|
Just like a pregnant woman, the pregnant
mare does need special attention, but resents being wrapped in cotton
wool and suffocated with kindness!
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Drenching and Vaccinations
A regular drenching program should be maintained throughout the
pregnancy, however it is advisable not to drench the mare in the
last 4 weeks of gestation. Some drenches should not be used on the
pregnant mare, so check the label before purchasing.
It is advisable to have the mare vaccinated against tetanus and
strangles. If your mare has not been vaccinated in the last 12 months,
then an initial program should be commenced.
This program entails;
Tetanus and Strangles 2 in 1 vaccination, then 2 weeks later a Strangles
(only strangles) vaccination, and 2 weeks later another 2 in 1 Tetanus
and Strangles. It is very important to stick to the program accurately
and keep the needles as close as possible to the 2 week interval.
This should be done before the mare comes to stud to foal down.
If the mare has had regular vaccinations, then her annual booster
should be given 4-6 weeks prior to her foaling date. This allows
some cover to the foal via the colostrum.
Routine at Yallambee Stud is all pregnant mares are given a tetanus
and strangles booster prior to foaling.
If the tetanus and strangles program of your mare is up to date,
please let me know via the application form.
EHV 1,4 vaccinations are now a part
of routine vaccination programs. Unfortunately it is too late to
commence the program now if not already underway, but deserves your
serious consideration next year.
FOR PREVIOUSLY UNVACCINATED MARES
an initial vaccination at 4 months gestation, then at 5 month, 7
months and 9 months of pregnancy.
FOR PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED MARES vaccinate
at 5, 7 and 9 months of pregnancy.
Farrier Programs
One of the worst things that can be done to a pregnant mare is neglect
her feet – like us girls they can swell in the legs, which
can reduce fitness levels and cause stress. As the mare gains weight,
splits will form more rapidly, accelerating serious hoof problems.
The importance of well-maintained feet can not be stressed enough.
Check your mare’s feet now, and get a 6-week farrier program
into action if it not currently being done.
Weight, Feeding and Fitness
The golden rule – A fit pregnant
mare at correct weight.
The overweight mare physically tends to have a much more difficult
foaling. Her lack of fitness and muscle tone means the act of foaling
has much less effort put into it. Fat mares tend to “chuck
it in” half way through the job, resulting in a slower delivery
which can cause all sorts of serious problems. A greater rate of
professional assistance by attending personnel is required in an
attempt to get the foal out with minimal internal damage to the
mare. Fat, unfit mare’s rate of recovery is also hampered;
slowing down the initial nursing duties that must be carried out
by the mare in a very short period of time. Internally, the uterus
is much slower to contract, again due to lack of muscle tone. This
has a direct effect on the fertility of the mare for that season.
The underweight mare also invites problems, both to herself and
the foal. Certainly she will also suffer from lack of strength during
the foaling process. She is more likely to suffer serious internal
damage. She is also more likely to produce a “weedy” foal,
that will require extra attention to get it up and going. This foal
is more likely to have other health problems, and be foaled early.
The mare is less likely to provide the required levels of colostrum,
and support the foal with adequate milk.
The last 1/3rd of gestation is nutritionally the most important
period to the pregnant mare. It is also when the weather is colder
and she would require greater energy levels anyway. Feed supplementation
needs to carried out. If on good pasture she will certainly require
lucerne hay and grain, along with any mineral and vitamin supplements
your property is deficient in. On poor pasture much more will be
required. There are many commercial pregnant mare feeds available,
and should be investigated by the owner for this period.
Keep your mare fit – do not lock her up in a small paddock
– again like us girls, they have a need to roam wide open spaces
and to socialize. A large, well-pastured, well sheltered paddock,
with your other pregnant mares if possible; having to walk a distance
to feed and water is ideal.
Never rug a pregnant mare – it
will have to come off at some stage, exposing the mare to stress.
The Paper Work
Provide the stud with the last date of service and the sire of the
foal. It is amazing how many we have to chase up. Also provide the
stud with other relevant details such as vaccination details, last
drench and last farrier. It is always worth while mentioning any
idiosyncrasies (e.g. – foals without bagging up, runs milk
etc.) and any history of problems the mare may have faced foaling.
I have included a departure form which will make you very popular
with any studmaster if it accompanies your mare at transportation
time to the stud. Pop it in an envelope with the destination of
the mare, the mare’s name and your name on the front.
SENDING THE PREGNAT MARE TO STUD
Common thought is that the pregnant mare should be sent to stud
about 1 month before she is due to foal. Reasons for this is wide
and varied, but briefly it allows enough time for;
- The mare to accustom herself to the properties natural microbial
population, hence building up resistance via the colostrum to
the foal for optimum health.
- Allows the stud to “get to know” the mare
- Allows the mare to settle into a social group
- Reduces the chance of a stress induced foaling from transporting
the mare close to foaling.
SOME FACTS ABOUT FOALING
Gestation period for the pregnant mare is calculated between 335 and
342 days. At the stud we calculate at 338 days post service. However,
frankly the due date has little to do with what is considered “normal”
gestation.
The mare is capable of having a normally developed foal at 325 days
right through to 365 days. The mare on the accompanying graph that
foaled 40 days past her due date had a normal foal and foaling –
and no, there was not a mistake on the last date of service because
she has been here right through! Needless to say the owner was very
anxious about how overdue she was, and that is natural. This particular
mare did break our previous record by 3 days, which was held by my
own mare (it can happen to anyone!). The nuisance value of the very
overdue mare is that it sets back her breeding program. Conversely,
a mare that foals early can also have a normally developed foal (provided
not induced by stress), and a mare that foals at her due date can
have a dysmature (under developed, but not premature) foal. We have
a mare here that has consistently foaled 10-15 days early for the
last 6 years, all very healthy strong foals.
As is so aptly displayed on the graph, not many mares foal very close
to their due dates. Last year was a late year, and I think from talking
to other Victorian Studs, that characteristic was fairly wide spread.
It does say loud and clear don’t panic if the mare is going over
time – even two and three weeks is very common.
Most mares foal at night, an unfortunate fact of life. An undocumented
observation by Rick and myself is that mares are clever, they tend
to foal earlier than expected prior to a spell of rough weather, and
seem capable of holding off until rough weather has passed, giving
us quite a little run of intensive foaling. Rough weather can certainly
cause stress induced foaling, when mares foal earlier than they should
and producing a dysmature or premature foal. This is particularly
prevalent in the under weight mare.
We have found over the years more and more mares require assistance
during foaling – unfortunately unlike many other commercial animals
we are not selecting for “ease of foaling”, but pedigree,
type and racing ability.
SUMMARY
There is plenty the owner can do to
look after the health and welfare of the pregnant mare. She is an
expensive creature to keep, but complete and sensible care helps ensure
a happy result for all involved – again, we girls are worth all
the worry, expense and work, - you’ll be repaid many times over
with the joy that results – neglect us and things get ugly! |
