Fat or foal?????

Box_Of_Frogs

Box_Of_Frogs

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Here's the problem. When Molly first arrived in Jan 2010 (1st pic) as one of the Christmas Day rescue ponies, she was ok but on the light side for a Shetland, introverted and wary of people. Because of her unknown background, she was wormed, teeth done, MOT from the vet, de-loused and put on a careful diet to add condition without fat. We seemed to be doing ok and she has really come out of herself and is a happy, cheeky little lady. I lunge her regularly as I'm terrified of laminitis and I was discussing Molly's belly with the RI who was helping me get started. The RI said that the way to tell if a mare is fat or in foal is to look at her from behind and see if the belly bulges the same amount each side or not. If it's the same each side, it's fat, if it bulges more to one side, it's a foal. Molly bulges significantly to the nearside. Eeeep. Now, she's been running as a feral pony on Exmoor and has undoubtedly had loads of foals - so I'd expect a mummy tummy. But HTG, when I look at the 2 pics, 1st in Feb 2010 and 2nd today, I break out in a cold sweat. The halfway house lady (July 2009 - January 2010) had stallions but the lady swore Molly wasn't covered. Hmmmmm. What do you all think? Foal or saggy mummy tummy? Don't want to get the vets out for a scan - tiny little 9hh Molls - it wouldn't make any difference anyway. If there's a BOGOF, then ok. Not a problem. What do you all think???

Mollyoddssodsbelly001.jpg


Mollyoddssodsbelly018.jpg
 
LOL - she does look preggars!!

Whereabouts on Exmoor was she run? There are very few places where you can turnout a pony that is not an Exmoor.
 
Looks decidedly pregnant to me!

Can you get us a pic from behind?

have you looked at her teats? (piccy?) I would be pretty sure she is pregnant though, maybe a month to go, max.
Is her bum softer than it should be?
You can see that the belly/bump is quite far back. doesnt look like foaly has moved up into position and she hasnt gone hollow in the flank..yet..
 
Oh bloody norah! Dunno where Molly was running half wild but she has a huge "N" hot brand on her side and I think this is a Commoners' branding. In July 2009 she was stuck in the back of a sheep lorry along with the sheep going for slaughter as "surplus to requirements". Wonderful eh? Someone has loved her at some point as she's backed and knows how to lunge. So she could be in foal to a commoners' stallion or she could be in foal to the stallions that the "halfway house" lady has. Between July 2009 and January 2010, she was with the halfway house lady who felt sorry for her at the abattoir and bought her for meat money. She then couldn't find a home for her so she was planning to take her BACK to the abattoir if not re-homed by Christmas Day. The lady swears she wasn't covered whilst with her. Hmmmm. So if she is in foal, does she look ready to drop it? Or will she get humungusly bigger? Udder is soft and no sign of milk oozing. Would the vet be able to tell without any invasive procedures?
 
I would get vet out, to be on safe side.

Another pretty sure fire way is to watch. watch her belly! Hold on to her belly and see if you can feel any movement.
Its always amazing when you feel and see it.

If I was you I would presume she is rather than isnt pregnant, safer option.

Get her on a good balancer or mineral lick and make sure shes wormed.

Vet will keep you right!
 
She does look pregnant, I had the same situation with a Welsh D who came from an auction last year, sold to me as ready to back DEF not in foal and has just dropped a beautiful colt :-) dont panic as natives are very hardy when it comes to foaling just make sure she is on enough forage, make sure her injections are done and ask your vet to assess her.
 
BOF - are you sure it wasn't Dartmoor she was running? There are lots of shetlands there - not seen very often here!

Anyway - thats besides the point. Happy tummy watching :D If she has had lots of foals before (and you would be able tell from her teats) I am sure she will be fine and pop out foaly like a bar of soap - most likely during a rain/thunderstorm one night!! ;)
 
Ravenwood - could easily have been Dartmoor. If I find the energy sometime, I'll do some research on commoners rights and marks. You can scarcely see the brand when she's in her winter coat but now her summer coat is almost all through, it shows clearly. I might be busy knitting booties for a while - in batches of 4 at a time!
 
sorry i agree - in foal. such a terrible little story but nice to know this one got rescued :)
the vet can put their hand inside and know immediately if she is or isn't. she looks to me like the foal may of begun to move into persition so its hard to say but i woudn't say she was to far away from foaling. check her udders to see if she has bagged up yet that may give you an indication. good luck, keep us informed. Im expecting 2 little bundles of fun too. (well my 2 mares are anyway ;) )
 
she looks 100% infoal and by the looks of it ready to drop very shortly , get vet out to finalise it . so you can get prepared , to send away for foaling or stay at home and get reading books
 
Vets have seen the pix too and say her belly is suspicious. They are coming asap to take blood. They advise the blood test is pretty accurate from 120 days to just before foaling.
 
Another foal vote! She may not bag up until a week to 10 days before she drops so check her udder regularly, if she's done it before she'll probably have no problem. Do let us know how she gets on! Good luck,x
 
BoxofFrogs,

there is a urine pregnancy test kit called "wee foal test" (or something like that) which is fairly accurate, non-invasive and you could do it your self.
 
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