Hello again everyone. I have a concern about one of my broodmares.
Shirley is a 13yo mare that I purchased in the spring of 2013. She was in foal at time of purchase and foaled a filly for me with great ease that May. She never seemed to get pulled down or loose weight the entire time she was nursing (and was a great milker!) And seemed to not be disturbed one bit when I weaned her filly at 4 months of age.
I did not breed her back as I wanted to give her a year to just be a horse. (She had been bred back to back for 3 years and has had, to my knowledge 6 foals).
I bred her to my older stallion (age 23) last year and she foaled a stunning dunskin filly, again with no issues or complications. This filly was a bit smaller but Shirley gave her all. When the filly was 4 months old, I weaned her and the mare was quite effected, and reacted more typically like a mare at weaning time (calling, pacing, etc) But this soon subsided after the filly left for her new home. (I weaned the filly as mama was getting pulled down and baby was quite a chunk).
I bred her back to the same stallion on her first heat post foaling and she took with one day of live cover.
She is now approximately 6 months in foal and, honestly hasn't been herself since I weaned the filly. I noticed her gait had changed to be quite stiff a couple months after foaling and had her adjusted by my equine chiropractor on 2 occasions (which was very much needed!)
She still isn't herself and I'm not sure what to do. I have not switched anything significantly (feed, stable arrangement, companionship, etc) so I'm not sure what is causing it.
Though she is eating and drinking normally, She seems tired and stiff (which is not like her at all) and though in the past loved to run and play with the other horses, now has to be "forced" to exercise. And when the others run, she simply avoids them.
I have started her on Flaxseed oil in hopes of supplementING her diet and helping her feel better, but am at a loss for what else to do to help. She is UTD on all deworming, vaccinations and had her teeth floated in September.
Has anyone had experiences like this or tips on what I can do to get my old Shirley back?
P.S. as of now, I plan NOT to breed her back in 2016 and will give her a year off from being a broodmare.
Shirley is a 13yo mare that I purchased in the spring of 2013. She was in foal at time of purchase and foaled a filly for me with great ease that May. She never seemed to get pulled down or loose weight the entire time she was nursing (and was a great milker!) And seemed to not be disturbed one bit when I weaned her filly at 4 months of age.
I did not breed her back as I wanted to give her a year to just be a horse. (She had been bred back to back for 3 years and has had, to my knowledge 6 foals).
I bred her to my older stallion (age 23) last year and she foaled a stunning dunskin filly, again with no issues or complications. This filly was a bit smaller but Shirley gave her all. When the filly was 4 months old, I weaned her and the mare was quite effected, and reacted more typically like a mare at weaning time (calling, pacing, etc) But this soon subsided after the filly left for her new home. (I weaned the filly as mama was getting pulled down and baby was quite a chunk).
I bred her back to the same stallion on her first heat post foaling and she took with one day of live cover.
She is now approximately 6 months in foal and, honestly hasn't been herself since I weaned the filly. I noticed her gait had changed to be quite stiff a couple months after foaling and had her adjusted by my equine chiropractor on 2 occasions (which was very much needed!)
She still isn't herself and I'm not sure what to do. I have not switched anything significantly (feed, stable arrangement, companionship, etc) so I'm not sure what is causing it.
Though she is eating and drinking normally, She seems tired and stiff (which is not like her at all) and though in the past loved to run and play with the other horses, now has to be "forced" to exercise. And when the others run, she simply avoids them.
I have started her on Flaxseed oil in hopes of supplementING her diet and helping her feel better, but am at a loss for what else to do to help. She is UTD on all deworming, vaccinations and had her teeth floated in September.
Has anyone had experiences like this or tips on what I can do to get my old Shirley back?
P.S. as of now, I plan NOT to breed her back in 2016 and will give her a year off from being a broodmare.