Hello Sherrie,

Thank you for writing about your mare. You are right to be concerned about alfalfa because too much can be detrimental for any horse, as well as a pregnant mare. Alfalfa is a wonderful addition to the diet but should not make up more than 50% of the hay ration.

At this stage in her pregnancy, she should have all the grass hay she wants (to avoid an ulcer), approximately 30 to 40 percent alfalfa, and a balanced feed. Too much starch and sugar is not appropriate for a horse that is not exercised regularly, so consider switching to one that is lower in starch such as Triple Crown Low Starch or even an equine senior feed.

Once she reaches her 8th month of pregnancy, her nutritional needs will increase dramatically and she should gain a pound every day. She will need more feed (and hence more meals, since her meal size should not exceed 3 lbs), and she would benefit from a vitamin/mineral supplement such as Mare/Foal IIP.

Once the foal is born, her nutritional needs will be even more than they were when she was pregnant. This means that her grass hay should be of high quality, her alfalfa intake should remain consistent, and her feed intake should be enough to provide enough calories to support lactation.

Make sure she is getting at least one ounce of plain, white salt each day. And water should always be near by and clean.

There is an excellent resource called The Complete Foaling Manual that offers detailed assistance with caring for your mare and newborn foal. It is not a nutritional guide, but one that helps the owner understand the foaling process and know what to expect. If you find that a personal phone visit would be helpful, please let me know. That way I can go over everything in detail and customize a plan that will help your mare throughout her pregnancy to stay healthy and produce a healthy foal.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO