Hello Dr. Getty,

I have benefited from your great advice before, I searched the forum but could only find "Feeding a fat mare" and "Feeding a mare in foal", not both at the same time!

My mare is a Perch/TB cross bred to a Paint stallion. She is 9 months along, due in mid-September. Right now she is only on pasture, but I've read and been told they need "more feed" the last trimester and while nursing. She has always been on the heavy side, I struggle to keep weight off her (which was the subject of my previous posts)!

This is her second foal. The first time, I didn't know she was pregnant until very late in her term, and I did feed her a commercial ration then, but she was very young (PMU mare) and still growing. Now she is 7 years old and a very easy keeper!

My vet was here last week, and he said she is healthy but fat and to leave her alone until she goes on hay, and he would re-evaluate her when he comes to check her and the foal after it is born.

I still believe she may need some sort of supplement? I am considering Mare Plus, just to ensure she is getting enough vitamins etc. Vet says she is getting enough from pasture. Am I just being "the human" and worrying for nothing? She won't even be on hay until October where I live, that's after the foal is born.

Any advice would be appreciated! I don't mean to not trust my vet, but I worry anyway! Thank you,

Tamara

I wanted to post a picture, but couldn't see how to do it?

Where are you from? Ontario, Canada

How did you locate this forum? In my Favourites

Hi Tamara,

Congratulations are your upcoming foal! No, you're not just being "the human" and worrying for nothing. You are actually right on track! She definitely needs a vitamin/mineral supplement to fill in the gaps. Pasture will not supply everything she needs. I recommend Mare/Foal IIP.

She also needs alfalfa, so you can either give her about 30% of her forage intake as hay or give her alfalfa pellets as a meal (which can also serve as a carrier for her supplement).

I also recommend giving her some Quiessence -- magnesium to help lower her circulating insulin levels that she's experiencing because she's overweight. Give her 1 scoop per 500 lbs of body weight.

Thanks so much for writing and I hope all goes smoothly with your new little one.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Thank you Dr. Getty:

I am unable to get your products unfortunately as I live in Ontario, Canada. The shipping would be very expensive.

I am able to get "Mare Plus" a product by Farnam. It is for pregnant/lactating mares, and I will start her on that. As for a magnesium supplement, that is more difficult. If you know of a product I could get in Canada, please let me know. There doesn't seem to be anything around that has magnesium in the desired levels.

I can also get some alfalfa pellets to give her until we get our second cut (August) of fresh hay. Thank you for your input, it's nice to know I'm not just being neurotic! I want her to be as healthy as possible without overdoing it, as she does have a weight problem (vet says it's the percheron in her?).

She is my best friend, and I want to do my best by her. Please let me know if you know of another magnesium supplement? Thank you,

Tamara

Where are you from? Ontario

Hi Tamara,

The Mare Plus is fine. I am not aware of another magnesium supplement that is in Canada. If anyone knows of one, please feel free to "chime in."

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO