Worried my mare isn't in foal?

[pinkcatkin]

My mare was scanned in foal and should be due first week in May. She has increased in size but this is also the first year ever she hasn't been worked at all due to lameness so she may be changing shape anyway. I am sure I am being neurotic but sometimes she seems to be looking quite pendulous as though she has dropped a bit, but on other days she just looks "well".

As the last three months are just about to start do you think she will start to change shape pretty rapidly now? Do they change shape slightly at this stage? PS she has had two foals before when she was a youngster, she is now rising 15.

 

[Tempi]

Bloss has stayed the same shape for a while now - shes got 12 weeks to go (due beginning of April). Its her first foal, but shes very long backed and quite a 'roomy' mare. Her tummy dropped and she changed shape quite dramatically at 6-7months and has stayed relativly the same since then.

ive been assured that she will start changing shape again shortly and that there is a sort of 'lull' around the 8month period. Your mare is only at 7months tho, so i should think you wont see much change for about anthoer 5-6weeks yet.

 

[Enfys]

Nail test

Totally unscientific of course.

I guess mares are like humans, every one carries differently. My arab looks full to burst at just 5 months, the bulky great Paint merely looks a bit overweight at 7 months.

 

[pinkcatkin]

Tempi, I was thinking last night that I would PM you to ask how Bloss was getting on, as I was thinking about posting on this subject. Thanks for reply!

 

[Tempi]

Il send you some piccies of Bloss tonight - i took some yesterday but they are at home

She dosent even look pregnant in the pictures!! But you can see how much her tummy has dropped. I stood behind her to see and she looks normal from behind aswell!

 

[_jetset_]

Ok... Han didn't change until about 6 months and then it wasn't massively obvious until she hit 9-10 months then went huge

Hopefully, from the pics you can see how suddenly they change shape. Your mare is only 7 months ish, but if you are in any doubt, just ask your vet to examine her. It is better than worrying

Hannah at 3 months in foal...

Hannah at 6 months in foal...

Hannah at 10 months in foal...

A few days before she had Troy...

 

[pinkcatkin]

Oh great pics - I think maybe I am worrying unnecessarily. If I knew how to put pics on my post I could send you some of Rosie. Do I have to use Photobucket?

Look forward to seeing Bloss pics?

 

[Tempi]

Yes, you need a photobucket account. Upload your piccies into photobucket then post the links or the piccies on here - there is a full description of how to do it in the picture gallery

Il PM you some piccies tonight if my internet at home is up and running by then x

 

[AmyMay]

Get your vet to do an internal examination.

I was absolutely 100% convinced my mare was still in foal - with only two months to go. An internal examination proved otherwise......

 

[springfallstud]

One of my mares last year didnt look pregnant even the day she foaled! People didnt believe me she was even in foal, i knew she was and did have an internal done at 6 months, she is a young mare and carried her first foal well, she is back in foal and is bigger now at 6 months gone than she was at 11 then! Another mare i have in foal now is massive....worring now the vet may have missed one in there

she isnt due til May but is very big, so not much help other than they do all carry them very differently like us women do

 

[Tempi]

have put some piccies in the comp riders forum hun x

 

[Anastasia]

As Amymay has said, get your vet to do an internal, or get a blood test done, that way you will know for sure.