Is this normal look for "new" momma

[Sandee]

This is a new mare and I'd like to ask if this is a normal look for a new (month old) momma?

In case it doesn't show, she has quite a belly but I think you can see her hip bones and back bone stick up. I was told she's been wormed and has her shots and eats (shares with baby) 4 flakes of grass hay a day plus 1 cup of pellet feed 2 x a day. She is a good mom and has a nice attitude. I'm just wondering if this is right? My first reaction would be to take her off that grass stuff and get something better into her.

Oh, that's baby up front. I have some color questions too but I'll put that in another post.

 

[ThreeCFarm]

My first reaction would be to increase her pellets, whatever they are, rather than taking her off the hay. As far as the belly, it depends on how many babies she's had. I can't see too much of her in the pic, though.

 

[dreamlandnh]

she looks like our mare after foaling. We feed beet pulp to get the weight back on. I feed it all year round to, to the horses.

 

[capall beag]

I think she looks thin. I have three mares all with 3 month foals at side. They all look great and I give them free choice hay, 5 cups of mare and foal vintage am and pm but their babies share this. I also feed a handful of BOSS. I was giving them beetpulp too but they were looking a tad hefty!! :lol:

I will go back on the bp in the fall.

When nursing I think they need a lot more calories.

 

[nootka]

I would re-worm per my vet's recommendation (don't take someone's word for it, there may have been any number of things that went wrong in that case), and increase the pellets, and as someone mentioned, beet pulp helps, too. The grass likely isn't going to help a lot, depending on the quality, something that is hard to tell w/out having it evaluated.

Seems like maybe the foal is getting a LOT out of her and this just happens sometimes. It does happen that mares do look dragged down from time to time, but this is just what I would go through given the information you have offered as well as the pic, which is hard b/c it's from so far away and all.

Use your fingers and feel her rib area, over her neck and armpit area. If all of these are bony, without pushing, then, yes, she is too thin. If you have to force your fingers through fat in these areas, then they are TOO fat, but usually a horse in good/perfect condition, you can slightly push and feel the bones, but not see nor feel them without pushing.

Liz M

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

How old is this mare, and how many foals she has had? I have a few older ones 17 and 19 yrs old, who had foals this year and they have always had a little bit of a hip and back bone showing even tho they get grained 2X's a day, have hay 24/7 are up to date with wormings ...and probably a few extra wormings..to be safe

: they also get beet pulp, and have there teeth checked regularly. My younger ones I dont seem to have a problem with at all. SHe is a cute little mare

: Are you going to the Shawano show this weekend? Corinne

 

[Sandee]

This is this mare's first foal and she's 9 yrs. old.

No I won't be going to Shawano as she's here for breeding and can't be gone that long.

 

[Gena]

We like the Buckeye GroNWin. Does she have pasture time? The grass seems to help them hold their weight better. Did you give her Ivermectin when she foaled?

 

[Sunraye Miniatures]

I would switch this mares grain to a specific grain for broodmares. Like Omelane 300, specifically for broodmares and babies. She needs more grain right now. Regular pellets isn't enough nutrition, especially just 1 cup.

 

[mmmorgans]

Everyone's postings have been very informative. I would like to just add one thing - have you had her teeth checked. Maybe she has some problems in her mouth which may account for her body condition. It would be worth having your vet take a look at her teeth just to make sure.

 

[coopermini]

We have one mare this year that just doesn't put on any weight. Most of her problem is she puts everything into milk. Baby is 3 1/2 months and growing and getting a little fat. Mom has been wormed and and her teeth are fine. She eats well, nearly free choice hay all day/night that is really good quality and has several hours a day pasture besides mare and foal grain twice a day. Now we do have several bred mares that are over weight and on a diet and still do not appear to be losing any weight. I kow as soon as baby is weaned shortly she will gain all of her weight back. Just can't let her gain it back too fast!

 

[Danielle_E.]

One cup of pellets is NOT ENOUGH!!! First off you need to be weighing her feed (grain ration). In my opinion she and her foal need to be on a "mare and foal" feed which most companies make, I know Purina does. It certainly wouldn't hurt to worm her again and you might like to add some beet pulp to her ration.

 

[Miniv]

I agree with Danielle. The pelleted grain is not enough. (We would up it to at least 4 cups or more...)

We also worm our broodmares within 24 hours of birth.......not all breeders do that.

Just what we do.

MA

 

[Ashley]

im a bit confused, do you own this mare or is she just there for breeding? If you dont own her you really shouldnt be posting pics of her and asking questions.

 

[Sandee]

im a bit confused, do you own this mare or is she just there for breeding? If you dont own her you really shouldnt be posting pics of her and asking questions.

Sorry, I was just concerned about the health of the mare and the foal that we're "making". These are nice people but I'm not sure how much they know about miniatures and I wanted to be able to give them the right advice. Since I'm not usually on the mare end of this breeding, I asked this forum where everyone has been always been so helpful.

I didn't mention the breeding since I knew someone would be upset over the picture of someone else's horse. Notice I did not mention the horse's name nor the owner's.