Pregnant? HELP?!

[RubysGold]

I bought my mare last week, and I dont know if she is pregnant or just a big build. When she walks towards me her tummy seems to swing from side to side? She also stares at me if i'm grooming, tacking up, but never shows 'mareish' behaviour
How do i tell?

Nickie

 

[scotsmare]

Pic isn't brilliant but she looks quite cresty so could just be chubby?? Was she in work before you bought her as her back looks a bit weak (sorry if it's just the pic's angle!)

 

[amzy]

Did she look like that when you bought her or could it be a 'grass belly' from all that good grass in the pic?

 

[RubysGold]

Her previous owner broke her wrist in february so shes only had 10 mins every day or so since that. I didnt know what angle to take the photo from, i'll try get some more photos.
Her back sort of shakes sometimes as if its sensitive, is there anything i can do to strengthen it?
Nickie

 

[HelenSmith]

I was in the same position 2.5 years ago. If you are in doubt, ask a vet. I was umming and ahhring for ages. Very often if you just look for 'signs', they dont show til very late, ie bagging up, waxing, slackening of the back end. We are talking days til dropping here.

I got the vet out when I was giving her a hug and felt something move in there!!!! She was 9 months in foal, and it all worked out wonderfully.

Really though to put your mind at ease, get the vet xx

 

[RubysGold]

she looked like that when i bought her but she was on rich grass then as well. they had little fenced off paddocks and when they ate the grass they moved to different paddock with longer grass.
Dunno if that woulf give her a permanent grass belly?
Nickie

 

[RubysGold]

the vet needs to come give her her first vaccine so with any luck he will be able to give his opinion next week

I hope she isnt, shes my first horse and dont have any experience with foals!
Nickie

 

[HelenSmith]

Hey dont worry you'll manage. I'd never even seen a foal before let alone dealt with it. just see if she is first. Then one step at a time. PM me if you like xxx

 

[amzy]

Hopefully then she's just overweight so I would restrict her grazing. My friend has an overweight horse who she refused to muzzle as she said it was cruel and a few days ago it went down with laminitis and is now stable-bound in great pain.

Obviously, first I would see what the vet says.

 

[muffinino]

Ask Equestrian Fairy about it. She had the same problem a few months back and her mare popped out a lovely, unplanned foal less than 2 weeks after a 12 mile pleasure ride. I was on it and to look at her you honestly wouldn't have known. Ask your vet to do a test to make sure.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

[ QUOTE ]
Ask Equestrian Fairy about it. She had the same problem a few months back and her mare popped out a lovely, unplanned foal less than 2 weeks after a 12 mile pleasure ride. I was on it and to look at her you honestly wouldn't have known. Ask your vet to do a test to make sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh god, as the one who this constantly happens to- (yes, its happened twice to me so far!)

Get a vet out to do an internal or blood test.. just incase or you'll end up like me.. BOGOF!

My mare never let on, she was muzzled, worked hard and on restricted feed and the poor bugger still popped out a healthy baby (yes, even after the 12 mile pleasure ride!) i only found out on the wednesday and she popped saturday morning!

Such is life

 

[RubysGold]

omg! twice! I bet thats been difficult for you, I will definitely ask my vet and let you know what they say!
I'm worried if I restrict her thinking she's fat then she'll have an unhealthy baby because of the lack of grazing.
If I get the all clear I'll continue getting the weight off her!
Thanks everybody
Nickie

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Mine coped well enough and she was on proper restricted grazing!!

I sometimes think its good not to have them too fat when preggers anyway, its just excess weight that is more strain.
Milly was literally carrying JUST the baby weight although now shes looking much podgier enjoying motherhood.. bloody mare!!

 

[muffinino]

Just re-read my post and when I said I was on it, I was referring to the ride, not the mare

EF - Hope you don't mind me volunteering your expertise

 

[EquestrianFairy]

volunteer away! I'm the only one stupid enough to end up with two mares in foal anyway so i suppose i'm the best numpty to ask!

 

[madmav]

Do they not do pregnancy tests for horses? Why not, if they don't. Can't be that hard, humans just pee on stick - and it works.

 

[hellybelly6]

The vet can do a preg test from the mare's urine, thats what happened to a friend of mine.

From the looks of her, she is either pregnant, fat or has had a lot of foals in the past.

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

[ QUOTE ]
volunteer away! I'm the only one stupid enough to end up with two mares in foal anyway so i suppose i'm the best numpty to ask!

[/ QUOTE ]

Did yours pop out that coloured? He/she is gorgeous, i dont think i would have minded lol