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| Discussion on Is my mare pregnant? | |
| Author | Message |
| Member: Redmare |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 9, 2004 - 9:18 pm: I have a TB mare who's been with me for 6 months. Prior to that she was owned by a friend. When I got her, she was underweight and I was happy to see her gain weight. For several months I stopped attempting to ride her because she was agitated by the saddle, then when I put it on again the girth would not even close! I thought she was just gaining weight, although with a TB eating only hay that's not likely, but lately I have my suspicions. Her belly is even bigger and the weight is low and sticking out, not round all over. Several people commented that she looked pregnant. It's entirely possible, as there were three studs at her previous boarding place and security was not the greatest. I do have a call in to the vet for an exam, but I was just wondering if a lay person can tell if a horse is pregnant? I know at some point the udder fills up, but I think that's closer to birth. Help
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| Member: Christos |
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| Member: Oscarvv |
Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 8:04 am: I agree with Christos, that the girth size will not be affected by pregnancy. Also all the sayings about TB's do not always ring true. I have four TB's and they are all easy keepers, have great feet and only one is a little spooky. My 6 month pregnant TB mare gets minerals and a handful of grain, no hay and is on a pasture that is our least grassy. She is still too obese. Your girl sounds like she gained some needed weight and has a hay belly...but you never know until the vet checks her. Do you have her on a good worming schedule? -Barbara |
| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: Redmare |
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| Member: Jerre |
Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 10:41 am: Redmare, as someone who got surprised by a foal (I bought a barely 3yo who had -- briefly -- been on the same farm with a stallion). The owner didn't even consider the possibility she'd been bred, I didn't even think to ask, the prepurchase check didn't find it.I thought she was fat/unfit also, but she's half-draft so I figured it was just the way she was built. Then she bagged up after I'd had her 10 1/2 months. Bottom line, I got the first oh my god! inkling two weeks before birth, she was confirmed in foal 8 days before birth. My "free" horse is absolutely stunning and a joy. It's a cosmic joke, because I would have been way too practical to buy a mare in foal. Both of them are the best horses I've ever had. Get her checked.  Jerre |
| Member: Redmare |
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| Member: Redmare |
Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2004 - 9:06 pm: Well, as it turns out the only thing my girl will give birth to is a bale of hay . I didn't exactly need another horse, but it would have been fun. After this diagnosis, I had a talk with our barn owner about overfeeding in the pasture. He agreed, and told his crew to feed less over all and more grass. Apparently they were feeding all alfalfa; no wonder the Fjords were reaching critical mass!
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| Member: Proctor |
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