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Redmare
Member
Username: Redmare
Post Number: 14
Registered: 9-2004
| | 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  |
Christos Axis
Member
Username: Christos
Post Number: 464
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 3:42 am: | |
Hi, Redmare,
She may be pregnant or not, but as far as I know pregnancy will not affect the girth size even by one hole.
Though rare, thoroughbreds who are very easy keepers do exist. Just a month ago I was riding next to a TB mare who is turned out on grass 24/7, and she had some 1,5 inches of fat on her. Not a pretty sight, especially on a hot day.
Run your fingers along her side, pressing gently. If you can't feel the ribs, I think she's seriously overweight, especially for a TB.
All the best,
Christos
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barbara
Member
Username: Oscarvv
Post Number: 586
Registered: 10-1999
| | 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 |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 11153
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 8:44 am: | |
Hello All,
As you might imagine we have a article that discusses this very question, see Equine Reproduction » Horse Breeding & Artifical Insemination » Pregnancy Diagnosis.
DrO |
Redmare
Member
Username: Redmare
Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 10:39 am: | |
Thanks all- I read the article suggested by Dr O. Sounds likely she just has a hay belly, but I will have the vet check to find out for certain. |
Jerre R
Member
Username: Jerre
Post Number: 152
Registered: 11-2002
| | 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 |
Redmare
Member
Username: Redmare
Post Number: 16
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2004 - 10:12 pm: | |
Hi Jerre-
What a great story! The same thing happened to my fellow boarder -- her 27 year old mare was at the trainer's for several months and, some time later, she was confirmed in foal very close to foaling time! Dad turned out to be the trainer's Welsh Pony, and no one has any idea how it happened. I guess the urge to procreate is strong and they find a way!
The vet is coming tomorrow and I admit I secretly hope she is pregnant. It would indeed be a cosmic joke for me, as I was only supposed to have this mare temporarily (fell in love with her) and, as a humaniac, I would never intentionally breed an animal.
Tomorrow we will know! |
Redmare
Member
Username: Redmare
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2004
| | 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! |
Jennifer B. Proctor
Member
Username: Proctor
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004 - 11:26 am: | |
LOL! That first line cracked me up!
That reminds me of the story about a mare at a roping winking at my gelding. My husband said, you see that look on J.R.'s face? That means, Unless you can pull a feed sack out of that thing, I AIN'T INTERESTED!
Thanks for a little humor.
Jennifer |
