Feeding the pregnant mare advice please

[Marigold4]

My mare is now 6 months pregnant. Vet says her body condition is pretty much perfect but just want to check I am giving her enough protein and vits and mins etc so that she has everything she needs. She is just beginning to show - this is her third foal.

She is out during the day and in at night. We have plenty of good quality grass still although it is rye. Grazing should last till spring. At night she is on meadow grass Country haylage which I believe is higher in protein but can't find any exact analysis. She also gets the right amount of D&H stud cube for her weight.

Anything else I should give her at this stage of her pregnancy? All advice gratefully received.

 

[Cortez]

Sounds perfect. My advice is to not worry, nor over feed or over supplement

 

[Marigold4]

Sounds perfect. My advice is to not worry, nor over feed or over supplement

Thanks for replying. I've been pretty chilled so far but now the bump is visible, it's a holy cr@@p, this is actually happening moment!

 

[tda]

No, don't overfeed, you don't want a huge foal !
Exciting times ahead x

 

[Cortez]

Thanks for replying. I've been pretty chilled so far but now the bump is visible, it's a holy cr@@p, this is actually happening moment!

I take it this is your first experience of breeding?

 

[Horseysheepy]

You only need to feed in the last trimester of the mares pregnancy.
It sounds like shes getting more than enough right now.
Like other poster said, you don't want a big foal who'll need assistance at foaling, particularly if she is a maiden.

 

[Marigold4]

I take it this is your first experience of breeding?

First time on my own, at home. I used to work on a stud farm in Sweden but it feels a bit different when you are the one in charge! There is a stud farm three fields away, so I can always chicken out and have her foal down there.

 

[Marigold4]

You only need to feed in the last trimester of the mares pregnancy.
It sounds like shes getting more than enough right now.
Like other poster said, you don't want a big foal who'll need assistance at foaling, particularly if she is a maiden.

Thanks for replying. This will be her third foal. Others were with previous owner who tells me she foaled without assistance. I've chosen a stallion who is smaller than her in the hope we won't get a big foal. ?

 

[Marigold4]

No, don't overfeed, you don't want a huge foal !
Exciting times ahead x

Thanks for replying. Do you think I'm giving her too much at the mo? I'm giving her D&H recommended amount for how far along she is but perhaps feed companies recommend too much?

 

[tda]

I personally would scale back to forage only, but you know your horse and I don't feed any compound mix/cube anyway.

 

[Marigold4]

I personally would scale back to forage only, but you know your horse and I don't feed any compound mix/cube anyway.

What do you think about her showing at just 6 months? Is that unusual? I wasn't really expecting to see anything for another month or so. I was a bit alarmed about it but then thought it must be because she's had two foals before, although her last foal was 6 years ago. But perhaps the feed co recommended amount is too much and this foal is getting big on it?

 

[Cortez]

What do you think about her showing at just 6 months? Is that unusual? I wasn't really expecting to see anything for another month or so. I was a bit alarmed about it but then thought it must be because she's had two foals before, although her last foal was 6 years ago. But perhaps the feed co recommended amount is too much and this foal is getting big on it?

Do. Not. Panic. If your vet is happy, why would you be worried? It's not unusual for some broodmares to start to show early, especially if it's a third foal. Some mares show more than others, some never do, some look pregnant even when they're not. If she's not overweight then a foal may actually show more.

 

[tda]

Do. Not. Panic. If your vet is happy, why would you be worried? It's not unusual for some broodmares to start to show early, especially if it's a third foal. Some mares show more than others, some never do, some look pregnant even when they're not. If she's not overweight then a foal may actually show more.

This ?

 

[Marigold4]

I'm not panicking! Just asking for information from people more experienced than I at this. I put my mare in this situation so it is my duty to look after her and her foal as best I can. I have an excellent vet but was just seeking feeding advice from experienced breeders who do this all the time. No harm in arming yourself with knowledge rather than blithely trusting to luck, IMO.

 

[TheMule]

Thanks for replying. Do you think I'm giving her too much at the mo? I'm giving her D&H recommended amount for how far along she is but perhaps feed companies recommend too much?

I probably wouldn’t feed the recommended amount if she's on good grass and forage. Mine usually get a bit of stud feed topped up with a stud balancer and I feed a mineral supplements because I know my land is low in copper.

 

[HappyHackerK8]

My mare is also starting to show at 6m. This is also my first homebred and her first foal. I’ll be posting plenty of “panicking” posts - it’s nice to know what others are doing to check you have all the info! My vet is BRILLIANT, has told me not to feed stud mix until month 8, but as she was starting to show wondered if this was the right thing to be doing - seems like the majority agree! I think I’ve done all my background research from friends and vets who have done this plenty before, reading up and just from having been round horses and some brood mates all my life -I will also have plenty of ongoing support- but it’s different when you are in it yourself ?Like you said, we did this so we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders! There is some fantastic videos from Twemlows stud on the internet which takes you through lots of the questions you may have - Foaling the Mare part one, two and three - good luck ?

 

[Horseysheepy]

Dodson and horrell Suregrow is very good for broodmares and youngstock.

 

[ihatework]

Personally I wouldn’t feed stud cubes at this stage, last month or two, dependant on mare condition.
Mines on grass 24/7, had hay during the big freeze (not now) and recommended amount of stud balancer. She is due mid March.

Will come in for the last 6 weeks or so and probably start a bit of stud feed then.

 

[Marigold4]

My mare is also starting to show at 6m. This is also my first homebred and her first foal. I’ll be posting plenty of “panicking” posts - it’s nice to know what others are doing to check you have all the info! My vet is BRILLIANT, has told me not to feed stud mix until month 8, but as she was starting to show wondered if this was the right thing to be doing - seems like the majority agree! I think I’ve done all my background research from friends and vets who have done this plenty before, reading up and just from having been round horses and some brood mates all my life -I will also have plenty of ongoing support- but it’s different when you are in it yourself ?Like you said, we did this so we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders! There is some fantastic videos from Twemlows stud on the internet which takes you through lots of the questions you may have - Foaling the Mare part one, two and three - good luck ?

Thanks - I've had a look at the Twemlows videos - they are really good. I'm hoping to go on their one day foaling course in March. Good luck with yours too and thanks for replying!

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks everyone for your replies and useful advice. Our local feed shop persuaded me that she should be on the stud cubes now, but I'm going to go back to the Baileys stud balancer for a couple of months, based on others experience on here.