What to Feed a Pregnant Horse
When a horse gets pregnant, she will need extra attention when it comes to where and what to feed her. The first step is to get the proper sort of horse insurance, you may find that policies change one your animal becomes pregnant. Like all animals when they become pregnant, the need for extra nutrition becomes the primary concern. With a pregnant horse, there are certain things to keep in mind when considering changing her feeding habits.
During the early stages of pregnancy, a mare will for the most part take care of herself, and this should be encouraged; do not force any new food or scheduled meals. Allow the horse to enjoy fresh and lush pastures at her own pace and eat when she wants to eat. A mare knows when she wants to eat when not to, let her make her own decisions. The only guidance you should give is to provide healthy, green pastures that provide no dangers or concerns for the newly pregnant horse.
One thing to keep in mind is that a pregnant horse may become overweight. This should be discouraged and monitored daily. An overweight horse may cause problems during labour, so this should be your main concern. To curb over eating and the negative effects of an overweight horse, you may wish to consider giving your horse nutritional supplements, specifically those with high amounts of protein, calcium, and vitamins. This will create a balanced diet, especially if she predominantly grazes in green pastures.
In the latter stages of her pregnancy, ninth to eleventh months specifically, the baby horse will have grown significantly. During these months, you should keep a close eye on her and provide her with plenty of protein and calcium supplements. This will also ensure that the mare has a sufficient amount of milk that is of the highest nutritional value.
A pregnant horse may also have other health complications, so you should always be in contact with your veterinarian to ensure that her pregnancy goes smoothly.
Comments are closed!