This message is from: Kathleen Prince [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hi everyone,
I recently joined this list and I also recently adopted a 9 year old
Fjord mare, Cassidy April. She is from a former PMU ranch in Canada
but I don't know that she was ever used in the barns. She came to us
the end of February and has been a dream come true. She is our first
horse and what a great girl to learn it all from, as she is loving,
calm and smart. She gave birth 3 weeks ago to a cute filly, Rebecca
Maye. This will be her last baby. Being new to the horse world I've
learned that there are at least 10 answers to any question I have.
She is at a boarding facility 2 miles from our home so the advice
from other horse owners has been appreciated.
The trouble I am having is getting everyone to understand she is not
like the other horses on the property, QHs, Paints, TB crosses. They
keep wanting me to feed her the same or more than the others get. I
would appreciate your input on this. She is currently getting 5
pounds (1/2 scoop 2x day) of feed per day. Before the baby she was
getting 2.5 pounds (1/3 scoop 2x). The feed is Safe Choice by Nutrena
and is 14% protein and 7% fat. The vet feels this is ok. She started
off on 2 flakes per day (like the rest) of T / A hay. About a month
before birth, I upped that to 4 flakes a day. She quickly became the
rock star at the barn and lots of people have given her treats -
apples, carrots, peppermints. While she was pregnant, she was rated
7.5 on the body condition scale. Since the baby was born she is down
to a 6. I can feel rib but not see them. I think she looks fantastic
and the barn owner keeps telling me she's skinny. She's just not big-
as-a-house-pregnant anymore!
Last week we went through a terrible bout of diarrhea with her. I
believe it was mostly from stress. We had to switch her turn out
times to in the barn during the day because the baby was having
trouble with our heat. She was cool under the fans but she was not
happy. She started eating the stall shavings, which she had done in
the beginning. I put her back out in the pasture 24/7 and got her
tummy under control with the help of my regular equine vet (meds) and
an acupuncturist. She is feeling much better now, though the heat is
doing a number on her but the baby has adjusted. While she was sick
she was even leaving hay all day long not eaten. Not her! Stress was
part and the other part is she needs her teeth floated - that is
being done tomorrow. She has a lot of pain in her mouth. I got her
some straight Canadian Timothy hay and that really perked her up.
I've probably been giving her 5 - 6 flakes a day since Friday,
keeping the feed the same amount, but with no supplements. My bale of
Timothy is about gone and she is now getting a mix of Timothy Oat
with a bit of Alfalfa. There is a huge debate in my barn about
feeding Coastal hay, the barn owner hates it and blames it for colic.
A couple boarders feed it and have never had a problem. Important
point is she has no grass for grazing unless I am able to bring her
out to the common yard for a walk. Her pasture is complete sand.
Questions for those of you experienced:
1. Should I increase her fat? If so, what is the best way.
2. Should I worry about her getting too fat since she's nursing or
just give her as much as she wants?
3. The baby is eating hay and trying to get to her feed, when is the
best time to offer her own food?
4. What are your thoughts on feeding beet pulp in lieu of one of the
hay feedings?
Thank you so much - We absolutely love this breed and can see us
having no other!
--
Kathleen Prince
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Pookie Bros. Pet Sitting
Professional Pet Care In Your Home!
http://www.pookiebros.com
The FjordHorse List archives can be found at:
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