Just when you think things are looking up!:(

[anotherdeal1]

Had the vet to look at my tb broodmare today she has a 4 week old foal at foot I've had her nearly two years and she has had recurring foot abcesses since I got her in every foot I've spent a fortune over that time with vet and farrier trying to get her right as she is such a beautiful mare since she has had her foal we have had her on painkillers as she was finding it difficult to walk again. Two days ago I realised she was getting worse despite the painkillers, she ended up by yesterday unable to move at all in the middle of our field we had to take buckets of water to her. Got the vet today and the news is not good her soles are just completely underrun with a serum it's not abcesses it's just irrepairable damage and to make matters worse she has stress lammi through the pain and pedal bones have now rotated, he has suggested we get the foal onto creep feed and wean him within the next three weeks and we really need to put the mare to sleep, I am absolutely heartbroken but need some advice (again!) am I going to need a little friend for him? Should I still give him milk replacer with the creep feed? If so should I bottle feed or bucket feed it? Am I doing the right things? (

[princessstacie22]

I dont have any answers for you AD1 but my heart goes out to you and if there is anything i can do, please let me know xxx

[anotherdeal1]

Awww thankyou Hun xxx

[hatman]

Gosh life has its ups and downs you poor thing and poor mare and foal.My friend had to have her mare pts when the foal was 2 days old. He had milk out of a bucket he is 2 now and big and strong. Thinking off you xxxxxxx

[PennyP4]

Heck, you have been through it with your neds the past coulpe of months.
Hope you get a good plan of action in place to give your foal the best start.
This is why I dont breed babies, I'm such a stresser, i'd be on my knees. So unfortunaly don't have any good advice for you.

[Deleted]

so sorry xx

[Julie(luke3)]

anotherdeal, I am so sorry about your mare

I am sure holiday and other people on here will be able to advise you on the best way to prepare the foal to get it eating and drinking strongly. I know it doesn't make it any easier, but you do have a little time to get the foal strong enough to cope.x

Big hugs x

[holiday]

Im so sorry to hear about your mare. You however are at a good point and over the worst with baby so dont worry too much!!!!!!!

Personally get mum and baby in with a small quiet friend asap so baby has a friend that he can play with and run too once mum has gone. Get him on some milk powdered feed and creep alongside mum so his tummy is used to it, at 4 weeks you are on a good settled time to introduce to a well grown baby, at 6 weeks if your mare can manage to go that long you are way on the road to weaning etc and will find it easier.

I would personally put him on some gastroguard to keep his tummy right on the change over and have some pro-koalin in for upset tummies.

We have found the best milk to be Horsepower made by Battles but other people have different views - its not too expensive and our little man has done really well from 4 hours old on it.

We have used D & H foal creep for Arthur and he looks well on what weve got him on. Please feel free to give me a ring at anytime if you want a chat. I will send my number via PM

Penny xxxxxx

[anotherdeal1]

Thanks everyone I woke up this morning and felt great - then I remembered! Vet coming with farrier today to put some shoes and pads on so we can keep her comfortable for a couple of weeks while we wean baby I'm starting to wonder why I bother with this!! On the plus side I think I might write a book called 'how not to breed!'

[lillicob]

So sorry about your mare. We have had a run of bad luck and i too sometimes wonder why we all put ourselves through it.

[lucyspin]

so sorry to hear about your mare i can't offer any advice but sending you hugs xxx

[becki2810]

so very sorry, thinking of you x

[bonnieheather]

Oh Anotherdeal, you're luck must change soon, so sorry to hear about your poor mare. I hope they can make her comfortable xxxx

[lisa]

have just read your post so sorry to hear about your mare, i found my mare dead in the field 2 weeks ago ruby her foal is doing really one of my other mares plays foster mum and i bucket feed her milk every 3 hours she spends her days in the field with the other mare and foal and comes in at night it was very dawnting to start with but much easier now hoilday gave me some fantastic advice listen to her for all the tecnical stuff and trust your instinct if i can be any help please pm me

[holiday]

Lisa im thrilled to hear the news on your little Ruby pleased that everything is going so well!!!!! Hope things have improved a little with your mare today anotherdeal and she can help you for a little longer.

[suzee]

Can't offer any practical advise but best wishes,hasn't been your year.

[Cobbler]

Your little one will befine, I had one orphaned last year at 6 weeks, I fed him and he had a friend to play with and an old Nanny mare. I got some advice from the foal bank . I used Hosepower milk and Baileys creep.

So sorry about your mare, I hope you can get sorted as soon as you can so she doesnt suffer too much, such an awful situation for you to be in.

[stormyskies]

God bless you! What a time you having!

No idea but sending lots of hugs your way.

On a different note, I think holiday deserves a mention for all the patience and great advice she gives us!

[anotherdeal1]

Hi all thanks for your replies, the mare was looking a little better after having shoes and pads put on on Friday but had gone very much downhill again yesterday even on two painkillers a day vet is coming back to see her today so we shall see:(

Big thanks to holiday for her advice on the phone on Friday. Xxxx

[vjc]

So sorry to hear you are having even more troubles sending healing vibes for your mare.xxx

[holiday]

Thats really kind of you to say - thank you!! However if us breeders cant pull together and help to the best of our abilities we all learn new things every year and the best way we have "personally" coped with things and mistakes weve made which benefit others not to do the same!!!!!!!

Im far from a "people" person I live for my horses and my breeding programme. I had some hard lessons learnt but some fantastic gains from everything we have done over the years.

I am also the first to hold up my hand and say, im stuck whats the best way forward. We have fabulous support from the stud vets Jenny East and Gary Kelly who are fantastic and the stud we use Metheringham Upton Stud, who we work alongside. They are the people who need thanking really Who also put up with my stupid questions!!!!!!

[sparkle]

Oh Anotherdeal I'm so sorry to hear this I havent got any more advice but just wanted to send hugs and positive vibes your way xx

[deejay]

I am so sorry to read this anotherdeal1. I have also had an orphan foal at 4 weeks old. His mum was my favourite mare and was struck by lightning and found dead in the field. the foal was very panicky and running round her. We successfully reared him by starting him with powdered foal milk from a bowl, then progressed to a bucket and then gradually introduced foal mix. He was not turned out with the other mares as I was worried that he would get hurt, so he went in the paddock next to them with a lamb for company. They were great friends and he was turned out with the other foals when they had been weaned. It did cost a lot of money for the milk powder and took up a lot of time until he was taking milk from the bucket ad lib. He was drinking milk until 4 months and then had milk powder in his feed for another month.

If I can be of any help, please pm me. Very best wishes.

[ponymum]

oh poor you< but more so your little foalie, and mum Im sure with all the experience the other breeders on here have, you will be well prepared and advised....Best of luck, crossing everything for you xxxx

[oldbag]

What a tragedy, and poor you having to watch the mare suffer because you're trying to give the foal a good start - that has to be a hard set of choices to make day by day

My nearest experience was having to put down a mare just a few weeks short of foaling because it wasn't fair for her to go through any more, it was heartbreaking both losing the mare but also feeling guilty about the foal not having a chance.

We can only ever do what we think is the right thing for them and the best we can manage ourselves. Whatever you do or have to do, best of luck to you..

[pattendown]

you are having a terrible time with your horses this year but please dont think it will b like this alll the time i lost 2 foals last year and the whole herd had the ehv 1 virus so this year i was terrified but so far everything is ok ,,,your poor mare it must be horrible to watch it but the little foalie will get through it with your help and you will look at him in the coming months and theink i did that and your heart will fill with pride ,,alot of good advise has been given ,good luck and im so sorry for your poor mare

[vjc]

Holiday we use the same vets!!! they have been my vets for over 20yrs. Jenny was there for me when i lost Tara a few weeks ago.
I really hope there is some improvement soon anotherdeal 1, I really feel for you, so much stress in one year!((((hugs))))

[holiday]

Aug 17, 2010 14:55:20 GMT vjc said:

Holiday we use the same vets!!! they have been my vets for over 20yrs. Jenny was there for me when i lost Tara a few weeks ago.
I really hope there is some improvement soon anotherdeal 1, I really feel for you, so much stress in one year!((((hugs))))

VJC Jenny is just the best !!!!!!!!!! Next time you see her tell her youve been speaking to Penny She will just say - yep thats the potty one lol!!!!!!!!! She is just the best person for any problems in the world!!!!!!!!! and the best stud vet ever!!!!!!!

Sorry anotherdeal we took over the thread however if you can persuade Jenny to come.........................

[anotherdeal1]

Lol I'll let you all off since your all so lovely!!! Xx

[cgreen]

how u doing anotherdeal1?