Foal development and health risks
Not providing the pregnant mare with adequate nutrition prior to the birth of the young horse has a drastic affect on the foal.
After giving birth and the pregnant mare is malnourished, the mare may have lowered fertility and decreased milk production, which reduces the growth rate of the foal.
In cases of severe, malnutrition of the mare during pregnancy, more profound long lasting effects occur in the foal:
- Increased incidence of disease because of poor immunity.
- The risk of diarrhea.
- Decreased brain development
- Decreased foal growth rate
- Decreased bone growth and the risk of bone and joint diseases in the weanling and yearling
- Decreased survivability
Bone diseases in growing horses are a major cause of wastage and loss.
Guiding growth and development of foals begins with the pregnant mare. As well as size and weight at birth, we must be concerned about soundness.
Development orthopedic disease is the term used to describe the debilitating bone diseases which afflict an increasing number of young horses, including:
- Angular limb deformities – including bent and twisted legs in foal
- Contracted tendons and club feet
- Epiphysitis and joint enlargements
- Bone cysts and OCD
- Thing and poor quality bone
- Cartilage damage
The potential to develop these diseased develops in late gestation as a result of imbalanced diets.
Borderline imbalances, excesses and deficiencies are often difficult to detect and the effects often present as vague syndromes of poor performance, failure to reach potential, breakdowns, injuries and reduced winnings for the racehorse.
Because diet is as important as conformation in the development of unsoundness, poor nutrition has been called “the hidden handicapper”.
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