This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
No, the two are not related. However, I wish to respond to both subjects. Regarding contracted tendons on foals: We had this happen to our first two foals (both from the same mare and stallion). The first foal (a colt) our vet used leg splints on. The foal was very accomplished at romping in them - they didn't slow him down a bit. He grew up to be a fine horse with straight legs. The second foal (a filly) was a bit less contracted, so we used "physical therapy" on her - the same as is used to stretch human tendons. Two or three times a day we stretched her legs - hold the toe in one hand and gently stretch the knee backwards with your other hand. Just a few stretches per leg each time. Her legs straightened out in about a week and she is also a fine mare with straight legs. We began to wonder why this mare was giving us foals with contracted tendons. Our vet had read a paper which suggested that giving the mare too much supplement during gestation might be part of the problem. So we cut out the "Mare Plus" supplement and just used a regular supplement meant for all horses (and at the rate for regular horses) the next time. Result: Same mare and stallion, no contracted tendons. We have not had any foals with contracted tendons since then. The mare goes back on Mare Plus or Mare and Foal supplements as soon as she foals. Regarding buttercup: Here in the Pacific Northwest we have buttercup of every kind everywhere! To eradicate it would be a joke! Our horses do not eat it - or only eat a bite here and there - and we have never had any problems with it. It will be reduced in your pastures if you keep it mowed - it does not like to be mowed we have found. Other than that we leave it alone, and so do our horses. There are some things even Fjords are generally too smart to eat. Even our horses in pens with no grass leave it alone. There are large clumps growing within easy reach and they never bother it. I assume our Fjords are not just smarter than other Fjords. Trust your horses to be smart enough to know what to eat - watch what they really DO eat - and act accordingly. It can save a lot of work. Mary === Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com