What do I feed my soon-to-be bred mare?

Okay, I am not very smart when it comes to feeds so I got some questions.

My mare(who is 21 years young) is getting dropped off at the breeders this Wednesday night... she currently is on a mineral block & green grass w/hay.

My questions are: 1) what should she be on(food) right now?
2) what foods should she be put on the last few months of her pregnancy??

What do you think of "Breweryeast" & "Mare Plus"? Also, "Stock & Stable" by Nutrina?

Please give me thoughts. Thanks

Hi,

I'd personally get onto an equine nutritionist(independent of feed co) myself, as you want the best for her & the foal.

She doesn't need more feed above maintenance now or in the very near future - pregnant mares don't need to be any more overweight than any other horse & evidence suggests this can make not just the mare but the foal more prone to metabolic probs in future. So a normal low starch, high fibre diet that keeps her in reasonable condition is fine. I would however give her better nutritional supplementation than just a block, as they don't really provide all that much.

I have just looked for an article I just recently read by an equine nutritionist specifically on nutritional & feeding requirements of pregnant mares. Do you think I can find it, or even remember where it was from?? I think I might have got it from Dr Elanor Kellon(well worth looking up). But the gist of it re feed (can't remember nutritional details) was that horses don't need much extra calories through most of the first trimester, do need extra in the second & third trimester, but they tend to be fine on a maintenance amount for their weight in the 4th trimester. Lactating mares do need substantially extra energy to maintain health & good milk production in the first few months after the foal's birth, but their milk is richer & better on good quality forage/low starch than it is if fed grain & such.

Brewers yeast is a supp that's high in potassium, protein, folate & B vits. Can't find much info ATM on 'Stock & Stable' & you don't say which one, but as it's an 'economical across the board' type feed, I suspect it's not the greatest option & wouldn't feed sweet feed or grainy stuff to her. Can't find much(the page won't open) on the Mare Plus, but this is a nutritional supplement from Smartpak? If so, I think they generally seem to have good quality, well researched products.

Check out Sky's 'Want to share this article' thread in hoofcare section. FeedXL.com is another great online resource that I highly recommend.

You have 2 things to look at with your soon to be pregnant mare 1 she will be pregnant 2 she's a senior. Seniors alone need special care as they get older. Putting her on a good senior feed ( I prefer Purina products) and maybe adding a Mare and foal suppliment would be good.
May I ask why your breeding a 21 yr old mare ? Although it has been done is there a reason ( other then to have a foal)
Key rule is early trimester mares will do well on a 10 to12 % crude protein diet and last trimester 12 to 14% crude protein diet. Last of the trimester is to watch that she does not gain too much weight as she is already carrying a foal of good size.
Just remember she's a senior as well, when feeding. And avoid fescue hay!
Good luck

TRR

Thanks for the info :)

I will call the vet and get her on her senior feed & mare/foal feed.

We got her vet checked before we got her bred and the vet was VERY impressed of how young she looked(inside & out) - and she said that she would not hesitate for her to have another foal... her last foal was around 2 or 3 yrs ago.

Anyway, thank you for your replies :)

Here is a pic of what she looks like(incase any of you are curious)

Beautiful horse and child go together well. I'm glad I looked at this thread as I was curious about horse feed. Now I know something about seniors and feed. Good luck with her. Hope it all turns out okay. What about fish oil for horses, would that do any good?

She honestly looks in fabulous shape for 21. I wouldn't worry about her feed right now. If she like like that , she's not lacking.

When she's about 8 months along, I'd put her on a mare and foal feed, and unlimited hay. Maybe a mare/foal supplement but other then that, I think shell be good.

My mare is 2 months along and I've changed nothing so far. November is when I'll start adding more feed and switching her grain.

I hope your mare is doing well. When winter starts to come in will you be giving her any supplements? How will you keep the weight on her? Will fish oil for horses do any good?