Donna
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2003
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 0
Most of you do not know me or my farm, but others do. I am not writing this to be critisized, this is information for all of you to learn by. NOTHING MORE!
I have been breeding for some time and have never had a mare to abort or red bag. I have only once had trouble with a mare foaling and that was my very first mare that labored here. I take very good care of my horses and pay special attention to my mares.
In Virginia we have a problem with Fescue grass. Fescue is NOT a forage that you want to feed your mares in the last tri-mester of their pregnancy. For years I have had to buy special hay for them during that time. It is not the fescue that is the problem so to speak, but the mold that grows on it. That mold is TOXIC to the mare and causes the Placenta wall to thicken. The mold also causes the mare NOT to produce milk ( hense the importance of COLOSTRUM ). The toxins also cause the foal to be larger than usual and can prolong the days of gestation. NOW FOR MY STORY
Every year around September, October I go on a shopping spree to find a supplier for my hay. I have been burned by allot of hay salesman in the past promising me they would have my hay when I needed it and then selling it during the hay shortages to make an extra buck. Hense, leaving me shopping again.
This past fall we went ahead and erected a barn just so we could put up enough hay to carry us through. I went shopping! I found a supplier that assured me he had some really good Orchard Grass hay, My hay of choice. I stressed to him that I raised Miniature Horses and that there could no be any FESCUE in the hay.
He replied to me he had been in the hay business for many years and that he and his son knew their hay. He said that he had invested allot of money into this business and was servicing horse and cattle owners all over. He said that the hay he was going to bring me was really nice stuff and that everyone was demanding it. I set up the appointment for delivery.
The hay arrived when I was at work and Buster was here to help unload it. When he noticed the hay looked differant, he asked about it. The reply he got was unusual but the man insisted it was really nice Orchard Grass hay. When I arrived home later that day, Buster told me that I should come look at this hay we got, it really looks weird. I took one look at called the supplier. I asked him just what kind of hay was this that he had brought me, I told him that is was very fine, like 4" needles, almost like pine needles. When I questioned the supplier about the funny apearance, he said that the hay blades were rolled because of the weather and when it was bailed. Every question I had for him, he had an anwer waiting for me, no hesitation, sounded like he knew his stuff. It was very green and pretty but the stems or blades were rolled funny. He explained to me that it was Orchard Grass Hay, some of the finest in the state, it came from a very repllicable farmer in the Valley. He said it I did not want it he would come and get it, he said that he stands behind his hay and that he had a very high demand from other horse people for this hay, " They love it!".
After a week or two, the more I looked at the hay and handled the hay, I still had some question as to whether it was Orchard Grass or maybe even Timothy? I called the supplier back and asked him if there was anyway that his son that delivered the hay could have gotten it mixed up with another batch, I stressed my concerns again that this was not Orchard Grass Hay, again he convinced me it was.
I decided to take a sample up to the county Extension Agent to be analyzed. The agent called me later that day and told me that even though the texture was different the hay was Orchard Grass. So with that I went ahead and fed my girls.
On Saturday, February 3d, my Lady went into labor. She had the infamous RED BAG. She had no MILK. I was checking mares daily and did find it strange that only a couple were starting bags and mares were due to start foaling soon. Last year I had some mares that sometimes got their bags the day before foaling or even directly after foaling, so I did not think much of it until Lady. I do not want to go into the horrors of that labor, but I just want to say, Lady did not make it and I never got to see her foal, as it was never delivered.
On Monday, I was feeding and I put my hands around a big batch of hay to feed and I thought to myself, RED BAG, NO MILK, I am going to have this hay checked out again by another agent from another county. I took a sample over to the agent and within 30 minutes he called me and told me to get my mares off that hay it was definatley Fescue. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT I FELT! My world crashed.
I called my vet in desperation, we immediatly started the mares on EQUITOX,Each tube is $60, I started out with 5 tubes,it is a homone therapy to start milk production. Since the mares are due soon, I also had to order Colostrum for the foals, 3 pints at $125.00 a pint. I had to order additional Foal Alerts because with the milk altered by the hormone, I can't test with the strips to determine foaling as I have in the past. Never missed but one foal , ever hitting the ground. I had to go out and buy additional cameras and have extended cables sent to me overnite. I had to erect two new stalls in the barn isle way to accomodate the mares. I am on 24 hour watch, have had little sleep between beeps. My daughter, Mandy, is getting married on March 3d, I had to hire a VET to sit with my horses during the rehersal and wedding/reception because of the potential upcoming problem birth. $150 an hour. I am mad, tired, stressed, depressed and hurt.
I am not writing this for your pitty and I know that some have expressed their sympathy for my mare that I lost and I do appreciate that. I just want to stress to you how improtant it is to go with your gutt sometimes, not take the advise of some whom you think may be qualified to give you information, allot of people like to think they know it all! This man has EGG on his face! He claimed to be a hay expert and if I can come up with the funds, He will be wearing that EGG in Court. I do not know yet how I intend to do that. I may even have to ask for help. I am not at that point. What I would like from all of you right now, is your PRAYERS for my Mares and Upcoming Foals. If you can support me with that, I will be grateful. My next mare to foal was due last nite, she did not foal. She has a little bag started, thanks to the Equitox. Lets Pray that all the bags fill with thick, Healthy Colostrum and all the babies are born in clear thin Sacs. Lets Pray that all are healthy and the mares recover quickly. Do this for me, and I will be forever Grateful to each and every one of you! You will know that if I can ever be of any help to you, ASK! I will be there if I can.
I am in need of one item if anyone has one laying around, My vet says that I can get to the mares quicker if I had the Foal Alert System. You sew a magnet into their Vulva and it becomes seperated and sends a message to a receiver at the onset of foaling. I cannot afford the system new. It is very expensive and I have already put out allot of money. If anyone has one that they would be able to lend me. The transmitter and receiver, I can buy the Magnets, please Call me ASAP 804-561-4159
Thank You LilBeginnings for allowing me a place to open my heart and a place to vent!
Donna
I have been breeding for some time and have never had a mare to abort or red bag. I have only once had trouble with a mare foaling and that was my very first mare that labored here. I take very good care of my horses and pay special attention to my mares.
In Virginia we have a problem with Fescue grass. Fescue is NOT a forage that you want to feed your mares in the last tri-mester of their pregnancy. For years I have had to buy special hay for them during that time. It is not the fescue that is the problem so to speak, but the mold that grows on it. That mold is TOXIC to the mare and causes the Placenta wall to thicken. The mold also causes the mare NOT to produce milk ( hense the importance of COLOSTRUM ). The toxins also cause the foal to be larger than usual and can prolong the days of gestation. NOW FOR MY STORY
Every year around September, October I go on a shopping spree to find a supplier for my hay. I have been burned by allot of hay salesman in the past promising me they would have my hay when I needed it and then selling it during the hay shortages to make an extra buck. Hense, leaving me shopping again.
This past fall we went ahead and erected a barn just so we could put up enough hay to carry us through. I went shopping! I found a supplier that assured me he had some really good Orchard Grass hay, My hay of choice. I stressed to him that I raised Miniature Horses and that there could no be any FESCUE in the hay.
He replied to me he had been in the hay business for many years and that he and his son knew their hay. He said that he had invested allot of money into this business and was servicing horse and cattle owners all over. He said that the hay he was going to bring me was really nice stuff and that everyone was demanding it. I set up the appointment for delivery.
The hay arrived when I was at work and Buster was here to help unload it. When he noticed the hay looked differant, he asked about it. The reply he got was unusual but the man insisted it was really nice Orchard Grass hay. When I arrived home later that day, Buster told me that I should come look at this hay we got, it really looks weird. I took one look at called the supplier. I asked him just what kind of hay was this that he had brought me, I told him that is was very fine, like 4" needles, almost like pine needles. When I questioned the supplier about the funny apearance, he said that the hay blades were rolled because of the weather and when it was bailed. Every question I had for him, he had an anwer waiting for me, no hesitation, sounded like he knew his stuff. It was very green and pretty but the stems or blades were rolled funny. He explained to me that it was Orchard Grass Hay, some of the finest in the state, it came from a very repllicable farmer in the Valley. He said it I did not want it he would come and get it, he said that he stands behind his hay and that he had a very high demand from other horse people for this hay, " They love it!".
After a week or two, the more I looked at the hay and handled the hay, I still had some question as to whether it was Orchard Grass or maybe even Timothy? I called the supplier back and asked him if there was anyway that his son that delivered the hay could have gotten it mixed up with another batch, I stressed my concerns again that this was not Orchard Grass Hay, again he convinced me it was.
I decided to take a sample up to the county Extension Agent to be analyzed. The agent called me later that day and told me that even though the texture was different the hay was Orchard Grass. So with that I went ahead and fed my girls.
On Saturday, February 3d, my Lady went into labor. She had the infamous RED BAG. She had no MILK. I was checking mares daily and did find it strange that only a couple were starting bags and mares were due to start foaling soon. Last year I had some mares that sometimes got their bags the day before foaling or even directly after foaling, so I did not think much of it until Lady. I do not want to go into the horrors of that labor, but I just want to say, Lady did not make it and I never got to see her foal, as it was never delivered.
On Monday, I was feeding and I put my hands around a big batch of hay to feed and I thought to myself, RED BAG, NO MILK, I am going to have this hay checked out again by another agent from another county. I took a sample over to the agent and within 30 minutes he called me and told me to get my mares off that hay it was definatley Fescue. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT I FELT! My world crashed.
I called my vet in desperation, we immediatly started the mares on EQUITOX,Each tube is $60, I started out with 5 tubes,it is a homone therapy to start milk production. Since the mares are due soon, I also had to order Colostrum for the foals, 3 pints at $125.00 a pint. I had to order additional Foal Alerts because with the milk altered by the hormone, I can't test with the strips to determine foaling as I have in the past. Never missed but one foal , ever hitting the ground. I had to go out and buy additional cameras and have extended cables sent to me overnite. I had to erect two new stalls in the barn isle way to accomodate the mares. I am on 24 hour watch, have had little sleep between beeps. My daughter, Mandy, is getting married on March 3d, I had to hire a VET to sit with my horses during the rehersal and wedding/reception because of the potential upcoming problem birth. $150 an hour. I am mad, tired, stressed, depressed and hurt.
I am not writing this for your pitty and I know that some have expressed their sympathy for my mare that I lost and I do appreciate that. I just want to stress to you how improtant it is to go with your gutt sometimes, not take the advise of some whom you think may be qualified to give you information, allot of people like to think they know it all! This man has EGG on his face! He claimed to be a hay expert and if I can come up with the funds, He will be wearing that EGG in Court. I do not know yet how I intend to do that. I may even have to ask for help. I am not at that point. What I would like from all of you right now, is your PRAYERS for my Mares and Upcoming Foals. If you can support me with that, I will be grateful. My next mare to foal was due last nite, she did not foal. She has a little bag started, thanks to the Equitox. Lets Pray that all the bags fill with thick, Healthy Colostrum and all the babies are born in clear thin Sacs. Lets Pray that all are healthy and the mares recover quickly. Do this for me, and I will be forever Grateful to each and every one of you! You will know that if I can ever be of any help to you, ASK! I will be there if I can.
I am in need of one item if anyone has one laying around, My vet says that I can get to the mares quicker if I had the Foal Alert System. You sew a magnet into their Vulva and it becomes seperated and sends a message to a receiver at the onset of foaling. I cannot afford the system new. It is very expensive and I have already put out allot of money. If anyone has one that they would be able to lend me. The transmitter and receiver, I can buy the Magnets, please Call me ASAP 804-561-4159
Thank You LilBeginnings for allowing me a place to open my heart and a place to vent!
Donna
