[BuckinAround]

My first post, about our (maybe) pregnant mare. I read the board alot as guest for the past six or so months. I thought it time to sign up and thank everyone for all the great information this site provides.

Well, my question is.........I need some opinions. Our mare we bought in June for our girls gymkhana was so nice and slim-fit when we bought her.

Now, this past two to three weeks her belly seems to have dropped underneath (under at the very bottom). It was a fast drastic change seemed like overnight. She looks very fat now and when she walks her belly at the bottom seems to bounce up and down like jello. Between her ribs and hind quarters she seems to be hallow or sunken in like there is nothing there. I am thinking because of the sudden weight in her belly? She holds her tail from time to time up and off to the side? Her ribs still show and because her belly is so huge she looks like she doesnt have a butt any longer. She has become so sweet the last week it is unreal.
Also her teats are not way up under her any longer. It looks like they came down and have grown a little from dime size to nickel or so size. They have a white crusty type on the tips and look white cystalized around. That comes and goes day to day.

So here are some before when we got her pics.......and now pics. She is large. I beleive she is in foal and vet coming Friday at the soonest. Can I get your comments? Maybe how far along (if she is) so we can prepare. Thanks. She is healthy and 7 years old. Her name is Yankee.

When we bought her. My daughter riding.


Yankee now 4 months later with no change except a little less riding time.

[CayceV]

Looks pregnant to me.

[Rae]

I would say so, and it looks like it'll be soon. Make sure you post pics when the time comes!

[pantha11]

She does look as if she has lost her top line a bit, does her rump around and near the tail feel like jelly yet....(soft and squishy), this is one of the signs she is getting closer.
Also does her vagina look all wrinkled still or does it look rather stretched and really smooth.

[BuckinAround]

Originally Posted by pantha11

She does look as if she has lost her top line a bit, does her rump around and near the tail feel like jelly yet....(soft and squishy), this is one of the signs she is getting closer.
Also does her vagina look all wrinkled still or does it look rather stretched and really smooth.

Thanks for the replies. I have been reading on foaling as much as I can, just in case we find out she is tomarrow. It's one thing to work and ride them but babies

I fed this morning, watched. I feel like I see some movement right under her flank but I dont know if it is her breathing effect because she is so big.

Her back does look a little sway now, more than before. She has very high withers to begin with. I felt her tail and butt, I'm not sure what I am looking for there. She is not so soft as if it was jello. Her vagina IS NOT wrinkled up. I know what your asking in this part. It is more like a straight line as before it was wrinkly on the sides. She does not look that relaxed in that area to me to be prepared for a baby to come out.

The thing that gets me is.....she seems sometimes not even to have the strength to hold or move her tail OR her tail is laying on the side of her butt all day where you can see her private parts. I thought this was signs of "flagging" for heat cycles. Her urine is normal though. I also hear it is very unlikely a mare will foal this time of the year.

Anyhow, I'm getting worried because I do not want her sick. I hope tomarrow comes soon so I can find out. Either way I want a healthy mare.

[pantha11]

Wait and see what the vet has to say, if you are still in doubt ask more questions on here.
Just wondering have you taken your horses vitals, temp, pulse, capillary count.

[BuckinAround]

This may seem strange but I could tell you the world news before I could tell you how to take a horses pulse,temp and the rest. You sure make me think I need to get my head right instead of just calling the vet and farrier when something goes wrong. This way we will know how to deal with issues on our own sometimes. I realize now how co dependant this family is on the vet, farrier, trainers etc.

I sat/worked around the ranch and watched her for hours today while doing so. Finally when I was done with the normal chores I went to brush the dust off her from rolling around (which she can hardly do anymore) As I groomed her I was checking her out. I've come to the conclusion she is pregnant after feeling below her flank on the under belly something moving. Not once but three times I felt a bit of push/roll on her. Her teats are crested over with milk I beleive. Her privates look like a silky smooth slit and just so relaxed. I also compared her and my other mares So much difference. I felt her hind quarters and when I touch it feels like I am touching a water bed. I'm not a vet, but I can say I'm for sure there is a baby horse coming. I just do not know when and even what it will be. Maybe our vet will tell us tomarrow evening. This all seems to be just, well, sudden and crazy. It's almost like when I found out my 53 year old uncle was having a baby after the kids were grown and gone.

I've add this pic, it shows better the idea of how big she really is. Her belly is huge and poor think looks bony because of all the weight underneath. Also in this pic you can see how she has been holding her tail to the side.

[ryu2832]

Originally Posted by BuckinAround

The thing that gets me is.....she seems sometimes not even to have the strength to hold or move her tail OR her tail is laying on the side of her butt all day where you can see her private parts. I thought this was signs of "flagging" for heat cycles. Her urine is normal though. I also hear it is very unlikely a mare will foal this time of the year.

Their hind end, including tail muscles, becomes flacid when they are near to foaling, that's perfectly normal.

They put their tail up/to the side because they feel pressure from the foal pushing toward the birth canal.

When she foals is dependent on when she was exposed to the stallion, and if she was fertile at the time. Luv knows no season.

I would say you are going to have a foal in a the next few days.

[crazymink]

She looks prego to me too. So close to winter . I would speak to your Vet about foal care through the cold months.

[PreppyxCowgirl]

Any updates?? I have been following this thread and I am curious