Foals and feeding? Please

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EquestrianFairy

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Hello,

Please dont shoot me down.

My foal is coming up to 4 months old, i have to feed mum happy hoof (with bute as her ringbone has flared up)
Ive not supplemented baby or mum but my foal eats grass mainly and soaked hay if they are in.. im guessing because mum eats it she assumes she should.
She only ever feeds from mum if shes thirsty it seems.

Now, i want to get her into some hard feed as she keeps trying to eat mums food and its causing issues.
Wha shall i get her? The vet said shes abit fat but theres not much i can do about that and she will grow it off but i dont want to give her anything that makes her fatter but i need to give her something so she knows she has her own feed and mum has her own feed.

See what i mean?

Help!
 
Hi,

I recently asked my vet the same question. I have been feeding my 3 month old foal mix (dodson and horrell as above) with a bit of alfa a mixed in. We don't have great grass up here at the moment. Vet said that was fine - I was worried about foaly going upright or getting some sort of Osteo-disorder but Vet reassured me this was unlikely unless feeding huge amouts (as some TB studs do?)

Anyway, foal is growing fine on this - she doesn't eat more than her fill though so I guess I'm lucky there!
grin.gif
 
I feed mine on a stud nut (currently countrywide own brand) because that what the mares are on and they are already eating out of mums bowl.

You should be careful about your foal eating out of your mares bowl if she is on bute because bute is actually dangerous to give foals i've always been told and should be used with extreme caution with foals, I don't want to panic you but maybe giving your mare her food raised up in a door bowl of something will keep it out of bubs way.
 
Thanks HG, i never let baby anywhere near mum when shes eating but it makes it easier when baby has her own little bowl with some munch as she seems very content with it.

My vet warned me about the dangers of bute to baby so i make sure im extra cautious. It helps that my greedy mare licks the bowl clean every time!
 
I just give my foals Baileys stud balancer as the grass is good so they dont need any cereals, why not just try a small amount of fibre nugget if she is already quite big to get her used to a feed that is not high in protein.
 
I feed all mine on varying amounts (according to size and need) of alfa a, sugarbeet, top spec comprehensive balancer and if they need fattening top spec cool condition cubes. It's a no grain formula and is ideal for youngsters. I rang top spec and they sent me loads of info regarding broodmares and foals/youngstock which helped, as well as advising me how much of what to feed. I'd give them a call.
 
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