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Re: [RC] epiphysitis - heidiHeidi, What is this? I have a mare with a 4 month old by her side. The mare is really losing weight but the baby looks great. What should I do? I don't want to wean the baby. The main reasons for mares losing weight when nursing are bad teeth and inadequate or poor quality forage. I know this sounds crazy to some, but I've actually taken thin nursing mares that were on high grain rations and have taken them clear OFF grain and put them on free choice GOOD quality hay, and have had them gain weight, even while still nursing. I DO think there is some degree of breed difference with regard to being able to maintain during lactation, but I also think that this is another one of those situations that happens when the mare herself is not raised with sufficient forage and never fully develops her OWN hindgut! Can't say whether that is the case with this mare or not, but mares who come from high-concentrate management do have a MUCH more difficult time maintaining weight during lactation, in my experience. I'd definitely suggest checking this mare's teeth, as others have mentioned. But I'd also agree with the other posters who have suggested that it is just fine to wean the foal at this point--particularly if you have other horses that will "mentor" the foal. At this stage, the main thing that mama is providing is socialization--the foal is perfectly capable of living on a good quality forage diet already. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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