Second Trimester Care

If you bred your mare in the spring, she will likely be in or close to her second trimester at this time. The second trimester is defined as day 114-210 of gestation. Management isn’t much different from a non-pregnant mare but there are some considerations to keep in mind. Always consult with your vet for specifics regarding your mare and your situation. But here are some general guidelines for the second trimester.

Many people think a pregnant mare is fragile and must be handled carefully. But they need exercise and as long as there aren’t any extenuating circumstances, you can saddle up and ride. In most instances, mares can safely participate in more rigorous activities like cantering, jumping, and competitions up to about month five of gestation. Light riding is fine up to about month 8, though you may need to adjust saddle fit to accommodate her growing shape. At a minimum make sure your mare has plenty of time turned out in a pasture, paddock, or dry lot. 

It is always a good idea to provide high-quality feed but a pregnant mare’s nutritional demands are not much higher than normal during this time. In fact, you must be careful not to overfeed at this stage. Many people think they should feed for two once the pregnancy is confirmed. But excess nutrients above what is needed will not help improve foal growth but will instead go to the mare. Carrying this additional weight can be detrimental for the mare resulting in conditions like laminitis. Excess fat stored around the pelvis can narrow the birthing canal which can make the foaling process more difficult. Try to keep your mare’s BCS around a 5 or 6 during pregnancy. Your vet can help you assess your mare’s body condition score and help with nutrition recommendations.

Consult with your vet for help with preventatives like dewormers and vaccines. Most dewormers are safe for pregnant mares but check the label carefully. During this time, you can vaccinate for EHV-1, which is Equine Herpes Virus-1. Both the first and second shot should be given during the second trimester. Fetal sexing can be done at this time to determine the foal’s sex.

The second trimester is fairly simple in terms of management. Changing up her exercise or feeding routines likely isn’t necessary unless there are extenuating circumstances. Taking care of your mare now helps set her up for a successful third trimester and foaling.

Fall Pasture and Forage Management

 Fall is right around the corner.  As we welcome cooler days and temperatures, it's also time to plan for cooler grazing options with the days getting shorter.  Growth of warm season grasses are already beginning to slow down, while many livestock and horse owners are stocking up on hay for the winter and making cool season planting decisions.   With that in mind, having the latest version of the Planting Guide for Forage Crops in NC is very helpful!  This guide can be your roadmap to selecting the best forages all year round, how much is needed, and other best management tips for success.
As always, contact your local county Extension Center for additional information and guidance; we are here to help. 

Hurricane Preparedness

 

Although hurricane season for the US technically begins in June, in NC, we don't typically start worrying about hurricanes until around August or September, which is historically when we get the most impactful storms.  We can hope that this will be a year where NC makes it out unscathed by any late summer storms, but being prepared for the worst is imperative if there are animals involved.

Check out this article by Alaina Cross for tips on how to get prepared: https://ncdisaster.ces.ncsu.edu/horses-and-horse-farms-hurricane-preparedness/

Here are a couple of less comprehensive checklists that can help get you pointed in the right direction for your preparedness plan.

Take care and stay safe!!