Caring for a broodmare in late winter carries a special responsibility, as the weeks before foaling are critical for both mare and foal. With many foals due in the spring, late winter is when careful preparation pays off, giving the best possible start to new life. Heavenly Pastures, a specialist provider of horse cremations across the north west, understands the hopes and the anxieties that surround foaling, and this guide sets out how to support a broodmare through the final stretch of pregnancy.
The Demands of Late Pregnancy
The last months of pregnancy place significant demands on a mare, as the developing foal grows rapidly and draws heavily on her reserves. A broodmare needs to enter this period in good but not excessive condition, well nourished and healthy, so that she can support the foal and prepare for the demands of foaling and lactation. Late winter, with grass in short supply and cold weather adding to a mare’s needs, requires particular attention to her diet and wellbeing. Getting this stage right lays the foundation for a healthy foal and a smooth foaling.
Every mare and pregnancy is different, and close attention to the individual, guided by veterinary advice, is the surest path through these important weeks. The reward for this attentiveness is the best possible chance of a healthy foal and a mare that comes through foaling in good shape, ready to nurse and raise her foal.
Feeding the In Foal Mare
A broodmare’s nutritional needs rise sharply in late pregnancy, but the answer is quality and balance rather than simply more food. Good quality forage should form the basis of the diet, supported by a feed formulated for broodmares that provides the protein, vitamins and minerals both mare and foal require. Overfeeding energy and allowing a mare to become overweight brings its own risks, so condition should be monitored carefully. A vet or equine nutritionist can advise on getting the balance right for the individual mare. The final weeks of pregnancy are not the time for sudden dietary change, so any adjustments should be made gradually and well ahead of foaling. Owners around Heswall horse cremations and Hoylake horse cremations take real care over their mares’ late winter feeding.
Health, Vaccination and Veterinary Planning
The run up to foaling is a time for close veterinary involvement. Ensuring a mare’s vaccinations are up to date, so that she passes protection to her foal through her first milk, is an important part of preparation, and worming and general health should be managed on veterinary advice. Discussing the foaling itself with the vet well in advance, and agreeing a plan for both a normal foaling and any complications, means everyone knows what to do when the time comes. Keeping the vet’s number to hand through the foaling window is essential. Having a clear plan agreed in advance means that, should anything go wrong, precious minutes are not lost in deciding what to do. Owners across West Kirby horse cremations and Bromborough horse cremations plan closely with their vets.
Preparing the Environment
As foaling approaches, the mare’s surroundings need thought. A clean, spacious, well bedded foaling box, or a safe, sheltered paddock for those who foal outdoors, gives the best setting for a safe delivery. Introducing the mare to her foaling environment ahead of time lets her settle, and preparing a foaling kit and knowing the signs of impending and progressing labour allows an owner to be ready. Late winter weather makes shelter and warmth all the more important for a newborn foal. A newborn foal is vulnerable to cold and wet, so a warm, clean, draught free space matters enormously in the late winter weeks when many foals arrive. Owners around Neston horse cremations prepare the foaling environment with great care.
Watching for the Signs of Foaling
As the due date approaches, knowing the signs that foaling is near allows an owner to be ready without interfering unduly. In the final weeks the udder develops and fills, the muscles around the tail head soften, and the mare’s behaviour may change as she becomes restless or seeks solitude. Many mares foal at night and prefer to be left in peace, so discreet observation, whether in person or by camera, allows an owner to keep watch while disturbing the mare as little as possible. Knowing what a normal foaling looks like, and the point at which a vet must be called without delay, is essential, since problems in foaling can escalate very quickly. Above all, patience and quiet vigilance serve a foaling mare far better than anxious interference.
Hoping for the Best, Prepared for the Worst
Foaling is usually a joyful event, but it can occasionally go tragically wrong, and the loss of a mare or foal is among the hardest things an owner can face. Being prepared, and knowing that compassionate support is available should the worst happen, brings a measure of reassurance. No owner expects to need such support, but knowing it is there allows a family to focus on the joyful hope that foaling usually brings. That reassurance lets an owner give their full attention to the mare and to the safe arrival of her foal, which is where it belongs. Heavenly Pastures handles every loss, including the loss of a mare or foal, with the utmost sensitivity, to the standards set out in our standards. For guidance or support at any time, owners across the north west are welcome to call 01704 776976.