This may be a bit wordy, but here goes. I heard about a 13YO Belgian mare that was a nurse mare at a local TB farm. They were reducing their herd of TB mares and selling a couple of the nurse mares. I went to look at them-the one that I instantly "fell for" had been ridden and driven at some point in her life but nobody seemed to know more than that. The farm manager was going to run the nurse mares through the sale-I bought the mare I liked for $300.00. I had her vetted-my vet laughingly said she was jiggly but otherwise in good condition. Her feet had been negelected, her teeth needed floating, she needed a bath, took 4 1/2 hours to untangle and comb out her mane and tail. She is an absolute love! Rides like a dream. I was going to take her to a local draft horse guy to hitch her since I don't know if she was in a wreck or a run away. That was put on hold when the farm manager from the TB farm called to tell me she cleaned off her desk and found that the mare had been bred the end of April/first of May. Took her to the vet for palpation and ultrasound-yes indeed, there is a foal. It has been so hot the draft horse guy suggested waiting until it cools off a little this fall to see what she does when harnessed. She was bred to a 15.2 hand Palomino QH-very easy going horse, good bone.

Anyway-here is the dilema. Duchess was on the same feed that they gave the TB mares. A molasses based oat 16% feed. My local vet suggested something with less protein. Not knowing she was bred I weaned her off the 16% feed and have her on Nutrena Compete with is 10% protein/7%fat pelleted feed. (This is what my Paint gelding and two PMU draftX mares are on.) I also was feeding a feed through larvacide-quit feeding this when I found out she was bred. When I found out she was bred she had lost right at 300 pounds. I also ride her 30 minutes a day-just enough to get her used to working again. I also long line her 30 minutes a day. Other than that she is in a dry lot with hay during the day and out on mowed pasture at night. She does have a run-in shed with fan. I also had her vaccinations done before I brought her home.

Now the question-do you think the feed through larvacide (Simpli-Fly) and the weight loss will affect the foal?

I'd have to read the package label on the Simpli-Fly to see what is said about pregnant mares, but I'm betting that since these products are not designed to be absorbed into the horse's system that this won't affect the foal. Losing the weight probably won't affect the foal either - the developing fetus has a lot of protections. Most of your mare's protein will be coming from her hay and pasture, but since this is difficult to know without analysis, feeding a slightly higher protein feed, such as 12-14% protein, will help ensure adequate protein intake. Make all feed changes gradually. Be sure to give her a vitamin E and, if your area is deficient, selenium supplement. I'd also recommend adding some fat to the feed, for all your horses, to help protect their muscles. Your mare won't need extra calories until very late in pregnancy, if at all during her pregnancy. It is when she is nursing a foal that she will need many more calories, and then you can increase amounts of all feed, especially fat calories. Keep up the exercise as it is good for her to be in condition prior to foaling. I hope this helps, and enjoy her!

Thanks for the input. This brings up another question-I have been considering adding oil to the horse's diets. I have been looking at the Cocosoya oil supplement. Does anyone have an opinion about the product?

About the feed-I weaned them off the 12% feed to a 10% feed on the advice of my equine vet. Now I am confused!

As far as Duchess is concerned-she is on bermuda grass hay with a flake of alfalfa once a day. (The others don't get alfalfa.) She is also on a mare/foal supplement, Source, and Farrier's Formula. (Her feet had been very neglected and are looking good with regular trimming, etc.)

Thanks for the advice!

Liz