Your mare should be fine on her normal diet, plus a supplement for brood
mares, until her last three months of pregnancy when the foal grows the most
in size.
Of course if your mare starts to lose condition during the earlier months of
her pregnancy, give her a little grain.
For the last three months, a commercial feed formulated for broodmares would
be a good option, the quantity depending upon her condition. Add it
gradually, increase to about 6 lbs a day, broken into two feedings. This has
worked well for my Arabians. Some mares will need more than 6 lbs., some no
more than 3, especially with very good quality hay. Let your eye be the
judge as to whether to increase her feed. In late pregnancy, I give free
choice hay. (Be careful of fescue hay or grass if you have it in your area
during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy).
The last 2-3 weeks before foaling, and for about 2 weeks afterwards, I feed
broodmares a bran mash in the evening made of half bran, half their regular
grain ration (you might decrease the grain quantity a bit for this). This
was recommended by my former vet. The mares love it, it keeps their
digestive systems working well, and given the stress those very large babies
put on their innards, anything that makes them more comfortable is a good
idea. The bran mash reportedly decreases the risk of colic during this
delicate period, and based on my experience, it works. When feeding the bran
though, do be sure you are giving the mare a broodmare supplement, since the
high phosphorus level in the bran can throw the foal's calcium-phosphorus
balance off. Possible result can be a foal coon-footed at birth (it goes
away if it's nutritional) or back at the knee from tendons growing faster
than bone.
Be skeptical about that book, Blessed Are the Broodmares, which advises
feeding mares and foals alfalfa hay exclusively. Again, the
calcium-phosphorus ratio can be thrown off, and you will wind up with bone
growing faster than tendons, and a foal that can need tendon surgery. I
speak, alas, from experience.
Most books give quantities of grain for Thoroughbred broodmares. Arabians
need MUCH less.
Good luck!
Susan B. Felker
Black Ridge Arabians
Route 1 Box 647
Floyd, VA 24091-9797
540-593-2117 felker@swva.net
Straight Crabbet, pure English GSB-eligible, and Crabbet/Egyptian/Polish
Arabians for halter, performance, and companionship.
Open House Sunday, July 14, 1996 from 1 to 5 p.m.
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