pregnant mares cannot have fescue hay . what about fescue grass?

Fescue hay is cut from fescue grass...

If she's on fescue grass, get her off it. Endophyte toxicity suppresses the endocrine system.

The endophyte infects the growing grass and, perversely, it makes the grass stronger and more resistant to stress, drought, etc. A lot of people assume that the hay molds after it's cut and that's where the toxicity comes from. It's actually in the hay while it's growing.

90 days is given as the minimum time to get a pregnant mare off fescue and give her body a chance to get back some normal hormone activity.

She may not produce milk (agalactic), she could go long past her due date, the placenta could be very thick and tough and the foal be unable to breakout.

If you think she's been on infected fescue, alert your veterinarian. Be prepared.

*******B.B., I swear I did not copy your first line! ( great minds with a single thought...)

Nope. No fescue. It's not really the fescue, it's an endophyte on the fescue. But regardless, the problem is the same. I'd just put her on a dry lot, and feed her good quality hay that doesn't contain fescue.

Get her off NOW. Immediately. Not all, but most fescue contains an endophyte that prevents lactation. So you get to watch the colt stave to death because momma doesn't have any milk. Get something else this morning and pray she doesn't foal for a few more weeks. She'll have a bag and no milk, or no bag at all. Vet's recommend stopping feeding fescue a month before foaling. Good luck. With this wild mare, you may not be able to intervene and save that colt. Be careful if you try - good momma's don't let predators (including humans) touch their foals.

fescue hay is made from fescue grass...

Keep her OFF of it! Even if you have to put her in a 'dry lot.' or a stall. You can put a halter and lead on her to walk her for exercise, and prevent her from grazing if necessary.

**EDIT...NTlesh...just seems like common sense to me! I would expect anyone else to say the same thing!!

Find either orchard grass hay or timothy hay or meadow grass hay. Stay the heck away from fescue in any form either grass or hay!!!!

They can only have fungus free fescue. The problem is that even if you plant fungus free varieties of fescue it crosses with wild type fescue and within 5 years you have fungus again. So stay away from all varieties of fescue.

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! I had a foal DIE because it's mom was out on fescue grass ( we didnt know about it).... the foals was born 2 months early.... momma had NO milk.... and the foal was sick to begin with!..... Keep her off of the fescue.... seriously...

I'm not trying to sound rude and like a know it all but I dont want you to have to watch your foal die like I did.... it was horrible.

The best thing to do is to call your vet. she/he will tell you exactly what to do. I would think she wouldnt be able to have the grass if she cant have the hay, since hay is dried grass. But hope you find out what to do!

It has the same effect as hay...You could have very bad consequences i would just keep the mare in the barn and lead-lunge for exercise..