Common knowledge in the horse industry dictates that professional and economic success often hinges on mares foaling early in the year, rebreeding quickly and nursing a fast growing foal that will develop soundly. While efforts to achieve these goals in a herd of broodmares are certainly susceptible to a wide variety of problems, careful consideration of nutritional well being in one important step in having an effective broodmare program.

Poor reproductive performance is often directly related to nutritional status. Research has shown that mares in thin body condition do not perform as well reproductively as do mares in moderately fleshy to fat condition. Thin mares are normally slower to cycle and have more cyclers per conception. They often times fail to demonstrate normal estrous behavior until late in the season, and quite often will conceive only after a lengthy stay at the breeding farm. However, mares in good condition, those that are moderately fleshy to fat, are expected to conceive earlier, and these mares have a significantly higher pregnancy rate. By being in suitable condition at time of breeding, these mares also have a higher maintenance of pregnancy than mares in thin condition. Reproductive performance can often be improved in thin mares if they are fed to gain weight. However, putting the needed weight on a poor mare is very costly and can be dangerous from a digestive disorder standpoint. Therefore, it is much safer and more cost effective to maintain adequate body condition on mares so that they are ready, in advance, for the breeding season.