The Complete Guide to Big Horse Breeding: Bloodlines, Management, and Care
Draft broodmare care and nutrition requires precision to prevent metabolic collapse. A common error among inexperienced managers involves overfeeding energy-dense grains, which produces obese mares prone to insulin resistance, laminitis, and uterine inertia during labor.
Draft mares carry an average gestation period of 335 to 345 days, though heavy breeds regularly carry to 350 days without clinical complication. Nutritional planning divides into distinct phases:
During the first eight months, mares require maintenance rations consisting of high-quality mixed grass-legume hay delivering 1.5% to 2% of their body weight daily, supported by a concentrated balancer pellet. This provides essential zinc, copper, and selenium without unneeded caloric surplus. Copper intake during mid-gestation directly correlates with the foal's cartilage formation and reduces the incidence of developmental orthopedic diseases like osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD).
In the final trimester, the developing fetus occupies significant abdominal volume, compressing the mare's digestive tract. Nutritionists transition the mare to higher-density, highly digestible fiber sources, split into multiple small meals. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) must remain below 12% across the entire ration to safeguard against metabolic founder, particularly as blood estrogen levels rise late in pregnancy.
