Constant flehmen!

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vickyconnolly

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Hi there, our 8 year old wesh A mare has recently started lip curling a LOT! It's constant - when being led, being groomed, being ridden, and when she's just stood in her stable. Is it possible she's learnt that this gets attention? Or a possible pregnancy?!

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.
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Have you changed perfume or washing powder? The horse has quite a good sense of smell and often does the flehmen lip curling in response to weird smells!!
 
erm no not that i know off. A four year old stallion got in to the field with her about july of last year, she didnt come into season for months after that, but then she did. can horses still be pregnent but still go into season? we thought that the lip curling may be due to pregnancy! Should she be showing alot now? she is bigger than usual and its not like she has a grass belly because there is hardly no grass.
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Yes they can come into a sort of season after being covered - it's called a False Heat. Your mare could easily be pregnant.
 
oh thats interesting thank you. Are horses like people in the way that some people have massive bellies and some people hardly show?
 
Yes, especially maiden mares.

Lip curling can also be a sign of discomfort but if she's doing it constantly with no other signs of trouble it's probably not that. However, if she just feels "odd" . . .
 
Pregnancy sounds a strong possiblity.
You could either have a blood test, or the vet could see if he could feel a foal via a rectal examination. I'd go for the blood test though......it's not unknown for the rectal to cause the mare to lose the foal.
What was the stallion like?
 
He was also a little welsh A type, but not as good looking as our mare! Ahh well....blood test it is! Thank u!

The owner of the escaped stallion claimed he was only 9 months old at the time, but we've since learnt he was 4 years. If our mare DOES turn out to be pregnant, could we claim any vet bills from the stallion owner? Afterall, he shouldn't have been able to escape in the first place. It was overnight, so no-one found out until the morning. No idea how long they were together for!
 
Yes you can claim any vet bills......and then the owner of the stallion can claim the foal. Be wary of trying to threaten him.
 
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