Breeding stallions, on the average, have daily nutrient requirements that are 25% above maintenance of a mature stallion during the off season.1 This is based on the assumption that a stallion's breeding activity and exercise are comparable to the energy expenditure and nutrient needs of a mature performance horse with a light work load. Although limited research has been conducted on nutrition of breeding stallions, it appears obvious that a stallion's book, age, behavior, body condition, general health picture, routine handling and level of free or forced exercise all impact how a sire should be fed. Some stallions are being ridden, trained and hauled, even throughout the breeding season.

Broodmares should be fed as much forage (pasture or hay) as possible along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate box condition. Nutrient requirements of non-lactating mares before the second trimester of gestation are similar to those of mares at maintenance. Broodmares can usually get the protein and energy they require from good-quality pasture. Feeding five or six pounds or more daily of a properly fortified commercial grain mix, such as Southern States Broodmare Special, should provide adequate vitamins and minerals.

Ideally, stallions should be maintained in a moderate body condition (condition score of 5 or 6) year round. A moderate body condition will provide enough fat cover over the ribs, making them hard to see, but still easy to palpate. The withers will appear rounded and the shoulders and neck will blend smoothly into the body. Some stallions may lose weight during a breeding season while others are able to maintain themselves in good condition. For stallions that tend to lose condition, a higher degree of body fatness (condition score of 6 or 7) should be established before the breeding season to ensure stallions do not become too thin during the season.

Broodmares have specific nutritional requirements that differ from other classes of horses. There are differences both in the amount of feed mares need and the nutrient concentration needed in that feed. Throughout the year, the pregnant broodmare goes through three different phases, each with a different nutritional demand. She is either in early gestation, late gestation or lactation. To maintain these cycles consistently requires proper health care and nutrition for the mare.

Having a mare in foal means that you're taking on new responsibilities. The most important may be your mare's nutrition. Proper nutrition during gestation is critical to producing a healthy foal. There are three common mistakes in broodmare nutrition. They are: 1) Feeding too much protein and energy during gestation. 2) Underfeeding minerals and vitamins during gestation. 3) Underfeeding protein and energy during lactation. Broodmares should be fed as much forage (pasture or hay) as possible along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate box condition.