Rescued mare ready to foal

[angelsdream]

I rescued this mare last night – she was in a stall full of crud where it hadn’t been cleaned it a while and apparently hadn’t been fed either. It’s sad and the worst part (besides her starving) is she is due to foal in a week or 2. The man bought her 2 months ago and she was fat and healthy, so in 2 months time, he’s starved her to this. We had to pay the man $800 for her because he wouldn’t come down any and he only paid $300 for her – but in his eyes, she was fine. We even called the state authorities and the lady who handles our area and they wouldn’t do anything. Said they’d check it out but they’ve got so many now, that they are not taking anymore in – but we said we’d take her – we just wanted her out of there asap. Somehow the money was scrounged up and we yanked her out of there. I knew she’d die if she foaled. It’s awful – she sure don’t look like she’s ready to foal but thankfully the foal is alive – after we got her home, I was grooming her and fed her and I guess the food got the baby moving around and kicking. So that’s good news!! I know once she foals, it’s going to be very hard cause she’s so poor now, and I know babies really pull a mare down so I’m sure we’ll be bottle feeding the baby.

So now we are focused on getting her back healthy – have the vet coming out to help guide us as this is my 1st starving case. Any advice or thoughts would help. She’s a super sweet mare – best ground manners. I groomed her last night and she just stood there – I guess she was happy to get some attention finally.

Pictures aren’t that good – all I had on me was a cell phone but we are getting better ones this evening

[Michelle Clarke]

You have a big heart Angel....you also have quite a project! You can feed her every few hours, small amounts, as her stomach may have shrunk quite a bit. If she has not been starved that long, she could come back rather quickly, but you are at a critical time in her pregnacy - hard to put weight on. Is she bagged up at all?

You are smart to already planning bottle feeding. If you could do that, plus let the foal nurse some and be able to stay with the momma, you'll save everyone alot of stress.

Add some alfalfa into her meals for sure. You might want to contact some good rescues for advice on how to handle this as they have alot of experience.

Be prepared for a thin foal and maybe a hard birth. Set up a vigil to keep an eye on her and alert your vet when you belive she will foal so they can be ready to come out if needed. I don't know if your horses are at home, but you can get a relatively cheap "security" monitor and camera from Radio Shack (like $100), that you can set up and either watch from the tack room or your house depending on building materials and distance.

Keep us posted.

[angelsdream]

Thanks Michelle for the tips and yes, we do have a project with her. I did speak with the vet today and she said the same thing you did - small meals every few hours. She is bagged up a little bit, not full sacs but I'd say half way - maybe we still have a week or 2 before birth, which would help a lot. Give us time to get some nutrients in her to help her. Her feet are awful - ate up with thrush which we didn't realize til we got to cleaning them out this evening, she has no frogs to speak of and her front feet are flared out like boats from no trim in months. We have the barefoot lady coming out soon to trim her and access her. She's such a sweet mare - I think all will be fine. She's drinking lots of water - which is a good sign I guess and is very alert and happy. She was running around today, so I think she feels good.

[DianneC]

She was probably going wheeee, free at last. Congratulations and good luck! Keep us posted on her progress. What breed is she?

[angelsdream]

She's a paint quarter horse. Wonderful horse - has the best ground manners. She is actually from the University of GA. They used her in ground manner classes, foaling classes, etc. so has been handled extensively. The stud she's bred to now is from one of there studs. She's 7 years old and would make a wonderful youth show horse as she's very pretty and the best personality.

[stlkigers]

What an idiot to do that to a mare.....I'd like to throttle him....God Bless you for saving her....It's so hard with the horse market down as it is to find room at local shelters....I bet that mare is profoundly grateful to you guys....Best of luck with her and the baby....Keep us posted....The cell phone pics look bad enough (meaning how skinny she is)...One thing that helped me with a really skinny horse was to take pictures every 2 or 3 days to then help me see the improvements...

Bless you Angel!

Angela

[stlkigers]

Angel:

Mare still doing fine??? Does she have a name?

Angela

[angelsdream]

Thanks for asking Angela. She's doing good. She's actually gained about 50 lbs. I think she was horribly dehydrated cause she drink so much water the first week we got her. We've named her Mamma "D". I had the barefoot farrier come out this past week and trim her feet up. She said it wouldnt take but about 3 or 4 trimmings and she'll be fine. She was great - just stood there the whole time and didn't give us any trouble.

Still no baby yet - which I'm glad, it will give her time to keep gaining weight until she has the foal. She sac'd up some a few days ago but then it went back down. We talked to the lady who originally bought her from UGA last year and she said she was exposed to this stallion April 11-25th. She's taken up with 3 goats that we put in the pasture with her as companion. It's so funny - when we had her out to do her feet, everytime the goats got out of sight, she'd nay for them. One day she was laying down and one of the goats was laying right in the middle of her legs sleeping with her. She's really a sweet mare.

I did take pictures but they are on another computer. I'll try and get some more soon.

[fantasykiger]

Bless you for getting this mare and rescuing her. She really sounds like a case that can get better, back on track and be a great horse with lots of years ahead of her. I am so happy to hear you were able to save her before her life was cut far to short. As well as the darling foal she is caring.

[stlkigers]

Angel:

I have to laugh about the goats....When I went to the Butterfield BLM Holding Facility (Salt Lake City) to tour it, the Sulphurs had just been rounded up and they had TONS of yearlings with strangles....And in the midst of the yearling pen, hopping from one napping yearling butt to another, was a goat....He was king of the hill! And later, after the siesta was over, the yearlings were gleefully chasing him....Art said that the horses really enjoyed the goat and vice versa....So glad to hear that your mare has companion goats...

Angela

[canadiankigers]

Angel:

What wonderful news!!!! It is such great news that she is doing better!!!! Can't wait to see the pictures of her and the goat. I hope you got a picture of her sleeping with it. She sounds like a real sweetie!!!! Please keep us updated on her progress.

Kelly

[desperatehorsewife]

Oh, Angel...you really are one!

[angelsdream]

Here's some current pictures of the mare we rescue'd! She's doing great, still no baby yet. We've been lucky with that so far - gives us more time to get her as healthy as we can. She looks 100 times better than she did. It's amazing how fast they start rebounding, horse's are truly survivors!

[fantasykiger]

Bless you truely...for bringing this gal home. You must have cleaned her up because she is looking nice and bright white I hope the baby can hold out until Mom is stronger and gained a few more pounds for you.

[mustangdara]

Looks like a nice medicine hat she has there...she must be special! I also hope baby can wait it out a bit longer so mom can get better.....she looks SO clean and white.