If you have never cared for a pregnant horse, you might be concerned about providing the proper care. Pregnancy is not anything to be anxious about, but your mare will have some additional care needs you should be aware of. Here are some basic tips to help you know how to keep your horse health during pregnancy.

1. Know when to schedule ultrasounds.

Once you know that your mare is pregnant, you should contact your vet about scheduling a pet ultrasound. At first, the vet may need to confirm the pregnancy (and check for twins) with an early, 14 day ultrasound. Early ultrasound can also sometimes catch abnormal development, helping you to know if you need to prepare for pregnancy loss. Another routine ultrasound at 21 days helps to make sure that your horse has no major health problems and that the foal is developing properly.

At 30–34 days, another ultrasound can tell you if the placenta has attached to the uterine wall and if the fetus has a heart beat. It's important to catch the heartbeat and the fetal viability before the formation of endometrial cups, which secrete hormones that allow the pregnancy to develop for the rest of the gestation period. If the pregnancy fails, these cups prevent a horse from getting pregnant again until several months have passed. 

Finally, you can also request an ultrasound to know the sex of the foal. Some people who plan to sell or train foals who have impressive lineage for sport or show like to know the sex in advance. 

2. Increase the quality and amount of food.

Pregnant mares do need extra nutrition, especially during the later months of pregnancy. Your mare will need more protein than normal, which might mean supplementing her regular diet with formulated feed. Pregnant horses need more calories to support pregnancy, eating just under a third more than they would normally. Your vet can help you know when to begin increasing feed.

3. Make sure your mare stays active.

If your mare has a healthy, normal pregnancy, she can stay as active as she was before she conceived. You can still ride a pregnant mare, and exercise actually helps her to stay at a healthy weight. Inactivity can lead to too much weight gain and reduced strength during birth. Make it a priority to exercise your horse daily.

For more information on caring for your pregnant mare, visit resources like http://www.lansdaleveterinarian.com/.