How Much Should A Pregnant Horse Eat?

A typical diet for gestating mares during latter pregnancy is 20 to 25 lbs good-quality hay, plus 6 to 8 lbs of concentrate. If a mare is on poor winter pasture, the hay and concentrate may need to be increased.

What should you feed a pregnant horse?

Dry mares in early gestation can basically be fed like any other mature, idle horse. Good quality pasture or hay along with a supplement such as Purina^® Free Balance 12:12 vitamin/mineral supplement or Enrich Plus^® Ration Balancing horse feed may be all that is necessary to meet these mares’ nutritional requirements.

How much should a pregnant mare eat?

As an average, most mares will require from 1.5 to 1.75 percent of their body weight in high quality roughage daily to satisfy nutrient requirements. Whether on good pasture or hay or both, dry mares in early pregnancy need only to be provided good water and access to a mineralized salt block or mix.

Can you overfeed a pregnant mare?

Resist the temptation to overfeed.
A common management mistake among well-meaning mare owners is overfeeding during the first seven to eight months of pregnancy. The fetus does not grow at an even rate during pregnancy; in fact, most fetal growth occurs in the final three months of gestation.

When should I feed my pregnant mare?

The development of the foal begins right from the point of conception so it’s very important to feed a pregnant mare appropriately from this time onwards.

Do pregnant mares need alfalfa?

The short answer is yes, it is perfectly acceptable to feed your mares alfalfa hay. If the hay is moderate quality or better, your mares will likely have no trouble maintaining their weight.

How can I get my pregnant horse to gain weight?

In considering the forage component of the mare’s diet, the only thing you might do to increase its caloric contribution is to switch to a high-quality alfalfa hay. In some regions, alfalfa is difficult to obtain or expensive, so as long as the hay you’re feeding is palatable and plentiful, the forage is acceptable.

How often should you check a pregnant mare?

One schedule is as follows: 1) days 14–18—check for pregnancy and twins; if open, mare can be rebred on days 19–20; 2) days 25–30—evaluate normal embryo development (heartbeat present at 24–25 days), recheck for twins; 3) days 40–60—evaluate normal fetal development; 4) fall check—confirm mare is still pregnant.

How much alfalfa should a pregnant mare have?

If allowed to self-regulate her intake, she will likely consume 2.5 to 3.5 percent of her body weight as forage. Alfalfa hay should also be included to balance her protein needs. Alfalfa should never be fed exclusively (due to potential mineral imbalances). Strive for a 60:40 ratio of grass hay to alfalfa hay.

Is beet pulp good for pregnant mares?

Nonetheless, mares late in pregnancy are frequently offered additional energy in the form of concentrated feeds, such as those containing oats, soybean, barley, corn, beet pulp, stabilized rice bran, and other feedstuffs.

What minerals do pregnant mares need?

Until the last trimester of pregnancy, your mare doesn’t need extra energy, only enough to maintain body condition, but she does need essential vitamins and minerals. Minerals such as copper and zinc and vitamins A and D are crucial for the development of the foal’s organs and connective tissue.

How much protein do pregnant mares need?

Be aware though that many forages are really quite low in protein 6-7% average and a pregnant mare will need an average of 11% protein in the diet to be able to keep herself at optimum health at the same time as building the new life within her.

Do pregnant horses drink more water?

Pregnant mares also drink more water, so place 2 water buckets in her stall and fill them frequently. Additionally, it is very important to remove the mare from all sources of fescue (pasture or hay) during the last 3 months of gestation.

How long can I ride a pregnant mare?

Generally speaking, you can ride a pregnant mare from month two of her pregnancy until month eight.

When should you not worm a pregnant mare?

As your mare approaches her due date, leave worming until the day of foaling and replace mum and foal in a new paddock as the manure will only contain dead worms and eggs. Foals have a wonderful habit of ingesting Mum’s manure and therefor worm eggs.

What is the best feed for a nursing mare?

Legume hay such as lucerne hay or chaff are good quality forage for lactating mares. Lucerne hay and chaff have a higher protein and energy content then grass hay. Grass hay can be fed in larger amounts and must be supplemented with a concentrate to correct nutrient deficiencies.

What should a pregnant mare watch for?

A few key points and when to call your veterinarian: If your mare starts to drip milk before 320 days of pregnancy. If your mare does not have a filling udder (colostrum) within one week of her due date. If the mare runs milk consistently prior to foaling for more than three to four days.

Do pregnant mares need to be under lights?

Pregnant mares expected to foal early in the season that are to be rebred should also be put under lights just as barren mares. Mares due to foal prior to March 1 should follow the same protocol, as many mares will slip into anestrous after foaling if they foal early in the year.

How can I speed up my horse pregnancy?

The exact duration within that timeframe is random for each pregnancy. There is no way to speed up pregnancies, not even through artificially ageing the mare.

What puts weight on horses fast?

What is the fastest way to put weight on a horse? High fat, high protein grain combined with a rich alfalfa hay can quickly put weight on a horse, if there is not an underlying medical condition.

Does olive oil help horses gain weight?

Oil for weight gain
In fact, 300ml of oil provides approximately same amount of energy (calories) as 1kg of oats. However unlike cereal grains, oil is starch free making it a safe and sympathetic option for horses prone to excitability or clinical conditions such as laminitis, colic, gastric ulcers or tying up.