69
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 05:54 pm: |
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Bonnie,
I think that your mare is behaving the way she should. She is worried about her foal. I found with mine that food was a huge motivator for her and if I was going to spend some time bonding with baby I would put her ration of mare/foal and carrots in her feed bucket and she might give me a nasty look she was too busy eating to give me much trouble. As time passes they settle down and lighten up. What was it a filly or colt? Color? Come on we want the scoop! |
Ashley Lutz
Neonate
Username: Alutz
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 09:40 am: |
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I hope your mare is doing better. Maybe this will help others with the same question... I had a pony foal born on May 15th and my mare exhibited similar behavior. She didn't like him nursing but would permit him, though it was never for more than a minute. We could hold her and she would stand. She'd also chase him around the stall biting at him. She never kicked or really tried to hurt him. She did nicker to him at other times. I had the vet out checking another mare and she told me that in her years of experience (she's on the board for the equine hospital operated by UVA) she's never seen a pony mare reject a foal. She's seen two other rejects - both mares were maiden and had been orphaned themselves. She said that ponies are notoriously more disciplinarian and tend to be a little more like wild horses when in comes to maternal behavior. As long as the colt was active and the mare's udders didn't look overly full she said not to worry. Guess what? She was right! Within a couple of days mom was fine. Baby nurses well and is growing quickly. Having a good supply of hay worked (we had to give a lesser quality hay because our pony gets WAY too fat when allowed to free-graze on great hay). The vet suggested that if it continued to be a problem that we should put up a divider that the foal could escape under if mom was pesky. Foals will quickly learn to use this sanctuary when not eating. |
