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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
   Location: Nebraska | I? bred my mare for the first time last year and will be expecting her to foal in late April/early May. I have followed my vet's advice but just wondering if you guys have any more tips/advice. When do you usually up their feed? When do you separate them from the other horses to foal and how soon do you put them all back out together? |
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 World 4D Champ
Posts: 28264
           Location: PA | Congrats! I bred my mare for the first time last year also! She is 295 days along...due mid April.
She is still out with everyone as I only have one pasture. We are in teh process of setting up her very own pen. She will be seperated by the middle of next month. Everything i've read has said to seperate no later than 30 days out. I haven't changed much as far as feed since she's held her weight very well, and my vet hasn't advised me to yet.
This probably wasn't much help, but just wanted to chime in with what I had planned! |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
   Location: Nebraska | BRcwgrl81 - 2016-02-23 2:15 PM Congrats! I bred my mare for the first time last year also! She is 295 days along...due mid April.
She is still out with everyone as I only have one pasture. We are in teh process of setting up her very own pen. She will be seperated by the middle of next month. Everything i've read has said to seperate no later than 30 days out. I haven't changed much as far as feed since she's held her weight very well, and my vet hasn't advised me to yet.
This probably wasn't much help, but just wanted to chime in with what I had planned!
that's about what I've done! she's doubled in size the past couple of weeks and finally looks pregnant! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
   Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | Congrats! Mine has her own pen- so I have no advice for that part. But you are supposed to increase feed during the last trimester because that is when the baby grows the most. Also, vaccinate the mare 1 month before her due date so that baby gets it too. |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
   Location: Nebraska | JLBerry - 2016-02-23 2:26 PM Congrats! Mine has her own pen- so I have no advice for that part. But you are supposed to increase feed during the last trimester because that is when the baby grows the most. Also, vaccinate the mare 1 month before her due date so that baby gets it too.
How much do you up their feed? I upped her grain by a lb this week. She's an easy keeper but want to make sure she's getting enough. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
      Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
    Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Putting them in with the other horses TOTALLY depends on the other horses. Some horses treat babies like BABIES. Others do NOT and the baby could be seriously injured or killed. (The mare could also be seriously injured trying to protect the baby. Though chances are a bit lower IF she is the dominant horse in the herd.) |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
 Location: Piedmont, OK | I up the feed the last trimester. Mine get alfalfa and oats once a day with access to a round bale 24/7 then at the end I bump it up to twice a day. I also put them on the Immune formula from Animal Element the last month before they foal to make sure the immune system is good for her and the baby. I don't separate them from the other horses until they are close to foaling. I look for them to bag up and then I will put them in a stall. and keep an eye on them. I have a first time mom this year that was due last Sunday, who bagged up last Wed but still no wax, no softening around the tail and NO BABY! I check on her at midnight, 3 am and 6 am. I just want her to have this stinking baby! If she waxes up then I will check on her every 2 hours or sleep in the barn. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
     Location: SE KS | We have to get ours up off fescue, I live in KS, so at the very least 30 days before she's due she is up. Fed twice a day with access to hay. Our first time mare, was needy, she wanted/needed you to spend time with her, brushing, petting or just working in the area, always seemed to comfort her!!
She had huge milk veins all along under belly clear to the middle of her front legs, & squirted milk several days before she foaled. So of course she liked a soft belly "massage" alot!!! |
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