Mare Condition Update!

[Tremor]

I've posted a couple times about Honey and Bow, and mainly about my herd's previous feeding. (It was NOT good! Only hay and oats.)

Well, Bow is doing great. Currently, she is getting 1.5 lbs of Omelene. She is no longer bones anymore. Her ribs have filled in.

She doesn't look like that bad of a mare once you get past her preggo belly and her faults. (shoulder, back, sickle hocks, cow hocks, etc...)

My other mare, I spoke about previously. She is Connor's dam, and a possible dwarf. Either way, her conformation is horrendous. So...don't judge. She foaled an Oops foal in August (she was separated from the stallion but a family member let them out together. We didn't know she was pregnant until late May.) and her condition failed. She was skinny to go into 2010 to begin with, so a risky pregnancy and a hungry filly didn't help her any.

BUT, we FINALLY weaned her 8 month old filly off of her a month ago (the 20th of March). I continued to feed her regular amount of Omelene and in 2 weeks I was able to see her improvement. No more ribs, no more hips! Now, I've reduced her feed intake from 2lbs to 1lb. I'm hoping to knock her down to 0.5lb in about a month or so. Oh, and her bag has decreased down to its size from June (she started bagging up around 2 months before hand.)

NOTE: I know her fur looks like major heck. I had to use some lice treatment on her, and it burned her skin. My vet suggested I switch it to something else. She said it does the trick in one dose and doesn't burn! Plus, its cheaper!

Thanks guys! I must admit, this update is mainly for Ohmt, because she's one of the people who have helped me the most. But, I thought I would share with everybody on my leading ladies' progress!

-Julia

 

[Tremor]

Oh, I also thought that I would announce that we are stallion free!

We sold our stallion last Saturday to a nice older couple. So, now Bow's foal will be our very last! I am uber excited!

We only have two gelding and two fillies (plus the two mares) so no accidents!

 

[cretahillsgal]

They both look good! Especially Bow! You are doing a great job! I remember seeing her pics before and she is MUCH improved!

BTW, just curious, what did your vet give you to treat the lice?

 

[Tremor]

They both look good! Especially Bow! You are doing a great job! I remember seeing her pics before and she is MUCH improved!

BTW, just curious, what did your vet give you to treat the lice?

Thanks!

Previously, I was using Permectrin CDS. Do NOT use it! My vet used it for four years straight and it didn't get the lice away. I used it for two years (2010/2011). Still lice and it burns the skin. FYI!

My vet suggested that we use Clean Up. Its expensive in the big bottles, but very, very cheap when you buy it in the actual doses you need. We spent $2.80 on it which was enough to do one big horse. My vet said she used it and she's never had to deal with lice since!

Here's a link to the website. Your vet may be able to get a small dose of it.

http://www.kmgchemicals.com/kmg/clean_up.asp

 

[ohmt]

Aww Julia I wish I could give you a great big hug (i'm sending an electronic one, but they're never quite the same)! You have done such an amazing job with these two mares and I have loved being able to help. They both look so great.

I know i've said it before, but i'll say it again anyway- thank you so much for coming on here and asking questions and handling some critism in a very mature way. Your parents should be very proud; you are a bright young lady

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

You've done a GREAT job with them both!

 

[Tremor]

Thanks guys.

 

[cretahillsgal]

Thanks for the info on the lice treament Tremor.

And keep up the good work.

 

[Tremor]

I thought that I would bump this up for another update!

Bow:

Honey:

 

[ohmt]

Look at Bow's preggie belly!

I can't believe how awesome Honey looks. I think she is at the perfect weight for her. Can you put up before pictures for those that aren't familiar with them? I don't think some people realize how far these two have come.

 

[Tremor]

Look at Bow's preggie belly!

I can't believe how awesome Honey looks. I think she is at the perfect weight for her. Can you put up before pictures for those that aren't familiar with them? I don't think some people realize how far these two have come.

Thanks. Here's the before pictures:

Bow (July 2010)-

Honey-

For Honey I tried to find pictures that showed just how far we had come with her. I decided to break down and just post pictures from her pregnancy. She was a wreck. I will admit. Her hooves were a mess (last trimmed May 2010) and she was SKINNY! The pictures I chose were taken in late July and mid-August. Her hooves were slippers then. After she foaled we trimmed her hooves, and now we have what we have up above.

After she had Connor, up until weaning she was ribby. I could feel every rib; even though I had been upping her feed since January. She never gained weight until I separated Connor from her.

Here's a picture of her from last May (nearly a year ago and about 6-7 months pregnant):

In the above picture, you can tell that Honey looks twice as better now than she did then.

You can tell just how much we have improved in all aspects since Connor was born.

1. Gelding two colts

2. Selling stallion

3. Weaning Connor

4. Changing Feed

5. Slowly trimming Honey's hooves.

I don't know if anybody else would agree, but I would say that we have had a very successful 8 months. I don't ever want to go back to that. EVER! From the looks of how its going, I won't be! I would do ANYTHING to make sure that none of this doesn't happen again.

My parents recently saw Honey this past weekend and they both commented on how good she looked. I think that they FINALLY realize what ACTUAL horse feed, and not oats, does to a horse.

 

[Reble]

Great Job,

 

[Helicopter]

They both look great. Well done.

 

[ShaunaL]

Wow, you've done an amazing job turning them around, way to go! I'm very impressed by your dedication to learning and your committment to doing the best you can for them

 

[AnnaC]

Many congratulations - they both look great! Well done you.

Anna