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RE: [RC] [RC] Nursing Mare losing condition (sorry for long post) - heidiJen, often the problem is insufficient protein. Any idea what the protein content of the timothy is? Alfalfa hay is an ideal supplement, but you said that she couldn't get any other kind of hay, so you might consider alfalfa pellets.
Also, sometimes the pasture has too much water content, and they don't take in enough dry matter. A switch to no pasture and free choice hay--IF the hay is high quality--might help.
This may sound counter-intuitive, but you might take her OFF of the Buckeye. Often concentrates cause them to just up the milk production, which can also put the foal at risk for epiphysitis, etc.--and the mare just continues to go downhill. Our Arab mares are likewise good keepers--and the worst shape I EVER had one in was one that I sent out to breed one time who came back skin and bones, but they were graining her heavily ("because" she was losing weight) and she just kept dropping weight while the foal was a butterball with fetlock joints that never totally recovered. I put the mare on straight grass hay and NO concentrates, the foal went back to a better weight, and the mare was almost back to a decent weight in a couple of months, despite continuing to nurse. I'd steer VERY clear of concentrates such as corn, etc. for that same reason.
Lastly (although maybe it should be first!) I'd suggest checking her teeth.
Heidi
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