| Yes, grazing on fescue grass is linked to abortion, birth defects and
other abnormalities like a thickened placenta wall that the foal cannot
break out of without help.
But, it's not really the grass that is the culprit. It is an endophyte
(a kind of fungus, I think) infestation that lives on fescue that causes
the problem. The endophyte can only infect the grass when it is still seed
but, once infected, the grass is always dangerous to all animals(not
just horses) that graze it.
There are growers who certify that their fescue seed is endophyte-free.
Therefore, if the pastures at this facility were seeded with such
fescue, there should be little danger.
For pastures not grown from certified endophyte-free fescue seed, I
believe the current recommendation is that pregnant mares should NOT
graze such fescue, if at all possible. If that is totally impossible, I
believe the recommendation is that they be removed from fescue pastures
at least 60 days before foaling.
If it were my mare, I would not let her graze on the fescue at all.
BTW, since this is your first horse and first foaling, I'd suggest you
read "Blessed Are the Broodmares" by Dr Phyliss Lose so you know what
to expect between now and the time the foal is weaned next summer/fall.
John
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I have a friend in Virginia that has to deal with fescue and he
foals out several mares a year.
He has great success pulling them off the fescue 2 to 3 months in
advance of foaling and feeding them alfalfa or other good quality
hay. And throughout the pregnancy he feeds a SELENIUM and VIT E
supplement. His mares that go through this kind of management foal
easily. Those that don't have a hard time (thickened placenta,
no milk, etc.)
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