The most suitable diet for a brood mare or youngster will be influenced by a number of factors such as their breed or type. However, the golden rule that should always be followed whether feeding a Highland or a Thoroughbred is to ensure the diet is balanced. Selecting the right horse feeds to do this depends on a number of factors.

The importance of vitamins and minerals for the mare

The energy requirements of mares that haven’t reached the final trimester of pregnancy can often be met by feeding plenty of good quality forage. However, forages such as hay and haylage are almost certainly not going to provide sufficient vitamins and minerals and access to pasture is no guarantee that requirements will be met due to low levels of minerals such as copper and selenium in particular. It is therefore advisable to provide complementary sources of these nutrients in the form of a supplement, balancer or stud feed.

The foetus accumulates stores of minerals to support it once it is born and grows rapidly as the mare’s milk just can’t provide enough of these essential nutrients to keep up with demand. If these stores are not accumulated due to inadequate supply to the mare, congenital defects such as contracted tendons may occur. It is worth noting that a mare may cope with insufficient supplies in the diet for one or more pregnancies by depleting her own reserves but it is likely that at some point, the effects of a poor diet will become apparent and a foal is born with problems.

As nowadays there is literally a feed for every type of horse and pony, it should come as no surprise that there is a stud feed to meet the requirements of all types of broodmares. The most appropriate feed is usually determined by how easily the mare holds her weight which is often influenced by breed or type and the time of year. Native breeds and other good-doers are less likely to require high energy feeds and so a stud specific, broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement or stud balancer should be suitable. Balancers are designed to be fed at very low levels so that they supply vitamins and minerals without too many calories which makes them ideal for other mares at times of year when grass is abundant and supplying lots of energy.

The impact of seasonal changes on nutrition

With seasonal changes, the quality and availability of forage change. During spring and summer, as the weather is warmer and the days are longer, pasture is higher in protein and lower in fibre. The protein content provides the nutrients mares need to help with lactation and growth. It’s important to measure the nutrient content of the pasture so you can get a better idea of how to supplement your mare to meet nutritional needs.

In autumn and winter, mares need alternatives to pasture and so conserved forages and bucket feed may be needed too.

The impact on breeding

Did you know that the changing seasons can have an impact on breeding? This is because the reproductive cycle of horses is affected by the changes in day length, which we know get longer in the spring/summer, and shorter in the winter. Peak breeding season tends to take place in late spring to early summer – this is when the mare’s chances of conceiving are highest. Whilst breeding is still possible at other times of the year, it is less likely the mare will conceive naturally.