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]
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