How much exercise for in foal mare?

Wagtail

Wagtail

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I have a mare at my yard who is 7 months pregnant and was just wondering if she maybe getting too much lunging. I am not at all experienced in the care of pregnant mares and want to make sure my concerns are not illfounded before advising the owner as I don't want to interfere if I am wrong. The mare is currently being lunged five days a week for around forty minutes and a lot of this is in canter. I feel it may be too much but maybe I am wrong? Personally I would not canter any horse on the lunge for too long due to strain on the limbs (this mare has developed very small bog spavin on both hocks). I prefer to keep it mainly to trot with only a very small amount of canter. But perhaps I am just too precious with the horses?
 
Definetly too much. Agree with your view on lungeing in general, although I think anything more than 10 mins is too much!
You have to wonder at this womans mentality. What is her reasoning behind it? Is she going to carry on with this when the foal is at foot, or simply shut the foal in and take the mare out competing?!?
I have no experience of keeping mares in work when preggers, my mares are just mares, but I would not be surprised if this is bordering on cruelty.
 
40 mins is far too long for any horse to be lunged for let alone a pregnant mare!! 20 mins is the most i ever would lunge my horses for max 3 x times a week. Working on a constant circle but a lot of pressure on horses legs, joint etc, even more so when she is carrying the extra weight of a foal. Advise her to try long reining instead will mean she needs to run too lol but much better for her mare or some nice hacking will be fine for a mare at her stage of pregnancy too.
 
Thank you. I will feel more confident in my advice then. I don't really understand why she wants her to remain so fit. I have tried mentioning it a few times, that twice a week gentle trot work would be enough to keep the mare ticking over and fit enough for the birth, but it has fallen on deaf ears. I know that she absolutely adores the horse and if she thought she was being cruel, would be mortified. I know that she is keen to get riding again as soon as possible after the birth and probably therefore wants her to remain fit. I will try suggesting again, that she eases up. I have shown her how to long rein the mare so maybe I need to encourage that more.

We stopped riding her a month ago because the saddle wasn't fitting her any more due to the spread so hacking is not possible.
 
As already stated 40mins is too long to lunge for regardless of age, etc. (I have never met anyone who has lunged for longer the 30min max). Otherwise gentle work on the lunge or horsewalker wont hurt her & can benefit. Having said that what are her plans for after as if it is to keep her fit to work afterwards depending on the mare & foal this may not be possible. I have not had a problem, but it can be a pain working the mare with foal in tow & some mares wont tolerate it.

This is why I despaire at some owners, they just dont have a clue. It seems such a good idea to breed with little thought to the knowledge required for the mare & then bringing on the offspring. There are now more & more people teaching youngsters how to mis-behave just because they dont have the horse sense to deal with them.
 
BallyshanHorses said:
Can this mare not be turned out in a paddock by day or a school at least for a few hours.I wouldnt be lunging at this point in time nevermind for 40 mins.Hand walking and gentle walking on a horse walker should be sufficient every day if she cannot turn the mare out.
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Yes, she gets between two and six hours turnout a day depending on when she wants to come in (usually only two in the wind and rain!).
 
Faberge said:
Sounds like too much lungeing and not enough turnout IMO!
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Agree with the 'too much lungeing', but the mare goes out for as long as she wants within daylight hours. I only bring her in if she's stressing. If the weather is good like today, then that is all day, but if it's very cold and windy she gallops up and down the fence. I don't think it would be good to just leave her out stressing. Our horses do not have 24/7 turnout during the winter, nor would they want it.
 
Wagtail said:
Yes, she gets between two and six hours turnout a day depending on when she wants to come in (usually only two in the wind and rain!).
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That's really not enough field exercise for a pregnant mare. Broodmares should be out in large fields preferably 24/7 but if not doable out overnight then out as long as possible during daylight hours. I wouldn't be lunging the mare AT ALL. I personally don't think the present setup sounds suitable for the mare and what happens when the foal comes along? Does it only get 2 - 6 hours per day outside as well?
 
Spring Feather said:
That's really not enough field exercise for a pregnant mare. Broodmares should be out in large fields preferably 24/7 but if not doable out overnight then out as long as possible during daylight hours. I wouldn't be lunging the mare AT ALL. I personally don't think the present setup sounds suitable for the mare and what happens when the foal comes along? Does it only get 2 - 6 hours per day outside as well?
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/\ /\ ditto this /\ /\
 
I also agree the mare needs to be out as much as possible. My mare has been out since she became pregnant & her and 6 month old foal are still out 24/7. They need time to bond and be mummy & baby not put back into work imo! I will be bringing my mare back into work when foal is weaned at 7/8 months and i think that is early enough imo!

I know when i was in the last stages of pregnancy last thing on my mind was exercise lol... let the mare chill & relax as much as possible!
 
Spring Feather said:
That's really not enough field exercise for a pregnant mare. Broodmares should be out in large fields preferably 24/7 but if not doable out overnight then out as long as possible during daylight hours. I wouldn't be lunging the mare AT ALL. I personally don't think the present setup sounds suitable for the mare and what happens when the foal comes along? Does it only get 2 - 6 hours per day outside as well?
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When the foal comes along she will have 24/7 turnout with a field shelter. But all the other horses come in at night during the winter and she would go mad if left out on her own. Also, we are on clay soil and I don't like horses living in mud. She has the option of being out for all the daylight hours at the moment but she has always hated the cold, wet and wind, no matter how well rugged she is. She's just one of those horses.
 
Thanks, everyone. Yes, having had kids myself it just makes me cringe thinking about it. I hope she will listen to me. I think she just thinks I'm interfering though :(
 
pinkypug1 said:
I also agree the mare needs to be out as much as possible. My mare has been out since she became pregnant & her and 6 month old foal are still out 24/7. They need time to bond and be mummy & baby not put back into work imo! I will be bringing my mare back into work when foal is weaned at 7/8 months and i think that is early enough imo!

I know when i was in the last stages of pregnancy last thing on my mind was exercise lol... let the mare chill & relax as much as possible!
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Well as someone who does ride their mare after foaling I dont agree that an hour out of their life interferes with any bonding. The mares have the first 4/6wks & then they are treated like any horse that has been out of work & bought back in slowly with long reining & lunging. Even with tacking up & being taken to the school (with foal in tow) takes no more the 30mins. They are then ridden in school again with foal alongside & if all is well they are then ridden in a paddock. In the case of the last one he did not even want to come out & it enable the mare to be hacked out round the village, both were totally unconcerned. I have done this since the 80's & never had a vet show any concern & it has NEVER caused stress to either mare of foal. You use your common sense as not all mares will be calm about it, some will be too foal proud even after a few months. When it came to weaning I have never had any issues either. I am interested to know why people think a horse is incapable of enjoying having time out in the same way that human mothers enjoy a break from time to time. Talking of human mothers, dont know many that go into hibernation just because they are pregnant even less so if they have other toddlers to look after. In times past the farm mare would have a short time of then be back in harness with foal tagging along beside, dont believe any of them came to any harm.
 
jeeve said:
If she had been pregnant herself, there is no way she would put her horse through this, at 7 months the horse must be feeling very uncomfortable. I too would do walking/turnout or long reining, but no lunging at all.
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But like humans they are individual. People cannot make blanket comments like this. How many mares have been worked (without the owners having any knowledge of her being in-foal) & then had problems? This is no different to some women who work all the way through with no issues & others who have to stop part way through. The mare has to be treated as an individual, like anything with horses what works for one does not necessarily apply to another. What is wrong here is the mare is not getting enough turn-out & it being lunged for far too long, componded by being made to canter for long periods.
 
Gentle exercise in the last trimester, preferable not ridden, mares should not be kept working fit, they need to be let down so the muscles and the mind are relaxed.
I hate to see horses lunged like this, it is plain stupid particularly if she already has problems, not a great idea getting an unsound mare in foal, what do I know.
 
Yes, she has developed very mild bog spavin which I think just shows that her hocks are under too much strain cantering in circles with the additional weight of the pregnancy. But she is not unsound. It is a warning sign though IMO.
 
I wouldn't lunge an in-foal mare at all, I hacked mine gently until she was 8 months (so 3 months off her due date), but lunging at speed a) will make her work too hard physically and b) risks her falling over, as well as the issue with weight bearing you have all mentioned.

She shouldn't worry about keeping her fit, she'll come back quick enough once the foal is weaned.
 
magic104 said:
Well as someone who does ride their mare after foaling I dont agree that an hour out of their life interferes with any bonding. The mares have the first 4/6wks & then they are treated like any horse that has been out of work & bought back in slowly with long reining & lunging. Even with tacking up & being taken to the school (with foal in tow) takes no more the 30mins. They are then ridden in school again with foal alongside & if all is well they are then ridden in a paddock. In the case of the last one he did not even want to come out & it enable the mare to be hacked out round the village, both were totally unconcerned. I have done this since the 80's & never had a vet show any concern & it has NEVER caused stress to either mare of foal. You use your common sense as not all mares will be calm about it, some will be too foal proud even after a few months. When it came to weaning I have never had any issues either. I am interested to know why people think a horse is incapable of enjoying having time out in the same way that human mothers enjoy a break from time to time. Talking of human mothers, dont know many that go into hibernation just because they are pregnant even less so if they have other toddlers to look after. In times past the farm mare would have a short time of then be back in harness with foal tagging along beside, dont believe any of them came to any harm.
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I did get back on my mare when foal was 4.5 months old and had a few days hacking around the 5 acres i have foal tagged along for the 1st few days but then stayed with her buddies. I would have continued but fields got too wet. I dont see a problem with riding mare but not a 4-6 wks post foaling, i personally think it too early but like you say common sense and each mare is different!

In uk & ireland in the past woman popped out babies & went back out to work the farm but today im sure there are not too many woman who give birth and head back to work a few days later... times change and if the horse isnt a vital "tool" needed to keep a family in food by bringing in crops, pulling plounghs etc then let it have some time out. My mare is my only horse and i miss riding her so much but i wouldnt bring her back into work just to satisfy my desire to ride or compete again!
 
pinkypug1 said:
In uk & ireland in the past woman popped out babies & went back out to work the farm but today im sure there are not too many woman who give birth and head back to work a few days later... times change and if the horse isnt a vital "tool" needed to keep a family in food by bringing in crops, pulling plounghs etc then let it have some time out. My mare is my only horse and i miss riding her so much but i wouldnt bring her back into work just to satisfy my desire to ride or compete again!
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Does it ever occur to owners that just like people some horses actually enjoy ridden work & it is not just a case of "just to satisfy my desire to ride or compete again". It is different for me I suppose as I have owned my mares for over a year before putting them in-foal & working with them everyday I know them. I am lucky enough that I watch my horses I am able to pick up when things are not right, & I dont ignore the signs. I learnt a long time ago that horses are not generally born difficult so there is usually a reason, as a herd animal they have to work together to survive. Both my current mares are much happier in work you can see that in their attitude when they have time off. But then my horses are not chucked in a field & only got out to ride or compete. They are not expected to do work they are not fit enough for & they are given warm up & down time, which too many owners seem to forget about doing.
 
most of my girls will look at me in disgust if i took them out for a ride!!! but i have one mare i hack out as company once twice a month but only walk and light trot she loves it!! i had one mare and foal that were i usedto live was a bust main road and i had a field next door, have to say that foal is now the mosr sane horse ever!!! he was bomb proof in traffic from 5 days old, 2 months old he would lead off mum while i rode her bareback to my summer fields which was 5 miles away, people would stop and stare and get out and ask what i was doing?!!! but the foal now 5yrs is the best hunter, sure footed, brave, wins all his hunter trials, he's a dude!! mares was never in real work but this worked for us when i had no transport!
 
To the person who sent the nasty msg & those who have not read it properly. My mares come back into work when they and their offspring have been ready. All have been checked by the vet after foaling & when work does start it is with perhaps 10mins long reining in the school building up gradually to some lunge work. Being a mother I am well aware the trauma taken place inside. Right or wrong 2 weeks after having my daughter I was strimming & clearing a jungle of a garden. I felt well & I was lucky no ill affects, though admittedly the mid-wife was none too happy!! My mares make it quiet clear when they are unhappy about something, it is my duty to listen & watch for these signs. I repeat it is not wrong to bring them back into work, as it is not wrong to let them do nothing as most broodmares do, but that's their job. My mares come back sooner, because by the time they are weaned we are into Autumn, less daylight, not always the nicest of weather, & most importantly they actually enjoy it! No they dont go around with a smile on their faces, but their attitude is willingness, calmness, & an eagerness to work. And I repeat it will NOT suit all mares or their foals BUT it does not mean those of us that do are wrong or cruel. I have different vets over the years, NOT one of them have been concerned. We are not talking 2hr hacks, or going hunting, or anything other then being in the school (& later on popping a couple of jumps), & perhaps a hack round the village. At 6mths yes the mare may well go XC training or dressage if she is fit enough. My mares are not broodmares they were riding horses before & they return to being riding horses after.
 
magic104 said:
To the person who sent the nasty msg & those who have not read it properly.
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Sadly this doesn't surprise me :(

All mares (like all things) are different. However, WRT to the OP's query, this does sound extreme and I do feel sorry for the poor mare, especially as it seems that her hock issues have sprung up since being put in-foal and having this exercise regime. :(
 
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