[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by Lexy

OMG that is the caterpillar!

Lexi, you may want to gather a few of these caterpillars up and have them positively ID'd by your local Ag Center!!! It may be that you need to keep the mares off of pasture right now if you are having an outbreak of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar!!!

[madvoice]

Oh my goodness. I so hope those caterpillars can be cleared up quick smart!

[SC Sonoma]

Any update?

[Doll-Face]

Oh my, Ive never heard of an evil catapiller like that....where in AL are you?? I'm getting nervous for my preg mare now, she hasnt bagged either....

Praying for yall and for your dear friend and her losses.

[tbtrainer]

MRLS gave everyone a big scare a few years ago. I have friends that pulled their broodmares out of Kentucky.

Unfotunatley, things do go wrong when breeding and foaling. I feel bad for your friend, she is going thru a rough spot.

Hopefully she will continue, I know many long time horse people that have wanted to throw in the towel at some point. Usually they get over it and keep going.

It has been a strange year for foaling. I'm not sure if it's the crazy weather or what.

We foaled our first foal out at my vets, she had three mares that didnt have colostrum, and one that had no milk.

Another client has already lost 4 foals, our of 6 mares pregnant. So far I have not heard a reason, need to ask her about that.

Currently we have a mare thats overdue, she is a maiden, but has still not bagged up yet. I'm a little suspicious, I just dropped her off yesterday to foal out of state. I'm holding my breath on this one.

[SalemsMom]

These tent catipillars about ruined the racing industry,and they are just now getting up to steam again,it also hit a lot of paint horse breeders bad,like the article read,cut down the cherry trees,dry lot the pregnant mares,while you use insecticides to get rid of them.

[Lexy]

Originally Posted by SC Sonoma

Any update?

Nothing to report. She doesn't have another baby due for a couple of weeks. They took the first to Auburn for necropsy (which turned up nothing) and the other they buried.

Originally Posted by Doll-Face

Oh my, Ive never heard of an evil catapiller like that....where in AL are you?? I'm getting nervous for my preg mare now, she hasnt bagged either....

Praying for yall and for your dear friend and her losses.[/quote]

She lives in Lowdes county. The area is called Pintlala, Tyson.

Originally Posted by SalemsMom

.........cut down the cherry trees,........

We don't have cherry trees growing in this area. Not even wild ones.

Ya know, it might not be the same caterpillar but they look very much alike if it isn't. These caterpillars get into out pecan trees. They make large web-like nests in the lower limbs. They will ruin a pecan crop.



Again, thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. They DO help.

[nickernnod]

As a breeder, I can certainly understand her loss and frustration. I'm so sorry she is going through this, as you feel so helpless when tests come back inconclusive. We had a situation last year very similar and it was very difficult to get through. I wish your friend the best of luck and will keep her in my prayers.

[Lexy]

Just got off the phone with Pat a few minutes ago.


The Good News
One of the mares delivered a live health buckskin colt Friday night. She said he is a nice big colt. Straight legs.. everything is where it should be.


The Very Bad News

Sunday morning Pat went out to feed. A mare that she was the breeder of (owned her sire and dam) met her at the gate, obviously in labor (her fourth foal). She said she went back to the barn to feed the rest of the horses. About 15 mins later she went back to check on Prissy, who was now in distress. Pat had brought a sleeve with her so she could check her if she needed to. She did and said she felt nothing. Knowing she should have felt the baby, she called the vet.

To make a long story short, the foal had turned upside down. The vet got it partially turned and then couldn't budge it. About the time the vet was going to withdraw to get his OB chains, he said "Oh NO!" Pat said she knew without asking. He said you need to get her to Auburn.... she has ruptured. I've got a handful of guts.

Pat told him no, she wasn't going to Auburn, to put her down. They live 2 hrs from Auburn. She wouldn't have made the trip.

Three foals, one mare..... lost. (and no, I won't say it couldn't get any worse. She still has four more mares to foal.)

[Shannon]

Oh no Lexy I'm so sorry. She really deserved a break....

I think that little buckskin colt is going to be a World Champ to make up for all the heartache.