bpotze
Well-Known Member
I don't know why I did it...but after a maiden mare rejected her foal last year...I thought it was just a bad birthing and scared dam that caused this girl to turn on her baby....so I went ahead and bred her back...wrong thing to do..pregnancy and foaling went great...and she actually seemed to take to the foal much better this year...although I was having to hold he when he nursed....had them under camera so I could keep an eye on them...and soon noticed that although she wasn't hurting or charging him...she would always put him in a corner...and would not let him nurse unless I tied her...soon found out that even though I was going out every two hours to let him feed...he wasn't gaining weight.....and had noticed the mare was not bagging up between feedings....when I stripped her...the fluid was clear and not milky...so she was put on oxytocin...(also on ace for sedation) the oxy did not work...so tried domperidone....also didn't work....then I just let mom go...she was causing the poor foal too much stress and he is now bottle fed...he was born on Mothers Day and I have been trying every feeding to get him on a bowl instead of bottle...with no luck....I have milk pellets for him and cannot get him to even look at them...yet he will go out and nibble on everything else he can find...he is now in with his grandmother ... she likes him...but he is still afraid of any other horse....
Any ideas on how to get him to try the milk pellets?
Thanks
Becky
Any ideas on how to get him to try the milk pellets?
Thanks
Becky