When do I start to worry?

[measles]

Our pony mare STILL hasn't foaled! She was AI'd on 1 June last year and we're now on the 22nd of May so by any reckoning she's either two and a bit or three and a bit weeks overdue.

She is perfectly happy even though she's being kicked rotten by junior but still is only slightly bagged up and there's been no wax. I realise I have to leave it all up to nature but how long should I leave it before calling the vet? Incidentally, he was out at another horse last week and confirmed she's the picture of health.

 

[LouHardwick]

my friends mare went 5 and a half weeks over!!!! Vets where baffled but gorgeous foal came out! She was hanging on to him as he was so small

Dont worry- but I know you will- it will be worth it!!!

 

[GreedyGuts]

Mares can easily go a whole year so I wouldn't worry if she's healthy. You could try using milk calcium tests to predict when she will come. Mares are poor candidates for induction of labour because the foal matures quite late in gestation, and so it's difficult to predict whether they are developed enough or not, and usually leads to problems.
My pony is coming up to 140 days now and she's already gigantic, so I hope she doesn't go over too much, and I sympathise with your mare!

 

[GreedyGuts]

That should have been 340 days, although to be honest she was quite gigantic when she was 140.

 

[Faithkat]

Apparently a "normal" pregnancy for a horse is 320 - 370 days (so over a year) and the longest recorded pregnancy resulting in a live foal was 416 days (ye gods) so you don't need to worry yet. I know of someone this year who reckoned that her foal was due on 23rd March and the mare finally produced in 1st May (with no problems). Mine was theoretically due on 15th April and foaled on 26th. They all seem to be late this year for some reason.