I posted this on the hard-to-breed discussion group, but it may be more relevant here...
I retired my TB Paint mare last summer at age 21. Most recently, she was a dressage horse. She retired incredibly fit,sound, muscular, and healthy, but emotionally she was beat. Plus I had a 3 year old hanoverian ready to start.
Anyway, she was bred twice AI by a repro specialist. She built up fluid both times and oxytocin was used. She didn't take either time. Her last foal was 4 years prior where she also had fluid but with flushing and oxytocin, was able to take and carry a foal without problem.
She was checked at 16 days post breeding (July 1st was when she was last bred) and the vet said she was NOT in foal. Around the first of the year, she started looking round and plump, especially sticking out the sides. She has gotten a little bit bigger since then. She also naps lying down in the middle of the day in the middle of the pasture, which until the last 2 months, I hardly have ever seen her do, and she is frantic for food (has always been demanding, but now seems frantic about it). I have also seen her kick at her belly, paw the ground and once even try to lie down when she first started eating and also when I'm brushing one side of her belly, she kicks at the other side.
She eats the same as she always has (a VERY easy keeper), which is one flake of bermuda hay in the a.m. and one flake of alfalfa hay in the p.m. Although she looks fat, I can still easily feel her ribs.
I don't know if this is wishful thinking or not... I owned her with her last foal and she looks exactly like she did in the 7th-8th months back then, but she was being ridden then, she is not being ridden now. Could this be a hay belly? Do they bulge out the sides with a hay belly?
I'm taking her to be "re-bred" in March, but thought I'd ask on this website because the suspense is killing me!
Sandy
Posted on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 04:30 pm:
I would defintely have your mare re-checked for pregnancy. If you say she retired fit and has never had weight problems, then pregnancy just might be the cause of that "hay belly". I have seen some horses bulge to the sides with a hay belly, but it is usually more a hanging belly. It's so hard to tell with TBs though. I have a TB mare that I could have sworn was pregnant one year, eventhough I hadn't bred her, I had just bought her that fall, and about Jan. Feb. or so, she started looking like she had a pregnant belly. But it turned out it was just the winter fat I guess. Good luck, it would be great if she is pregnant!
Good morning. I am having the same dilemma! I just bought a 20 yr old Quarter Horse mare on Jan 5. They told me at the time that they tried to breed her in Aug., but she did not take. Well, the other day I saw something protruding from her side. I put my hand there and it moved! I left my hand there and felt all kinds of movement. I was stunned. So I had another person feel and she felt the same thing. We then checked her nipples. After tugging on them, she squirted out a liquid! What's up with that?! Could she be pregnant??? And, if so, she would only be entering her seventh month and I find it odd that one can feel so much so early. Anyone have any thoughts? I thought about gastric distress, but she shows no signs of discomfort.
I am making a vet appointment this week, but the suspense is killing me. Is she or isn't she?!
Any thoughts or comments are greatly welcomed!
Sandy
Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:57 pm:
Maureen, WOW! I would think you have a pregnant mare on your hands. Yes, it is totally possible to feel that much movement at only 7 mos. As for being able to get fluid from her nipples, well, that's not too uncommon really, especially if the mare has foaled before. I have one mare here that no matter what, you can express fluid from her nipples, pregnant or not!! But, if you felt movement, I mean STRONG movement, then I'd bet you're having a foal! Let us know what the verdict is!
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 08:34 am:
Hi Sandy. Thanks so much for writing. I have the vet coming out today right after work-----it's going to be a longgggg day! lol I really had no thoughts prior to this of ever breeding or wanting a baby, but now . . . now I would be very bummed if she isn't---since the excitement has set in (especially knowing she was bred to a beautiful registered Paint---which is my favorite)! Sure hope I don't have to take all the cigars back! lol I will keep you posted. Thanks again.
Sandy
Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 06:17 pm:
Maureen, Dying to know what the vet says!
Maureen
Posted on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 01:04 pm:
Hi Sandy. Can you believe this----false alarm. She is NOT pregnant. I was so bummed after getting so excited at the prospect. But the vet said he had her entire uterus in his hand and there wasn't anything in it. So . . . no baby. No harm done. But would have been a great bonus! Thanks for writing! : ( Maureen
Sandy
Posted on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 05:06 pm:
Maureen, Sorry to hear that. Did your vet give a reason for the "movement" you were feeling? I find that very strange that you saw something protruding from her side and felt it move, I'd be interested in knowing what it was.
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