Results From Informal Spring Loss Questionaire

We thank those of you who participated in last week’s survey of farms experiencing symptoms similar to the spring loss syndromes. We had over 150 individuals respond since May 25, from all areas of North America. We received many replies from

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We thank those of you who participated in last week’s survey of farms experiencing symptoms similar to the spring loss syndromes. We had over 150 individuals respond since May 25, from all areas of North America. We received many replies from individuals in the areas confirmed to be affected by the spring loss syndromes (Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia).


There are many causes of foaling problems, late term abortions, and early fetal losses in horses. If you have been experiencing abnormal patterns in your farm’s reproductive program, or have been experiencing losses, please express the concern to your veterinarian and your state veterinarian’s office. We emphasize the importance of submitting aborted fetuses, stillborn foals, and reporting other abnormal occurences to your state diagnostic lab.


As a general consensus, horse owners noted trends in the questionnaires:



  • decrease in follicle size in ovulating mares
  • experienced red bag births for the first time in non-maiden mares
  • increased cases of mares and foals tying up, muscle soreness, and laminitis
  • increase in foal blindness and eye ulcers at birth
  • high incidences of weak, underdeveloped, or deformed foals, especially deformed or infected intestines, and colic in foals and mares after birth
  • mares not catching or irregular estrus cycles, despite clean reproductive history
  • horse owners are taking fescue precautions
  • there has been a notably high increase in tent caterpillar infestation this spring
  • foals born as much as 3 months premature, to several weeks past the due date
  • increase in the number of mares lacking milk, the milk is clear and sticky, or have no milk at all
  • increase in miscarriages, stillbirth, and mares unable to give birth without human assistance
  • unexplained weight loss in mares and foals after birth

Comments:

“We had no problems (this foaling season), but in the past we did have problems. We finally figured that it was the leaves of the cherry tree. The leaves are very poisonous when they are in the drying stage…We eliminated the cherry trees in and about our pastures. We had red (placenta bag) births last year and even had mares that could not walk.”
TN (Miniature Horses)

“…and I might add that I had the worst problems with tent worms and yet had no mare or foal problems.” KY (American Saddlebreds)

“Several mares with red bag..no milk production..premature foals…mares aborting..coming back open after having caught for two months..” WV (Arabians)

“Mares who were exposed to Jan/Feb rain/snow/ice lost 100% of our foals. Those who were stabled instead of kept in run-out sheds, maintained their pregnancy.”
KY (American Saddlebreds)

“Higher than usual incidence of the following: resorption, mid-term abortion and stillbirth. In June, 2000, we had an infestation of Eastern Tent caterpillars.”
Ontario, CAN (Quarter horses)

“Two mares died of colic 1-2 weeks after foaling. High meconium impaction in newborn foals…Mares not cycling correctly.” WI

“Stillborn foals, eye ulcers at birth

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Written by:

Stephanie L. Church, Editorial Director, grew up riding and caring for her family’s horses in Central Virginia and received a B.A. in journalism and equestrian studies from Averett University. She joined The Horse in 1999 and has led the editorial team since 2010. A 4-H and Pony Club graduate, she enjoys dressage, eventing, and trail riding with her former graded-stakes-winning Thoroughbred gelding, It Happened Again (“Happy”). Stephanie and Happy are based in Lexington, Kentucky.

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