My aunt just called me. I haven't been out to see my horses in a month as it's been 20 to 30 below zero for the last 3 weeks. My aunt told me my mare is bagging up and her belly is getting huge and all lopsided. In short she is in foal.
The only stallion she was exposed to was HER OWN colt last winter. The second he started showing stud like tendencies last march he was moved to my aunt's place away from all the mares. The only mares in the herd that did not come into heat were preg checked as not in foal. Keila came into heat all summer so I assumed she was okay. Now it's looking like it was false heat, every month, all summer long.
I really do not need another horse. Especially an inbred one. She would more than likely be due in a month or so, but there's really no way of knowing.
The kicker....
Keila has cushings. My aunt has raised lippit morgans for years and she is insisting that Keila get some kind of grain as she is so close to foaling. I talked with an equine nutritionist tonight actually before I found all this out. I was asking him what I can do to help my mare get more energy without having her founder, as I'm planning on showing my mare pretty heavily this summer over fences and reining so she'll need tons of energy. He said there is a product from nutrena called safe that has no corn and is supposed to be good for cushings horses. He said all the energy comes from fats, not carbs.
Does anyone have any knowledge about this type of feed? Or about what I should watch out for when she foals? Her last colt was supposed to be the last. He is my replacement for her and a good show prospect. I so do not need another horse, but it looks like I'll be getting one.
I want to do what's best for both her and the foal. If it comes down to it I choose the mare over the foal. I've had Keila for 16 years, there's no way I'm going to do anything to jepordize her health.
I'm so angry that I just don't know what to do. How many of you have heard of an 8 month old colt knocking up a mare!