Preparing Your Mare for Pregnancy
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Every pregnant mammal requires some level of special care. Probably the most important consideration prior to mare pregnancy is body condition. The quality of the foal is determined in part by the mare’s physical condition. Therefore the mare’s weight and body mass play a significant role during pregnancy. A mare that is thin typically has lower reproductive performance than a heavier mare. A higher body weight helps the mare cope with the physical demands of carrying the foal. Having a healthy body condition will also affect lactation. A thin mare will have more difficulty producing an adequate supply of milk for her foal.

Body condition scoring is one way to determine the physical condition of your mare. This scale ranges from 1-9, where 1 is very thin and 9 is very heavy. Using this scale as a guide, the mare should ideally be close to 6 or 7 prior to pregnancy. The mare’s neck, back, ribs and croup are typical areas of the body to test for body condition. The actual desired weight and body mass of your mare will depend on her size and breed. Because body condition is so important to the health of the mare and foal during pregnancy, it is necessary to prepare the mare for pregnancy well ahead of time.

Space is another important factor when planning to breed your mare. Prior to pregnancy it is important to determine if adequate space can be provided. The mare should have her own stall so that she can seek privacy when she is tired or feeling irritable. Also, your mare should not have to compete with other horses to find adequate amounts of food or water when she is pregnant. Because an average horse drinks upwards of ten to fifteen gallons of waters a day, a generous supply should be available at all times. Whether or not you are able to provide these necessities for your mare should be considered before she is bred.

Once you have made the decision to breed your mare you will need to determine when she will be entering her heat cycle. Age four is the suggested minimum age to breed your mare. If after trying your mare does not successfully breed, you can expect her to go back into heat in three weeks. This period normally lasts between three and seven days. After your mare is bred she will be in foal for eleven months.

So how can you tell if your mare is indeed in foal? Several methods exist to help make this determination. One way that pregnancy can be determined is though rectal palpation roughly 21 days after breeding. By that time a change in uterine tone is normally present. Assistance from a veterinarian may be needed to help make this determination. Another way pregnancy can be determined is through the use of an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are normally used as little as 15 days after breeding to determine if the mare is in foal. Your mare may also show a few minor signs of being in foal, such as sweating, feeling warm to the touch, or if her vulva is a brighter pink than normal. These small changes can be used as clues prior to using the more advanced methods mentioned above.

Despite the level of care a pregnant mare requires, she is, in many ways, fairly self-sufficient when it comes to pregnancy. It is not necessary to change her feeding habits during the first trimester assuming she has been receiving adequate nutrition. Your mare’s vaccinations should be up to date however, as she should not receive vaccination during the first three months of pregnancy. Ensuring she has been properly vaccinated can prevent complications for the mare and foal. And of course, before a horse owner considers breeding their mare, they must have a reliable, up to date veterinarian who knows their horse and is willing to be on call at any hour to assist with problems that may arise.

The many elements involved in horse ownership are multiplied when a mare becomes pregnant. Though a mare can maintain a normal routine for the first few months of pregnancy, the risk to the horse and her foal becomes greater during the last few months. It is important to have critical elements in place prior to breeding your mare. Understanding the needs of a pregnant mare is key. Ensuring she is properly fed, has an adequate amount of space, is fully vaccinated and in proper physical condition prior to pregnancy will significantly reduce the risk of problems to your mare and her foal. If after careful consideration you decide that breeding your mare is the right path for you, you can look forward to an amazing experience that brings unlimited rewards to you and your family.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this article should not replace the advice of, diagnosis or need for, a trained veterinarian.

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