Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
hi my name is Gabby. I ride a mare idk how old exactly she is at a barn that the owner doesnt care about the horses. but the people who actually live at the house take care of them we just groom them and ride them. the mare that i ride is really fat but i dont know if its just because she is eating alot but we only give the rite amount of grain and we leave her out in the feid that doesnt have alot of grass in it. the people that live there think she isnt pregnant
and they dont have that much expiernce with horses.they also dont have alot of money. the reason i say that is because i asked them to call a vet but its to much money. so i really need help! could you tell me some signs of if a horse is pregnant? and i cant get a vet to check her out so im lost. could u help me please reply quickly.i forgot to say that yes she has been moody.i also can feel something in her belly kicking so thats why im asking please tell me how to tell if a mare is pregnant!
love,and confused
Gabby
Where are you from? PA
How did you locate this forum? www.google.com
Hi Gabby,
It really is difficult to tell if she is pregnant without a vet doing a palpation or an ultra sound. However, if she continues to get a bigger belly, and the rest of her is not getting fat, she could very well be pregnant. If you are truly feeling something kicking, then she is pregnant.
As she gets closer to delivering her foal, her tail head will get very soft, her vulva will relax and elongate, her udder will start to bag up and she may start dripping some milk. Also, she will start to swell in front of her bag.
If you can afford it, there is an excellent book that you really should have. It’s called “The Complete Foaling Manual” by Theresa Jones. You can read about it from my website’s homepage. It will tell you exactly what to look for and how to take care of her and her foal during and after her delivery.
She and the foal are going to need some veterinary care at some point. She requires vaccinations to boost the antibody levels in her milk so her foal’s immune system will be protected. And, just in case there are any complications, a vet should be on call.
Good luck! I hope this is helpful.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
