Do in foal mares act differently?

[sallyellis]

sorry for the numpty question but I sent my mare to stud last year and she ran with the stallion for 3 months but when she came home, the vet came to scan her, manually examined and said she was in foal, then when she was scanned he couldnt find anything so we have assumed she isnt in foal but lately her behaviour has become erratic and she is putting on loads of weight gone from a 48 inch girth to a 56 inch and when the vet came to do her teeth last week he asked me how far along she was? to which I told him that he had said she wasnt and he said well looking at her he would think she was so took some bloods I am anxiously waiting the results but I am just wondering if her being in foal is what is causing her erratic behaviour like last week she wouldnt load when she normally goes in anything?

 

[Vickijay]

Hi,
I dont have loads of experience about mares and babies but I know that my mare went from being a right grumpy cowbags to being almost friendly when she was pregnant. I could hug her and everything!! I would deffo of been eaten for trying that before!

Good luck

Let us know what happens!!!

 

[casey2312]

Mine was different. She went from a beautiful horse to ride, into a cow bag. I have had her for years and NEVER had a buck out of her.....Until she was pregnant. Wouldn't load either.....

 

[keeperscottage]

Our mare has always been extremely "fiesty" (being an ex-pointer, and always thought she was still racing) but totally safe. However, once in foal - and we had originally intended to ride her for as long as possible - she became a total nightmare! As soon as she came back from the stud, she was almost dangerous to ride - jumping in front of cars and generally being complete arse! We gave up and didn't ride her until the foal was weaned (only two weeks ago - foal was ten and a half months old!) and she's already back to normal! She loves her work and we can't wait until she's fit again, but thankfully no more leaping around on the road and unpredicatable behaviour!

 

[PapaFrita]

PF gets completely dopey when she's preggers. This is MOST unlike her usual self. She still won't let me hug her though

 

[Janette]

Can't comment on the behaviour - but an aquaintance of mine bought a horse, whcih had previously been used as a brood mare. She was for sale because she had been put to the stallion but hadn't 'taken'.
Because of the mare's shape, they asked the vet is she pregnant? (They had the 5 stage vetting) He had a prod, did the blood test and said no. But she still looked full of foal. 'It's just a 'mummy tummy' - it will go with exercise' was the vets' opinion.
The 'mummy tummy' continued to grow, the vet was consulted again - another blood test - no she's not pregnant! But she looked so pregnant...... the owners saw it as 'fat' if the vet said she wasn't so put her on a diet!
One night, the mare was being ridden but didn't seem very 'enthusiastic', so was put away for the night. Next morning, there was a whopping great colt in the box with her!

Moral being - your mare could very well be pregnant - despite the vet saying NO.

 

[southsidestud]

My mare is due in June shes the most kindest laidback mare...now shes a real grumpy old bat!

 

[sallyellis]

Well the blood tests have come back negative, but it doesnt explain the huge weight gain, and change of attitude...

 

[Kilbricken]

[ QUOTE ]
My mare is due in June shes the most kindest laidback mare...now shes a real grumpy old bat!

[/ QUOTE ]

Made me laugh out, my mare has always been a grumpy old bat and now she's an even more grumpy old bat whilst pregnant (due this month). Although she cuddled me a bit tonight, then went back to grumping!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

My mare never changed, she has an even temperament in general and being pregnant and having a foal at foot never changed her at all.
In fact i do not remember any of our other mares changing either
Think it depends on the mares character perhaps

 

[Winterhill]

Beware of blood tests, they are only accurate at certain stages of pregnancy, if in doubt get your vet to carry out a rectal examination

 

[sallyellis]

Thanks for that she definately looks in foal even the vet said it...he hasnt recommended anything else even though the blood test came back negative. She ran with the stallion from May to the end of July beginning of August. Her temperament has gone really erratic as has riding her you never know what she is going to be like from one day to the next and her girth size as stated above has gone from a 48 inch to a 56 inch since december and when I have dug out her summer rugs I have had to lengthen all of the surcingles. She has lived out all winter, has a fairly bare paddock and only gets pony nuts and alpha a so I cant work out why else she would be putting on this incredible amount of weight and her attitude has never changed before and I have had her a few years.