Meet Alec's REALLY ugly new filly....

Desperate news Alec. Hope she gets better soon.

As others have said, might just be the galloping after the naughty baby on that concrete we call ground...

Might be the fertilizer that caused the laminitis, if that is what it is? With this drought, I've had to strip graze mine and give them hay for bulk because the sugar concentration in the little grass growth there has been is such that it's a bit like feeding them straight sugar cubes and they are all looking lardy...

Can't help with anyone upstairs, I'm afraid, even if I did own a prayer mat, but I will be thinking of you & your beloved Katie x
 
I have dug out the Prayer Mat and will include her whilst asking for a much simpler time with Twiglet (and a prettier foal, not that it would reflect on her anyway), Hope everything looks better in the morning, Oh and I put the pictures on facebook for you xx
 
Just an update, for those who've been kind enough to take an interest. After Katie was jabbed last night, she seemed so much more comfortable, and walked down the road, with her foal. She's been in all night, and now that the drugs will have worn off, whilst not totally recovered, she seems to be so much better.

My vet has done an internal, and she's entirely as she should be. Presumably that would discount toxic laminitis, as far as a uterine infection could have caused it?

Anyway, it seems to me that, if we need to get some weight off the mare, to encourage her to better utilise the grass, rather than store problems, then we run the risk of harming the foal, as far as her milk supply is concerned.

The foal is a little windswept, and my vet advises that she needs all the movement which she can get. He also advises that Katie needs as little as possible!! Catch 22!!

We have a minuscule and virtually grass free paddock, and the current plan is that she will go out there for 2 x 2hr stints a day, and then box rest, keeping a very close eye on her milk supply. From what I can see of it, she needs to get to the stage where the foal is starting to pull her down, a little, and being reliant upon hay, that should happen!

Ginnie, I take your point about fertilised ground, but the land where they are, has been untreated. It's land which we've used before, and never before had a problem with it.

Should anyone have any better ideas, I'd be pleased to hear of them!

Alec.
 
Oh Alec - I am soo sorry. A friend had a mare do similar (and been reared through pregnancy like yours) and whilst it took ages and remedial shoeing to take weight off her feet, she did pull through so fingers and toes crossed for you!
 
So sorry to read this Alec. I really hope your mare is doing better.

Congratulations on a lovely, strong & healthy foal.

She may not be THE prettiest ever (although I think she is gorgeous :D) but as an old horse woman always used to say to me 'Handsome is as handsome does' - our 'best ever' was an ugly man but fantastic in every other way and we still miss him!!
 
A further update, and it's a little more cheery!!

Katie is receiving a hand ful of mix, twice a day, with Bute. Apart from that, she's getting hay. The tiny paddock, where she's turned out, was rather poached during the winter, and is uneven, and uncomfortable for her. I actually think that she's just about sound, though that could be the Bute. The plan is to give her another week, or so, and then stop the Bute.

I'm convinced that the laminitis was caused by stress, and not by a particularly high feed level. I've had completely opposing views regarding the future. When I ask of those, who's opinions I respect, if having had the complaint once, will she now be prone to it, forever, then there seems to be no agreement!! A highly qualified vet, before I even finished the question, replied "Definitely"! I suspect that it's a risk which I'm not about to run.

Katie is now 15 years old. I would love to put her back in foal again, but if there is an increased risk, then I wont do it. She may well be something of a foal machine, but she's one that I'm very fond of. We'll have to see what happens next, I suppose. I need to do some serious research, for myself, and I'm wondering if others have read any broad spectrum articles or papers, on the matter. If you have, then I'd be pleased to hear of them.

Limitless the foal, is a delight. She's as bold as brass, and inquisitive. She has some little brown spots on her white face markings, and so as a stable name, we've decided upon Dot. When she's good, then that will be her name, and when she isn't, then it'll be Dorothy!! I know, It's a bit of a mouthful, but with luck she'll grow into it!

Again, thank you for your kind thoughts.

Alec.
 
Just read this thread, *phew* everything seems to be more positive! But what an ugly foal! TBH i think you should give her to me, that way people can ridicule me and not you :P i have space out of sight of the public dont worry :)

But honestly big congrates on a beautiful foal and wishing healing vibes to katy!
 
Alec, I have a friend who is an experienced breeder of Show Hunter ponies and one of her best broodmares had laminitis 8/9 years ago but with a very watchful eye she has continued to breed from her with no further episodes.

She feeds her mares including the laminitic throughout their pregnancy (all year round in fact) She feeds high protein, low carb and zero sugar.

The key is to keep the mare moving as soon as she is able; don't try to pull her down too much as she needs to repair her feet now as well as feed her foal.

There is an excellent book about Laminitis called 'Founder, it's prevention and cure' by Jaimie Jackson, you can get it on Amazon. It's a wealth of information.

Best wishes for your mare and (stunning!) foal.
 
Alec, I'm really pleased to know your mare is feeling better.

I've not had to deal with breeding and laminitics but over the years of kids ponies I amassed a great deal of experience keeping laminitic ponies sound and in work.

www.laminitis.org is a great site, it's the laminitis trust site and theer is a help line nimber which might be worth a call.
 
One of my vets is an expert on Lami and has kept up to date on all the latest research- his website is John the vet.

The nutritionists at Saracen horse feeds are excellent at advising on the right feed for every individual case- they also supply feed for all the top thoroughbred studs and have supplied feed for a few laminitic thoroughbred broodmares as well.
 
Thistle said:
.......www.laminitis.org.....
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Thanks for that, I 'phoned them, and they were very helpful.

foxy1, thank you, too. I'm aware of the risks attached to attempting to reduce the mare's condition, to quickly, and thereby damaging her milk supply system. It really is a Catch 22, position!! The foal is a little windswept, behind, and she still has rather wobbly legs. The windswept and curious action which she has, seems to be worsening, by being so restricted, I think.

As my vet has pointed out, the foal needs exercise, and the mare doesn't. I'm going to get my vet out today, and ask him to take a better look at the foal. Unfortunately, the needs of the foal come first, but I'll see what he says. Katie now seems totally sound, but all the advice which I receive, is that the mare needs at least a month of box rest, coupled with turnout to aid the foal. I'll see what my vet says, but I think that a compromise is on the cards.

Having done further investigation, it seems that as Laminitis is a condition, which can be brought on by any one of several factors, then she is at high risk of getting it again, and for any of the more usual reasons.

As you say, seabsicuit, the mare's diet needs very careful thought, and it's now attended too, I hope!

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
the mare needs at least a month of box rest,
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Alec there are different schools of thought on this, and there are those who believe that allowing the horse to move as soon as she is able will help her heal quicker. Problem with her having a foal at foot is that she will want to keep foal in check even when she would rather rest her feet! But the point of my post is, don't feel that you are harming your mare by turning her out as there are many who believe that movement is absolutely vital to healing a laminitic foot.
 
foxy1 said:
Alec there are different schools of thought on this, and there are those who believe that allowing the horse to move as soon as she is able will help her heal quicker. Problem with her having a foal at foot is that she will want to keep foal in check even when she would rather rest her feet! But the point of my post is, don't feel that you are harming your mare by turning her out as there are many who believe that movement is absolutely vital to healing a laminitic foot.
Click to expand...

I only hope that you're right, because for the foal's well being, I don't think that I have much choice! I suspect that as the foals hind leg action appears to be worsening, there is no other option.

Yet again, thank you for your support.

Alec.
 
Hi Alec only just seen this thread again, so sorry to hear about the mare, hope she carries on the road to recovery and that you manage to find a solution that suits both mare and foal.

Sarah and Simon
 
Can you wrap the mares feet and use frog supports, a centre from vet wrap with some still left on the roll, placed lengthways along the frog and tightly wrapped around the hoof with more vetwrap, works quite well. Turnout in a sand arena is ideal also, the sand supports the hoof.

Sallyf has a mare in to foal atm that has lami (belongs to a friend of mine) may be worth talking to her for some ideas.
 
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