should I supplement? ( is she pregnant?)

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elsielouise

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Can't decide if should call vet to have a look or if am just looking for things to worry about...

My four year old cob seems to have put on and be holding weight since I bought her in August. I reckon she's never had hard feed and has been kept on thin air 'til I got her. She isn't interested overly in the haylage I put out in the field tho was for a while a few weeks ago- recently have been throwing it away, she goes bonkers for a bit of chop and a few pony nuts twice a day and is living out on about 7 acres of marsh type, though plentiful grazing with my grown up mare.

My older WBxcob is also seemingly not too hungry but is holding good shape rather than gaining.

Both are in light work - hack 2x per week, lunge 2x and both living out.

Farrier reckons the grass is keeping them going but I bought the 4 year old from a dealer who imported her from Ireland and thinks it could be that she's more than seen a stallion.

Would you get a vet to see her particularly or just supplement her feed?

If she isn't pregnant which I think is more likely what should I give her to limit fat but ensure she is getting all nutrients?

My current plan is to wait until vaccination time in Jan and get her looked at then..

Am riding her lightly and she's fine but...??

Appreciate thoughts..
 
not sure i completely understand the situation -
if there is a chance shes in foal i would get the vet out to look at her
 
If she's been running with a herd in Ireland and you don't know any more than that I'd give the vet a call. It sounds like you've been thinking about it and if you're anything like me once the thought is in your head you'll need an answer or you'll keep worrying. if you're not experienced at breeding then I would say better safe than sorry
 
At this time of year a horse due to foal late spring shouldn't be getting too much extra and is OK to work (not too hard)

Why don't you just add something like Baileys Lo Cal to both of their feeds anyway, they probably could do with some sort of vit supplement as they don't need much feed.

I wouldn't worry about finding out now if she is in foal, it's not likke you can do anything about it anyway. Just get the vet to check in Jan, it's only a few weeks away.
 
Mine are all keeping weight well even though the grass looks fairly non existent. Normally I'd be feeding a bale of hay a day by now, but am only chucking a couple of sections out here and there and they've only just started showing interest in eating it.

Also, one of my New Forest ponies was hugely fat until after Christmas 2yrs ago. I was worried that the colt down the road had given her a seeing to! But, again, come January the weight dropped off.

Still, you never know!!!
 
Laugh all you want, but do the nail test on your mare.

It isn't a replacement for having the vet look at her of course, but I always test my mares before I call the Vet to scan and it is 100% correct every time, the sex prediction isn't always right but there's a 50/50 chance it could be.

Do the test on a mare that you know isn't in foal, or a gelding, then on your suspect mare, if the nail swings or circles on her then there is a distinct possibility that she is expecting.

My Vet thinks that I am a raving fruitcake, but the nail was right three times out of three this summer, within days of covering.

No harm in it.
 
If you think there's even a chance she could be in foal i would definately ask the vet to come out to examine her.

G_E what is the "nail test"?? lol
 
As a responsible owner you do need to establish whether she is in foal, so you can plan foaling, fencing, etc and also in case she needs medication in the event of any problems - a lot of medication is not recommended for mares in foal, as are combined wormers.
 
Thanks to you all for your input. I think I'm going to wait until next vet visit for jabs (Jan) and then get her looked at. Vaguely remember vet telling me it's too late to do a scan if she was in foal (don't know why) and that 'having a feel' was the only way.

I think a balancer will be on my shopping list at the weekend too but foaling and fencing probs are easily solved I'd send her to friend with a stud) so as long as she's well (and she is) then I reckon we'll hang on. I do think she's just a fat cob really.

Mind you, given the number of call outs I've had for my other mare I'll probably be calling vet long before January alas!
 
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