Whole Health Mare Care

by Nicole Lanphear

With the coming of a foal, a flurry of excitement surrounds the newborn. Don’t let this cause you to neglect the unique health needs of the mother, as well. Before and after birth, give special care to your mare in order to sustain her needs.

Start with the basics: always feed a daily maintenance program, including vitamins that your vet recommends to suit your horse's individual needs. In the Pacific Northwest, this includes a higher dose of selenium to make up for a deficiency in the soil. Always consult your veterinarian to be sure both your mare’s and foal’s needs are met. Include quality feed, fiber, and minerals in her diet throughout the whole pregnancy.

Keep her on the same feed you would give a mare that isn't pregnant until the last few months of gestation, when you should increase the feed and protein ratio. Also, always ensure the mare has plenty of water she can access easily to avoid dehydration.

Exercise your mare regularly throughout the pregnancy. The better shape your mare is in, the healthier she will be for foaling. Pasture exercise is adequate, but listen to your mare when she begins to feel her pregnancy, around 5-6 months. She may have less stamina or coordination, and her exercise routine should be altered accordingly. Still, remember that foaling is an athletic activity and the mare should be in good shape (i.e., good muscle tone and not too overweight or underweight).

Discuss worming options with your vet before foaling–there are safe, natural alternatives to the typical drugs, and you want to avoid giving your mare drugs within the first trimester as the organs form. [Editor's note: see "Care of the Pregnant Mare and Newborn Foal" in this issue for more on specific vaccinations and when to give them.]

Owners need to be observant as foaling time draws near–even in between each check, a foal could appear. Once your mare starts foaling, you will see within 15 minutes if everything is progressing properly, says Dr. Scott Ludberl, a veterinarian with 23 years experience.

Call your vet to give them a "heads-up" that the foal is on the way. Within 24 hours of foaling, have your vet come to check on both the foal and mare to make sure everything is okay. The veterinarian will check the foal's heart and lungs and take blood tests. He or she will also examine the mare to be sure she is in good health and producing milk properly.

After foaling, the nutritional demands of the mare increase as she recuperates from the pregnancy and feeds her new foal. Select quality feed that is low in carbohydrates and high in digestible fiber. Also, feed her high quality protein and balanced chelated minerals. As the foal grows, the nutritional demands for lactation increase in 2-3 months. At this point the foal is growing larger and demanding more milk, while the mare is maintaining or losing weight. Quality--much more so than quantity--feed and supplements are key to keeping her healthy.

Note: Beware the warning signs of an unhealthy mare–weight loss during pregnancy is a key warning, along with insufficient weight gain. Keep in touch with your vet during the entire pregnancy to ensure the safety and health of your mare and her new baby.