I think my horse is getting to fat help

[angelinmydreams]

My 4 year old filly is pregnant due in April. I pulled off their blankets today and I was blown away she looks like a sausage with a tail. Her neck crest is way fatty I afraid she is going to founder if I don't do something soon. She is naturally a thick horse but not this thick. Should I pull her off Alfalfa/grass and put her on local? She doesn't get much grain but I am getting concerned that she is eating for two as we moms like to say. She gets fed 4 flakes of alfalfa/grass a day and it is 1st cutting. They do get local but they ignore it until they Wanna snack. I have never had any problems like this before so I am at a loss for words.

[schwung]

I think its time to bring in a vet for advice. A pregnant mare needs a certain amount of protein and calories to keep her and the baby healthy, but you don't want her foundering. Mares are especially prone to foundering just after delivery. I suspect the answer is cutting the hay back as you have done but feeding her a small amount of a grain like LMF Super Supplement (loaded with nutrients, without having to feed it in bulk), but I would definately discuss with your vet.

[angelinmydreams]

When I had the vet out a few months ago I expressed my concerns about her neck being fatty he said she was fine. I asked my shoer a few weeks ago also and she said her feet look good and no signs at all. I will call him tomarrow and I will cut her hay back I feed mare and foal right now I have done the lmf mare and foal and senior grains before. I plan on seperating them tomarrow and start her on her diet. she only got two flakes today would you think it would hurt her for a little light work out she has no been real active for awhile all they do right now is eat and graze and of course pooh.

[jazzysmom]

Angel-
No one on this board to my knowledge is a liscenced vet. Questions such as this should be asked of an experienced vet, preferably one who is experienced w/ pregnent mares. Please understand that everyone here has the best intentions but a veterinarian is the best person to go to.
I have always provided my pregnant mares with exercise up until foaling. Granted it was light exercise but it is good to keep their muscles toned and keep them in shape. It will greatly help ease the foaling process. Also, heavily obese mares may have difficulty foaling due to increased fat deposits in the foaling canal.
PLEASE speak to a experienced reproductive vet regarding an exercise program for your mare to give her the best advantage in foaling this spring, dystocias are horrible and unfit ery fat mares MAY be more prone to them.

[angelinmydreams]

I my experience it never hurts to ask.

[jazzysmom]

Of course, and we always encourage people to ask, i just wanted to be sure every one knows we are just offering our general observations and opinions and that it is always good to get a professional opinion.

Keep us updated!

[angelinmydreams]

I talked to the vet just a few minutes ago. He said that it sounds like she just fat. He told me to take her off her grain and only give her alfalfa onece a day and local in the evening. He said that her foal is going to start its growth spert and that should help also. So I will go from there. He said she could have a metobalic issue (throid) but it looks that it is not the case. He told me just to diet her and light exersise since the only time she getrs the lead out is when she sees the grain bucket. They do have a selenium trace minreal block so he said that would be good so I don't have to supplament her. I now that she is not going to be happy about the food change. I think she has learned to eat fast like my daughter or the other one will take her food. It caught up with her.