Things to avoid feeding brood mares - oh and suitable bedding?

[wonkey_donkey]

My mare is due to foal early this summer and as a 'first time breeder' can you tell me anything I should AVOID feeding her supplement wise (i was advised seaweed and Red Cell were big no, no's ?).
Also, I have been told not to use shavings for foaling so what's the best alternative (other than straw if possible).
Thankies for your expert advice in advance.

 

[JanetGeorge]

You can't go wrong with plenty of good hay/haylage and a modest amount of a good Stud Balancer (I use Bailey's). Mares don't need a LOT extra in the run-up to foaling - but they DO need extra protein and a good balance of min/vit. A stud balancer is the easiest way to give them what they need without too much extra energy which will just lead to fat mare, big foal, foaling difficulties.

I use paper bedding on rubber mats for all my horses - and it's a particularly good combination for foaling down on.

 

[KenRehill]

We use pure straw for bedding, but then we get it for free and they take it away for free, so that might cloud my judgement. I understand that shavings might give a dust problem.

In terms of feeding, we try to improve the forage, thus we grow our own lucerne and either mix into the rye grass or sometimes, depending on the mare, give it pure along with their day to day grass. We only give extra feed in the last two or three months and that will be a build up from Du Moulin Classic mix (a European make) and then we progress to D&H stud diet in the last few weeks. Remember that a fully lactating mare needs around 23,000 calories a day, and four bars of Lindt 70% dark chocolate a day, just doesn't cut it!

 

[spitchwick]

Mine have always foaled out, less chance of infection it is said, one mare has foaled in, but only because it was VERY wet, and a late foal, but the mare was not happy, and would definately prefered to have been out. Straw is by far the best bedding if foaling in. I also use Baileys stud mix, and they have always done very well on it, and it is great for the foal to start nibbling at with mum.