Wildfox
Active Member
Back story: We got a little companion pony at the weekend. We knew she had only ever been a broodmare, she's 10 years old and has had four foals. I'm lead to believe her last was weaned around 12 months ago.
When we viewed her, the first thing we asked was if she was pregnant, she just struck both myself and non horsey partner as in foal. Not carrying excess weight anywhere other than the belly, but upon finding out she had never been wormed it could have been put down to that, and potentially hay belly because the forage was fairly poor quality. Her teats were sizable at the time, but could have been considered normal for a broodmare. We had a really good look around her and asked all the right questions, but at the end of the day, we just needed a little companion with the potential of slowly bringing her into work as a lead rein for our son so we didn't vet at the time.
She's healthy and sound, but in need of tlc. Teeth need done (never been done previously) she needs a once over by the vet which is all booked in for tomorrow, she's also booked for the farrier this weekend and physiology/back person along with my others in two weeks.
So, she has been with us 3 days, and her bag is looking quite distended... question, is this normal? The previous owner said she's just made like that and has a tendency to fluctuate due to having had four foals... which I can get on board with, but having never had a broodmare before, I'm looking for some opinions. As said, vet booked for tomorrow, but I wonder if I should just call it in as an emergency because I'm itching for answers. I've ordered a full blood work up, including pregnancy.
Could this just be hormonal or due to change of forage/getting some grass?
When we viewed her, the first thing we asked was if she was pregnant, she just struck both myself and non horsey partner as in foal. Not carrying excess weight anywhere other than the belly, but upon finding out she had never been wormed it could have been put down to that, and potentially hay belly because the forage was fairly poor quality. Her teats were sizable at the time, but could have been considered normal for a broodmare. We had a really good look around her and asked all the right questions, but at the end of the day, we just needed a little companion with the potential of slowly bringing her into work as a lead rein for our son so we didn't vet at the time.
She's healthy and sound, but in need of tlc. Teeth need done (never been done previously) she needs a once over by the vet which is all booked in for tomorrow, she's also booked for the farrier this weekend and physiology/back person along with my others in two weeks.
So, she has been with us 3 days, and her bag is looking quite distended... question, is this normal? The previous owner said she's just made like that and has a tendency to fluctuate due to having had four foals... which I can get on board with, but having never had a broodmare before, I'm looking for some opinions. As said, vet booked for tomorrow, but I wonder if I should just call it in as an emergency because I'm itching for answers. I've ordered a full blood work up, including pregnancy.
Could this just be hormonal or due to change of forage/getting some grass?
