Wintering Broodmares
- February 17, 2025
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- Anna Foulger
Posted in: Uncategorized
Running broodmares through the negative temperatures in South Eastern Montana can be tough, we are currently running two mares that are in foal for this spring. Making sure they are well taken care of is top priority because we value the mares and their babies. We worry about mares losing a colt, not keeping weight on or other complications. A few factors that play into mares doing well in foal through the winter months are: windbreak, quality feed and a solid mineral or grain program.
Having a good windbreak so the mares aren’t standing in the cold is really important. Especially in Montana with temperatures in the negatives and wind chill even colder! When the weather starts to turn we immediately move all the mares to a pasture that has forest in it. This allows for a natural windbreak and block from the snow. This also means there will be grass longer into the winter months which will be helpful as well. Our pasture has a mix of pine tree coverage and lots of hills, giving all the mares a good place to hide when the weather gets really dicey. Typically if the weather is really bad, you will find the mares keeping warm in the trees.
Another way a horse stays warm is eating. Making sure the mares have the best alfalfa mix hay on the ranch is very important. We unroll a bale every other day, making sure they always have something to eat on. After the bale is unrolled I like to check it for any mold or excess dust. If the hay is questionable at all, I want it replaced with another bale. Winters are hard enough without adding to it with breathing issues from bad hay. We also feed hay cubes, to make sure that even if the hay isn’t as desirable they are getting everything they need.
All good broodmare programs use minerals to help produce good boned babies and keep their mares healthy. We personally only like to use minerals that have chelated minerals in it. This means the minerals themselves have been chemically combined with amino acids, making them more available and easily absorbed in the horse’s body. Not only do we put out a loose mineral, we also have started feeding a grain that has a chelated mineral package in it as well. When in doubt, feed more minerals! Minerals play a vital role in foal development in the womb. If a mare doesn’t get the right amount of minerals you can run into foals being born with crooked legs, bad feet and poor bone structure. Mares also tend to drop off if they don’t have the minerals they need to grow the foal itself and maintain their own body.
Overall the most important thing we try to focus on, is lots of good feed, water and shelter! The closer they get to having a foal we will move the mares closer to our house and even into the barn if the weather is still bad. This ensures good foaling and no frozen eared foals!
Posted in: Uncategorized
About Anna Foulger
Hey there! My name is Anna Foulger, I am a young mom of soon to be two; a toddler daughter and little boy on the way! Me and my husband ranch in Eastern Montana with his family and we love every minute! My background is in...