tillyd
Well-Known Member
Mare in question is lightweight cob, good doer, though has spent previous winters in at night as clipped/competing. Field would have shelter, hope not to rug, but would obviously hay and feed as required. Any thoughts?
turning mare in foal away for the winter
- Thread starter tillyd
- Start date
JanetGeorge
Well-Known Member
No problems. TB broodmares usually live out without rugs and if she has a shelter, plenty of good hay/haylage and a good mineral/vitamin mix, she shouldn't need anything else until 6 weeks pre-foaling (and maybe not even then!) Obviously, see to her vaccinations and routine worming/trimming - and consider vaccinating against EHV. A lot of people don't, but it's a common virus that has a devastating effect on a mare in mid-late pregnancy!
henryhorn
Well-Known Member
All mine winter out, only one wears a rug and they have access to shelter with their ad-lib haylage fed inside. they don't get hard feed so I put mineral blocks in strategic areas.
I think it will depend on whether she will use the shelter or not, if you feed inside there is a good chance when the weather is foul she will stay in there eating, if she won't, see how she copes without a rug, the worst thing that happens can be rainscald.
We offer all ours free access to good quality haylage 24/7, that's vital if you don't feed, they soon learn to pace themselves and not gorge.
I think it will depend on whether she will use the shelter or not, if you feed inside there is a good chance when the weather is foul she will stay in there eating, if she won't, see how she copes without a rug, the worst thing that happens can be rainscald.
We offer all ours free access to good quality haylage 24/7, that's vital if you don't feed, they soon learn to pace themselves and not gorge.
volatis
Well-Known Member
My mares live out over the winter. I do rug them and they get hay and hard feed. But they all do very well and have big healthy foals. I dont like them to foal too early though which may help a bit. I prefer foals no earlier than April
Springs
Well-Known Member
Ours live out all of the time, It's better for them. We rug ours up and provide shelters during the winter. You may need to keep an eye out for mud feaver depending on you ground type. We do give them hard feed once a day (helps to stop them from turning completey wild!) along with hay or haylage as needed.
tillyd
Well-Known Member
thanks everyone for your replies. My common sense head knows she will be fine as she's not at all the sensitive sort, but you know what its like - i'd be lost without something to worry about!!
AmyMay
Situation normal
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Mare in question is lightweight cob, good doer, though has spent previous winters in at night as clipped/competing. Field would have shelter, hope not to rug, but would obviously hay and feed as required. Any thoughts?
[/ QUOTE ]
Go for it. It's exactly what I did with my mare and she possitively thrived. She had adlib haylage once the grass dissapeared, and wintered really, really well.
Mare in question is lightweight cob, good doer, though has spent previous winters in at night as clipped/competing. Field would have shelter, hope not to rug, but would obviously hay and feed as required. Any thoughts?
[/ QUOTE ]
Go for it. It's exactly what I did with my mare and she possitively thrived. She had adlib haylage once the grass dissapeared, and wintered really, really well.