feeding a very poor mare in foal

BabeandDotty

New User
Joined
15 January 2019
Messages
2
Visit site
My new mare arrived sunday in an awful state literally skin and bone but with what we thought was a massive worm belly, worm count comes back realise it cant be a worm belly and find out shes in foal! Apart from her big belly she is in such poor condition you can see every bone in her body, shes never had hard feed or hay before lived out all her life with nothing. She currently gets hi fibres nuts and ad lib timothy hay until I figure out what I should be feeding her. She is looking slightly better already and he coat has become a lot shinier. any recommendations on what I should be feeding her?
 

be positive

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 July 2011
Messages
19,396
Visit site
I would just continue with adlib hay and dont try too hard to build her up however tempting it is to stuff everything you can at her, she needs simple feed that is fibre based while she adjusts, I would add some linseed gradually and either a balancer or vit/ min supplement to ensure she gets all she needs, it sounds as if she is already benefiting from your care so just keep going as you are.
If it is cold and she is happy to wear a light rug pop one on but be careful it doesn't rub against her bony parts and get sore, she would be better cold than rubbed raw, best of luck she sounds as if she has landed in a good place.

Just to add get her teeth checked fairly quickly to ensure she can eat comfortably.
 

Pearlsasinger

Up in the clouds
Joined
20 February 2009
Messages
44,730
Location
W. Yorks
Visit site
I echo what bp has said. I bought a mare who had been 'fed up' by her breeder who bought her back in a poor state, she had, unknown at the time, developed food sensitivities which caused problems all her life.
 

Cortez

Tough but Fair
Joined
17 January 2009
Messages
15,148
Location
Ireland
Visit site
She will need a bit of specialised extra feeding as she goes in to the last 3 months of her pregnancy, a balanced stud ration is designed to meet the needs of a growing foal, but don't feed more than recommended amounts in an effort to fatten her up.
 

Asha

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2012
Messages
5,883
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
I had the exact same scenario, except I bought mine believing she was in foal. She was in poor condition, so got her checked out by vet and they guided me as to what she could eat. ( Vet is also a repro vet) The key thing is not to make changes too quickly as it could harm the foal ( OCD) .
Initially the vet suggested she stay on adlib haylage ( out as much as possible ) but to initially keep her well rugged .( closer to foaling take off !) She was fed a mash with lots of vitamins and minerals, and then we gradually added some stud cubes. I spoke to nutritionist and got everything passed by the vet.
I would agree with the others get her teeth and poos checked. My girl had a very good reason to be poor, her teeth where horrendous. Ive spent a £1k on vet on fees, and shes now looking great out of pain, but sadly not in foal. She must have slipped it. So, liaise with your vet and you wont go wrong. I will post some before and after photos to show you the change
 

ihatework

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2004
Messages
21,345
Visit site
You’d be worth speaking with vet and old keepers and trying to approximately date the foal. Don’t be tempted to shovel in too much high calorie.
Teeth and worming (check wormer brands with vet) and then you are probably feeding pretty well already. Ad-lib good hay and then a fibre base. Alfa & stud balancer in the final trimester probably the best shout.
You just have to balance chucking loads of food into the mare versus the complications that might contribute to in foal growth. Hopefully you have a good few weeks to build up gradually.
 
Top