An unexpected surprise!

In April 2010, I discovered that my mare who I bought in 2009 was heavily in foal! I had been feeding her on Simple Systems ever since I bought her and so I emailed Jane for some advice on what to feed her in her new role as 'broodmare'. The advice and support I received from her has been second to none. Having the support of an experienced breeder and nutritionist from birth to weaning has been so reassuring for me as a first-time (shocked and unprepared!) breeder. The mare is an Irish Sport Horse and I believe the filly is half Dutch Warmblood (awaiting the DNA results). Both have lived out all year and kept their condition through the winter and the spring. They were fed grass pellets, purabeet, linseed, seaweed, garlic and brewer's yeast and ad lib hay in the winter. I delayed weaning, as advised, to beyond 7.5 months. The mare and foal were separated gradually, and it suited me to leave it as late as 12 months for them to be fully separated. I regularly receive compliments on their condition and level-headed natures. I strongly attribute the filly's plucky and confident nature to the delayed and gradual weaning.