changes in preg mare

katylynn06 · 08-28-2006, 12:16 PM

Noticed some changes in preg mare yesterday.

She is due in 4-5 wks. I can feel her ribs toward the front and her nipples have changed shape and her hips are sticking out more. I will get pics later. Being a first time owner are these things that should be changing? How can I be sure she will provide enough milk for the foal? Is she being fed enough she is on pasture 24/7 and every other day gets a flake of alfalfa hay.

Deb · 08-28-2006, 01:21 PM

What you are describing (in my opinion) is a horse that is losing weight. Nothing that necessarily has anything to do with a pregnant mare. Do you have any info on broodmares/foals?....books etc?

GeorgieGirl · 08-28-2006, 01:30 PM

Probably what is going on, is she is "dropping" the foal down, a precursor to foaling. George did this, when she was only three weeks out (but she was competition fit as I had no clue she was pregnant until a month to go-whole other story) From everything I have read, or asked when G was pregnant, this is totally normal. Yes some of it might be weight loss, but the mare has to "drop" the foal to relax enough to line it up with the birth canal. Sounds all complicated and they do it naturally...wow. I really started to notice George bagging up about six weeks before she foaled. That was my tip off that this wasn't just weight gain...which is what I thought. It amazes me that she was ten months pregnant, and never once complained about jumping three feet +. Not once. She was so fit, she didn't look pregnant at all. She looked like she had gained weight from when I got her...see my journal if you are interested in the whole story, its embarrassing to me, but its funny too.
Good luck with your mare!

ches · 08-28-2006, 03:24 PM

I agree that it sounds like the foal is dropping or has dropped. I was under the impression that it occured closer to the foaling than 3 weeks/1 month, but I could be wrong. This site is specifically about minis, but it has good info on it about what to expect up to and during foaling.

You could probably add some mare-and-foal grain to her diet to help her feed the little one. Now would probably be a good time to start introducing it slowly. Purina's Omolene Strategy seems to be the most versatile non-sweet feed that they carry; it can be fed to pregnant and lactating mares as well as to foals (who will eat from mum's feed bin). I'm sure there are other brands available too.

It's also probably time to prepare the area you want your mare to foal in. A small paddock or a large stall is ideal, and you can start bringing her in at night as that's when most foalings occur. You want the birth to take place away from other horses and away from the dangers of coyotes or snakes if they're a risk in your area. The little one is going to be on the ground for about an hour and then wobbly for another hour once it gets up and your mare will be vulnerable during labor and delivery too. You also want the placenta preserved if possible so that the vet can check that all of it came out.

katylynn06 · 09-11-2006, 06:16 AM

Forgot I posted this. Thanks for the comments. HeHeHe

ches · 09-11-2006, 07:33 AM

Well did she foal yet? How are things going?

Dawn · 09-11-2006, 04:16 PM

Why is she getting one flake of alfalfa every other day?

magicsdoublepla · 09-11-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

Why is she getting one flake of alfalfa every other day?

thats what i was wondering...
pregnant mares should be getting way more than that.. at leasstt 2 flakes in the morning, 2 at night, every day.. or something like that.. she's eating to feed two horses, (herself and her baby) and she needs lots of feed to help both of them to be really healthy and stuff... even if it seems like lots, its better cuz shes trying to feed two horses, and pasture might not be enough for her

Dawn · 09-11-2006, 06:01 PM

Even though more alfalfa would be great for a preggy mare, a feed stuff only every other day is not healthy for any horse. She would, health wise, be better off without any at all.

08-28-2006, 12:16 PM	#1
katylynn06 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AR Posts: 1,647 Images: 189 Blog Entries: 29	changes in preg mare Noticed some changes in preg mare yesterday. She is due in 4-5 wks. I can feel her ribs toward the front and her nipples have changed shape and her hips are sticking out more. I will get pics later. Being a first time owner are these things that should be changing? How can I be sure she will provide enough milk for the foal? Is she being fed enough she is on pasture 24/7 and every other day gets a flake of alfalfa hay. __________________ Member of the 20lb club. 142lbs, goal lose 20lbs Ahhhh the smell of a horse. Who could resist. Proud Mom of a United States Marine

08-28-2006, 01:30 PM	#3
GeorgieGirl Full Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 277 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 6	Probably what is going on, is she is "dropping" the foal down, a precursor to foaling. George did this, when she was only three weeks out (but she was competition fit as I had no clue she was pregnant until a month to go-whole other story) From everything I have read, or asked when G was pregnant, this is totally normal. Yes some of it might be weight loss, but the mare has to "drop" the foal to relax enough to line it up with the birth canal. Sounds all complicated and they do it naturally...wow. I really started to notice George bagging up about six weeks before she foaled. That was my tip off that this wasn't just weight gain...which is what I thought. It amazes me that she was ten months pregnant, and never once complained about jumping three feet +. Not once. She was so fit, she didn't look pregnant at all. She looked like she had gained weight from when I got her...see my journal if you are interested in the whole story, its embarrassing to me, but its funny too. Good luck with your mare! __________________ Proud Mommy of Miss George and Chia Pet!

09-11-2006, 06:16 AM	#5
katylynn06 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AR Posts: 1,647 Images: 189 Blog Entries: 29	Forgot I posted this. Thanks for the comments. HeHeHe __________________ Member of the 20lb club. 142lbs, goal lose 20lbs Ahhhh the smell of a horse. Who could resist. Proud Mom of a United States Marine

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08-28-2006, 01:21 PM	#2
Deb Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,261 Images: 2	What you are describing (in my opinion) is a horse that is losing weight. Nothing that necessarily has anything to do with a pregnant mare. Do you have any info on broodmares/foals?....books etc?

08-28-2006, 03:24 PM	#4
ches Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,472 Images: 38	I agree that it sounds like the foal is dropping or has dropped. I was under the impression that it occured closer to the foaling than 3 weeks/1 month, but I could be wrong. This site is specifically about minis, but it has good info on it about what to expect up to and during foaling. You could probably add some mare-and-foal grain to her diet to help her feed the little one. Now would probably be a good time to start introducing it slowly. Purina's Omolene Strategy seems to be the most versatile non-sweet feed that they carry; it can be fed to pregnant and lactating mares as well as to foals (who will eat from mum's feed bin). I'm sure there are other brands available too. It's also probably time to prepare the area you want your mare to foal in. A small paddock or a large stall is ideal, and you can start bringing her in at night as that's when most foalings occur. You want the birth to take place away from other horses and away from the dangers of coyotes or snakes if they're a risk in your area. The little one is going to be on the ground for about an hour and then wobbly for another hour once it gets up and your mare will be vulnerable during labor and delivery too. You also want the placenta preserved if possible so that the vet can check that all of it came out.

09-11-2006, 07:33 AM	#6
ches Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,472 Images: 38	Well did she foal yet? How are things going?

09-11-2006, 04:16 PM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,295 Images: 1386	Why is she getting one flake of alfalfa every other day?

09-11-2006, 06:01 PM	#9
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,295 Images: 1386	Even though more alfalfa would be great for a preggy mare, a feed stuff only every other day is not healthy for any horse. She would, health wise, be better off without any at all.