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Horse Care and Comfort

How can you tell if a mare is pregnant?

Hello!

we have only had my mare for three months. She was probably born and raised on a cattle station before being sold to a breeding stud in Bunderberg for riding (not breeding). we dont know if shes had access to a stallion at the cattle station. they had a stallion at the stud, but he was in a separate paddock with a few other mares and the people we bought her from didnt say anything about if she had been with him at all. they only had her two months before selling her to us. when we bought her she was very skinny, but it only took about 3 weeks of good food for her to gain condition. now, even though i've stopped feeding her (the grass in her paddock is good) she is very fat. when we looked her she seemed nice but we now think that was because she didnt have much energy due to lack of feed. now she is quite piggy and temeramental. this could just be her being a female, but im not sure. she hasnt come in season at all since we've had her and we have had her for 3 months so im a bit suss. how can i tell if shes pregnant? we are pretty sure shes never had a foal before.

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Hi catijane,
I did some research for you and found a reliable site on youtube that easily explains pregnancy in horses.
If you go to youtube then type in the search box:
pregnant horse:signs of horse pregnancy, you will find this genteleman explaining it throughly.
I did this to make sure this would be the fastest way to the site and it came up immediately.
I hope this helps you, it is very informative. I saved the site for future reference.
Have a good day,
Ronda

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
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Hi caiti.jane - check out Ronda's web site that sounds the best source. It is difficult to tell in their early pregnancy. This response is really prompted by an earlier post you made which said that your mare had changed her behaviour since you purchased her and started shying and spooked easily although she was quite when you first rode her and bought her. When I read that post I thought maybe she had been given some calmers before you rode her when you were purchasing her but now I realise that the solution to her changed behaviour is found in this post. It is directly related to her change in diet. She is now well fed and feeling frisky and young.. It is amazing what good food will do to a horses behaviour. Some of the traditional, rough breakers starve the young horses they are about to "break" prior to breaking for this very reason as they are less likely to buck etc. My Quarter horse was a scruffy little under fed wormy fellow when I purchased him who didn't have a buck in him and was very submissive. After purchasing him I had to return to Melbourne and leave him on my parents property where he had plenty of feed and cattle as companions. I worm dosed him and in my absence my dad who had dementia also fed him vast quantities of lucerne hay. When I returned about a month later I had a vastly different horse!

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
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quite = quiet

caiti.jane
Hello!

thank you. yes a couple of people suggested that Maggie. it would make sense because she wasnt fed on the cattle station and she was only fed a little chaff where we got her from. but i dont know why she is so fat and getting fatter when shes not being fed now.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
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Perhaps she is pregnant then.

Gen (Queensland, Australia)
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Hi Caiti Jane
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I noticed we live in the same general area. If you would like to have a chat, then please feel free to give me a call. My phone number can be found by looking up G HEY in the phone book.
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BUT if you do decide to look me up, please note that I am not a professional trainer; I am just someone who has read your posts and is willing to have a chat with you if you feel it would be helpful :-)
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Also, I agree with Maggie. I think your mare is feeling great and is in need of some work to use up some excess energy. If the grass is green, its very high in protein which is energy. If the energy is not being used, then she will get fat and frisky very quickly.
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With pregnancy, the best way to diagnose is by getting a Vet out to perform an ultrasound. He or she will be able to tell you how far along she is by using this method too.
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You can also purchase home pregnancy test kits. You can get a blood test called Pregna Mare that detects pregnancy from 45 days to 100 days; and you can get a urine test kit called Wee Foal Checker that detects pregnancy from 110 days to around 300 days. I have used both and found them very accurate and easy to use. You can purchase them online.
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Kind regards,
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Gen

caiti.jane
Hello!

ok. thank you everyone. And thanks Gen. I'll see how i go with everyone and might give you a call :)

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Hi Maggie,
I'm sorry to here about your DAD.
You take care.
Ronda

caiti.jane
Hello!

Gen I think i've found your number. is it under A & G Hey? If so, what is a good time to call?

Dennis
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

caiti.jane
If she was my mare and I suspected that she might be pregnant I would have the vet test her either by hand or ultrasound. If she is pregnant you will want to have her on a feeding schedule that helps not only support her but also the foal's health. The vet can also verify that the foal is in the proper position. I know that calling the vet can be expensive but it is only fair to your horse to have the vet check her out.

Good luck and if she is pregnant you are in for a real treat when the foal is born!

Cheers

Gen (Queensland, Australia)
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Hi Caity Jane
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Sorry, I missed your post about my number.
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No, its D&G Hey. If you do a search on G Hey in Bundaberg on the white pages website, ours is the only number that comes up. Any time during the day up to 4:00 pm or any time after 7:00 pm is good :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen

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Hi cati.jane,
I was reading the posts and there was one that suggests you have your vet physically examine the mare.
Be careful with this, that can cause the embryo to disengage from the wall of the uterus.
Utrasound is fine and even bllod work, it is expencive but if you can afford it, it's money well spent.
That youtube site I suggested is worth looking at.
Have a good day,
Ronda

Dennis
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

Don't worry about the vet disengaging the embryo. If you have had the mare for three months and she is pregnant then the embryo is well seated in the uterus. Rondo would be correct if the mare was just made pregnant but at three or maybe four months the mare should be examined by your vet. This is a critical time in the mares pregnancy. First you want of verify that she is indeed pregnant and second you want to verify that the foal is alive and well positioned. If the foal is not alive it is critical to remove it before it causes systemic infection in the mare.
One other point is that if this is the mares first pregnancy she all need the best support in both feed and vet care. Breeding horses is not a casual affair. Too many people think that it is cute or fashionable to breed their mare to any stud with out consideration of the conformation of either animal. In your case you maybe the victim of the pervious owners carelessness and if so I do hope all will be well with both animals

Cheers

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Sorry about that, when I reread the thread I then realized the mare had been away from the previous owner for a longer period of time than I orginally thought.
Dennis is very correct, after 30 days the mare is fine to have her pelvis palputated.
Thank you for picking that up Dennis.
Have a good day everyone,
Ronda

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Cati.jane,
How is the mare now?
Is she still showing the same signs?
Is she FAT or is her weight gain further back, closer to her hip area?
Is it a solid, rounded look or a bloated look?
At three or four months are her teats enlarged, just a wee bit? More noticeable?
There are several questions that could be answered if she is pregnant.
If she is not then you are dealing with a whole new ballgame.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
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Hi Ronda - thanks re the comment re my Dad. It was a tough time but it is some years ago now. I pity anyone who has to deal with dementia.

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Hi MaggieF,
I know what you mean.
We went through that with my father-in-law, Donat. It was so difficult to see a strong, great man deterorate before my eyes.
He was so particular, always wore silk suits and paten leather shoes.
I use to bath him and clip his personal hair, nose, ears, etc. I also cut his hair, I wanted him to look his best.
I would want the same done for me.
My husband, Paul and my oldest daughter, Angela, he never forgot.
He would smile when he saw them and say, "my Paul" or "Angie baby".
We miss him.
You have a good day,
Ronda

caiti.jane
Hello!

hhmm. i'm not sure Ronda but I'm starting to think that shes just fat. I kinda hope so because if she is pregnant it wouldnt be good for her when we move her all the way up to Cairns, which is three days drive away.

caiti.jane
Hello!

By the way, thank you so much for your help with Alli Gen. We are now going to buy a dually halter for her. she does back up and lead really well now even in a normal halter! I'm considering buying the Join up training kit. does anyone know if thats any good? Is the book in that the same as the book 'From My Hands To Yours'?

Gen (Queensland, Australia)
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No worries Caiti, it was a pleasure meeting you all.
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Its great to hear that Alli has improved with her leading for you! You did a great job. The Dually is a great tool.
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Its such a shame that there really is no safe place there to give join-up a go. Alli is a lovely mare :-) and she obviously has a bond with you already that join-up will only make stronger.
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Yes, the book in the Join-Up Kit is "From My Hands to Yours", and I think that kit looks pretty good.
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Also, have you watched the Dually Lessons on the Uni? If not, they will be pretty good to get you ready for when your kit arrives.
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Feel free to drop into our place on your way to Cairns so you can meet our horses if you want to :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen

caiti.jane
Hello!

:D. yeah I would have loved to try joining up with her. I'm glad you think she is nice. :D Mum seems to think me and Alli have a bond too. I can't wait to be able to make it stronger :D.
Oh good. we'll order the kit as soon as we move to Cairns. I can't wait!! It will be so much fun learning more of Monty Roberts' stuff!!

I think I watched the kids version. I'll have to watch the other one sometime too.

I'd love to meet your horses. I'll have to find out when we'll be going your way and if we can drop into Bundy :)
Thanks again
Caiti