Do mares change?

[BayJosie]

Do mares change when they first become pregnant? I spose my real question is, do mares know they are pregnant? Do the other horses know?

Josie has just been confirmed as being in foal (originally twins, but down to 1 now so think she’s about 25 days pregnant) and I am noticing some real little changes in her personality. I mentioned this to the vet before the pregnancy was confirmed and the vet said as soon as I said Josie had changed in herself, she knew she was about to see a pregnancy.

I’ve had Josie for about 2 years, and in that time I have probably heard her do a proper neigh about twice! She’s very quiet. You never normally hear a peep out of her and she is quite happy to graze on her own and be by herself. she prefers humans to other horses normally.

She’s always neighing now and the other horses neigh and winnie at her when she comes in, goes out etc etc. she also used to pull back in the yard when tied up so I could never really tie her up, but now she’s really quiet in the yard and stands really still being tied.
The yard owners and helpers have also told me that she has started galloping up and down the field when she is left alone. This never used to happen before, like I said, she’s so quiet!

What does everyone think? Do they know they are pregnant? Do the other horses know as well?

 

[TangoCurly]

hello!

Yes, they do change and yes they know when another one is pregnant. They also know when their owner is pregnant, Doodle wouldnt' let the others near me when i got pregnant and was very much calmer when i took dinner out to her in the field - it used to be a 'oh my goodness, will she stop in time' situation, but then when i was pregnant she would stop some distance away and stop the others mobbing me too (which i appreciated). If she can do that with a human, then she could clearly do it with a horse (and did)!

bye!

 

[tikino]

my mare is usually a quite lamb. when she went to stud they all commented on how well behaved and easy to work with she was Well that was untill she went in foal lol. she then wouldn't catch and became very bolshy. i then brought her home and decieded i was going to ride her through her pregnancy but again she had other ideas and kept dumping me also unheard of with her so yes they do change some more than others.

 

[MrsMagoo]

I reckon they do...was only saying the other day how much more vocal my mare has got bless her, even when i pop to the field now she winnies and talks to me lol and goes mad at dinner time - shes very loving now, well apart from the morning when she hungry and grumpy hehe

 

[angrovestud]

Here at our Stud we notice the changes in most of the girls as soon as they become pregant, our stallion can tell at 10 days he sniffs the girls just once if they are in foal he will leave them alone if not he will wait and keep checking.
we keep all our visitors 30 a year right around Riccos paddock he is wall to wall women lucky fella.
he told me Angrove Dance girl had held to service at 10 days as well.
The girls become loving increased hunger and look for really rich grass they wont get involved in disputes and they look after each other when they are in foal they also dont like going home away from the stallion.