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Post by Guestless on Mar 3, 2011 12:10:29 GMT
Please add your thoughts on this. Feel free to ask any questions, but have a read of the thread in case your question has already been asked.  |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 5, 2011 16:21:04 GMT
Not difficult really - worm and foot trim as normal, and pay attention to the feeding. They only really need extra calories in the last two/three months when the foal is growing rapidly as long as they have necessary micronutrients all the way through, getting too fat isn't good for them. Herpes vaccination is possible and a matter of individual choice, if in doubt talk it through with your vet.
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Post by elmere on Mar 6, 2011 18:12:24 GMT
Mine are just turned out after covering on grass and they get haylage in winter when the grass runs out, I only feed in the last month and just give them stud balancer. I really watch their weight and I like them on the really lean side ready for foaling, they really struggle if theyve got weight on them.
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Post by holiday on Mar 7, 2011 8:05:20 GMT
Again we are the same, ours are turned out some come in for the winter into crew yards and some live out. They are all on ad lib hay when grass is scarce. We always provide a general mineral block throughout all the pregnancy and same as elmere do not feed until about the last month, with the ponies, I personally dont use stud balancers for the little people just a stud cube in small amounts.
The horses maybe fed slightly different, i.e. our two old TB brood mares have been fed twice daily with hard feed all Winter, it obviously depends on what type of horses you have and feed accordingly to them. They do not need extra food for the foal until the last trimester, where the foal grows more rapidly, but that again must be judged on each mare to prevent excess fat.
Definately do not have overweight mares for foaling and vaccs, worming, feet and teeth all as normal routine work. Watch for any discharge from the vulva or changes in the bag or hindquarters throughout the pregnancy as that would be an indication of abortion or early foaling.
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Post by not logged in on Mar 15, 2011 8:36:13 GMT
We have a mare with 3 months left and normally dont add extra feed untill last 2 months depending on the mare. However we are looking for an extra supplement for the mare which doesnt make her hot headed and fizz up and also something which wont give her lammi as she had it years ago and we dont want to risk her again. We do have very good grass but with this mare we only put her out in a bare paddock through the summer. Thanks
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Post by pencaedu on Mar 15, 2011 8:49:51 GMT
I would like to find a supplement (with zero calories) for a Section A mare who is a 'very good weight' and who is due to foal sometime in the next couple of months (we acquired her in foal with no idea of the covering date).
Any ideas?
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 15, 2011 9:05:00 GMT
I rang Top Spec for advice for my EMS pregnant A mare (since lost her foal, sadly) and their advice was to keep her on their AntiLam and adjust hay according to her condition, up it if she started to drop off. Maybe that or their Lite balancer would suit yours pencaedu?
not logged in - you don't say what your mare is, but a suitable balancer should cover it. If she needs extra calories for her condition (not good for her to get fat though) think fibre and oil and avoid anything with cereal grains or molasses in it. Read the bag labels!
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Post by not logged in on Mar 15, 2011 10:18:02 GMT
Sorry she is a section D. Condition wise shes fine and is only fed on happy hoof.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 15, 2011 10:35:40 GMT
Why don't you ring and talk to Spillers? My gut reaction is that she would need to be fed the full recommended amount of happy hoof to proved all her vits/mins.otherwise a balancer would be better, but I'm not that up in spillers range. Just don't let her get too fat!
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Post by not logged in on Mar 15, 2011 11:32:29 GMT
Thanks, having her not get too fat is our priority along with making sure she is getting enough vit & mins to provide for her and the foal.
Sorry to hear about your foal and thanks again.
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Post by crichardson on Jul 6, 2011 7:30:04 GMT
I have a 15.1hh cob x who is in foal. We have limited grazing so she goes out in the paddock for half a day and is fed adlib hay. She has a mineral block which is almost finished. Her nose is sticky all the time so i'm thingking of getting some feed for her instead. She holds condition very well so was thinking of just giving her hi-fi lite and a NAF general purpose supplement. What do you think? I could get her another mineral block but the mess is driving me mad. Would I be better getting her a balance that is designed for mares in her condition?
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Post by crichardson on Jul 6, 2011 10:34:21 GMT
Forgot to say she is only 1 month gone. This is my first time breeding so its all a learning curve.
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Jul 6, 2011 11:07:52 GMT
Hi crichardson, Brinicombe equine do a lick that isn't messy or sticky, is ok for laminitics and lasts months!! Mine still isn't half way gone and I got it in Feb I think. I think a balanced feed is important no matter whether the mare in foal or not so in the summer I would say the lick is fine, depends on your soil, grazing etc. I give my TB mare calm and condition right the way trhough her pregnancy as that is fully balanced. I had my first foal this year and asked hundreds of questions. There is some really good advice in this section |
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Post by crichardson on Jul 6, 2011 14:13:17 GMT
Thanks M&H I will see if I can get hold of one of those licks. I've been reading through some of the info in this section and you are right it is very informative. Congrats on you foalie x
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Post by lampshade on Aug 23, 2011 11:04:08 GMT
Hi
My horse is a cob x and 2 months gone in foal. Up until now she has had adlib hay and 1/2 day turn out in a field that has bearly any grass on it, she has also had access to a mineral lick (she is a very good doer). She is in medium to light work at the moment. I rang top spec and they recommended that I feed her top spec lite for the moment then change her feed when I turn her away at christmas. They recommended that I change her feed to top spec comprehensive feed balancer at christmas with alfa chop. The thing is when I spoke to my vet when she had her last scan they told me that I only need to feed her up the month before she is due. This is her first foal so want to make sure I do everything right. I understand that she will require more feed for living out for a few months but I am worried about feeding her up too much. The last thing I want is for the foal to be too big. Top spec made no mention of a stud balancer. Any suggestions would be welcome, confused.com
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Aug 23, 2011 11:49:30 GMT
Top spec are very good, and I know from experience that they do tend to recommend a stage down in balancers, so to speak, for native ponies rather than performance horses. Alfalfa is a great source of quality protein, which I expect is why they recomended it, but you do too have to look at what else she's fed, aiming to alter the quantity and nutrient density of the forage which will be her main feed if necessary. Of course she needs sufficient fibre, but be governed by her body condition - if she gets tubbier than you would like then change haylage to hay, for example, or if you feed any significant amount of chaff then look to using a less fattening one, there is a huge range available from alfa oil to hifi lite with varying amounts of alfalfa and straw chop mixed.
And try not to worry, foal sizes are normally governed by the size of the mare, and as long as her own body condition is right, not too fat and not too thin, the vast majority of mares foal with no trouble at all.
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Post by elmere on Aug 23, 2011 12:09:58 GMT
Hi My horse is a cob x and 2 months gone in foal. Up until now she has had adlib hay and 1/2 day turn out in a field that has bearly any grass on it, she has also had access to a mineral lick (she is a very good doer). She is in medium to light work at the moment. I rang top spec and they recommended that I feed her top spec lite for the moment then change her feed when I turn her away at christmas. They recommended that I change her feed to top spec comprehensive feed balancer at christmas with alfa chop. The thing is when I spoke to my vet when she had her last scan they told me that I only need to feed her up the month before she is due. This is her first foal so want to make sure I do everything right. I understand that she will require more feed for living out for a few months but I am worried about feeding her up too much. The last thing I want is for the foal to be too big. Top spec made no mention of a stud balancer. Any suggestions would be welcome, confused.com Feed companies obviously want you to buy more of their products so they will tell you to feed throughout. Personally I would listen to your vet and just feed her extra nearer to foaling, many horse owners make the mistake of feeding too much over winter to keep the condition and then they have problems come spring when they blow up on grass, if you keep your girl on the leaner side then you will be making her job much easier when its time to foal. Oh and good luck.  |
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Post by lampshade on Aug 23, 2011 14:00:22 GMT
Thanks for your replies sarahp and elmere. I will keep a close eye on her over the winter and feed accordingly, thanks again
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Post by cayo on Feb 24, 2012 9:25:51 GMT
my mare is real wuss and hates pain she reacts really badley to any kind of pain ,she did at one time go through a period of very painful seasons and would bounce off the stable walls and act very colicy when in season she couldnt be left in field as she would gallop round in blind panic between rolling and kicking as though having colic ,i was always terrified she would injure herself ,having seen her react like this to pain i am worried she will react the same when she goes into labour if she were human she would opt for a section to give birth im sure ,anyone ever had a mare react badley to labour or will she stay calm and know whats going on ,it is a worry as its her first foal .
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Feb 24, 2012 16:49:46 GMT
Well as a first foal she won't realise what's going on, and will have to get on with it, she'll have no choice once labour starts!
I once had the privilege of watching my precious D mare foal for the first time. She was in a small paddock on her own, and was obviously in the first stages, she was walking around looking uncomfortable and occasionally coming over for a cuddle as if to ask me what was wrong with her? Eventually she lay down, gave a few heaves, and the foal was born. You could see her thinking "gosh, that's a relief, what was all that about?". Then the foal whinnied, still on the ground behind her dam, also still on the ground, and I've never seen a horse look so surprised in my life. She turned round to look, saw the foal and oh the look of amazement on her face was a picture "where on earth did THAT come from?". Then instinct took over, and she did all the right things after that as they normally do. I have a wonderful series of photos of it all.
Good luck with yours.
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Post by cayo on Feb 24, 2012 18:39:52 GMT
Well as a first foal she won't realise what's going on, and will have to get on with it, she'll have no choice once labour starts! I once had the privilege of watching my precious D mare foal for the first time. She was in a small paddock on her own, and was obviously in the first stages, she was walking around looking uncomfortable and occasionally coming over for a cuddle as if to ask me what was wrong with her? Eventually she lay down, gave a few heaves, and the foal was born. You could see her thinking "gosh, that's a relief, what was all that about?". Then the foal whinnied, still on the ground behind her dam, also still on the ground, and I've never seen a horse look so surprised in my life. She turned round to look, saw the foal and oh the look of amazement on her face was a picture "where on earth did THAT come from?". Then instinct took over, and she did all the right things after that as they normally do. I have a wonderful series of photos of it all. Good luck with yours. Thanks i hope my mare is so calm as yours with her first she makes such a fuss at pain you wouldnt believe butas you say nature should take over ,when foal first started moving she was shooting round the box with eyes on sticks looking terified but she has got usd to it now bless her |
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Post by cayo on May 18, 2012 4:44:58 GMT
Well as a first foal she won't realise what's going on, and will have to get on with it, she'll have no choice once labour starts! I once had the privilege of watching my precious D mare foal for the first time. She was in a small paddock on her own, and was obviously in the first stages, she was walking around looking uncomfortable and occasionally coming over for a cuddle as if to ask me what was wrong with her? Eventually she lay down, gave a few heaves, and the foal was born. You could see her thinking "gosh, that's a relief, what was all that about?". Then the foal whinnied, still on the ground behind her dam, also still on the ground, and I've never seen a horse look so surprised in my life. She turned round to look, saw the foal and oh the look of amazement on her face was a picture "where on earth did THAT come from?". Then instinct took over, and she did all the right things after that as they normally do. I have a wonderful series of photos of it all. Good luck with yours. Thats so lovley hope mines as easy |
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