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  Discussion on Pregnant 2 year old Mustang
Author Message
Member:
Dakota04

Posted on Monday, Jul 4, 2005 - 4:57 pm:

Hi.

What is the youngest age a mare/filly can become pregnant and carry a baby to term?

As many of you know, I adopted a yearling mustang filly last November. When I got her she was fairly ribby so started increasing her feed to have her put on weight. However, she put on quite a lot with being on grass for a couple hours in the evening and grass hay in the morning and night.

I put on her on a diet of no more pasture and just hay but she is getting heavier and heavier. And, come to think of it, she has not come into heat that I've noticed since I've owned her.

She is now just two and am thinking if she is with child, that would put her at around the 10th month. I'm just guessing as she would have been bred in late summer before the gather in October. At that time she would have been about 1.4 years. Isn't that a little young to be bred and have her carry her baby full term? Her teats look like they have DrOpped slightly instead of being all tucked up like a maiden mare. Is it possible she is pregnant? I'm going to have the vet out soon to palpate her and hopefully all she'll give birth to is a bale of hay like another poster said about her mare.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - 12:59 pm:

Holly, I have adopted and seen many pregnant 2 year old mustangs. Most of which we figured were a little over a year when they got pregnant. Most of the time know one even knows till the girls bag up if they even really do that, sometimes they just find a baby when they feed in the morning.

It is very common for young mustangs to foal. You figure not barring and problems most mustang mares have a foal every year from the time they are 2.

I would have your vet out to check her.

Good luck, if she is pregnant make sure she is on a good supplement such as equivitaphos not sure of spelling.

If you have any other questions with your mustangs I would be glad to help you. I have successfully raised and adopted 12.
Member:
Dakota04

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - 2:19 pm:

Cheryl, thanks for responding and for your offer of help. So I guess she could be pregnant after all. After posting the original message, I went back out and really observed her for any changes. Other than what I already mentioned, her attitude has changed a little - much more quiet and loving than usual and acting and looking more mature.

I have the vet coming out Friday to palpate so we can find out for sure. On one hand it would be great to have another little one around but on the other, the last thing I need right now is another horse and I planned on saddle training Zephyr this summer/fall.

I'll let you know what happens. If she is pregnant and with the South Steens herd being known for color, maybe she'll produce a paint. Bay and white would be very nice.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - 3:44 pm:

Good Luck Holly!

Just make sure she has a good supplement if she is pregnant. A lot of mustang babies stand on their fetlocks after being born. Good nutrition and exercise straightens it out right away. My vet thinks that it is from the lack of great nutrition on the range.

I know the feeling about a possible baby, I have found the only way to get a mustang that isn't pregnant is to get a boy or adopt a weanling. Hehehe

Is South Steens in OR?
Member:
Dakota04

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - 6:42 pm:

Yup, the South Steens HMA is in SW Oregon and is known for paints and horses with above average conformation. My baby is a solid bay and looks like she has a lot of QH influence - big butt (what attracted me in the first place) and refined head, not the usual oversized head. She's got tree trunks for legs and is just stunning (IMHO). I tried to post pix on here but they were too large.

I'll definitely get her on a supplement; I already have her on Missing Link which is a good all around vitamin/mineral supp but I will see what the vet recommends.

How exciting!
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - 6:57 pm:

She sounds nice! I adopted my horses from herds close to my house that I regularly photograph. Lots of appy's! I even got a gray that looks andalusian but is 16 hands 1100 pounds quite unusual for a mustang.

On posting photo's I had to download infranview I could never get the size right with other stuff. If you do a search on posting photos or sizing photo's something helpful might pop up.
Member:
Dakota04

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2005 - 2:24 pm:

Well she's not pregnant after all, just fat! I'm actually relieved and a little disappointed at the same time. She's still very young and has lots of reproductive life left if I decide to go that way with her.
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