Ex-broodmares and "baby bellies" **UPDATE**

[Murphy_s_Mom]

Eight weeks ago I brought home a 17 year old large miniature mare. She had been out on pasture (despite being “ouchy” when on grass) and was very overweight. I don’t have irrigation rights so all my horses are on dry lot. She has lost quite a bit of weight (and her winter “yak” hair) and now she looks…well, pregnant.

So, I guess my question is…do broodmares develop a permanent “baby on board” look? She’s been a broodmare for probably a dozen years. She looks a bit wide from behind and her belly is pretty round, low, and centered more to towards her back end. Not, OMG, you’re going to foal any day. It’s more hmm, you look like you could be preggers and due in a month or so.

I contacted her former owner and was told she had an ultrasound and was determined to be open. Can a mistake be made with those? I asked for cover dates and she never got back to me.

[Real_Rush]

Is it possible she just has a really big hay belly? I wouldn’t go by the condition of her teats to guess if preggie, either. A lot of mares that have been used as broodies a number of times tend to have slightly lax teats. A casual glance would almost make you think “she” was a gelding.

[K_2]

Interestingly, I know of two people locally that have picked up miniature mares, and both were surprise in foal. I think many miniatures horse owners have somewhat lax attitudes when it comes to herd management, and often let colts run with the mares. It may also be difficult or impossible to ultrasound some of these small mares rectally and external ultrasound during some stages of pregnancy may not be entirely accurate.

[kremeroyale]

My 18yo has had at least 5 foals, and she always has a bit of a “belly.” Not like omg she’s gonna pop, just looks like she could be a couple months along. https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11221939_2539244517880_6478815806314081855_n.jpg?oh=64ea022d787e0883ce0e0d7783f96d1e&oe=57A7ABA5 She can be ribby but from the front look like a wide load. It tightens up when she is in work, but I imagine that could be hard with a mini! :lol:

[Beentheredonethat]

My 17 year old had five babies and she looks great. Even when she was 10 months pregnant, you could hardly tell. I started getting her in shape for the first time when she was eight and pregnant with her 4th baby. She’s gotten to PSG shape and stayed there through that and another and looks great. I think it depends on the horse.

[Highflyer]

It’s certainly possible to miss a pregnancy on ultrasound. It’s also not that uncommon for a mare that’s had a lot of foals to look kind of saggy all the time. Since you know she was covered at some point last year, I’d go ahead and give the vet a call.

Also if she’s lost a lot of weight very quickly, you may need to rework her feeding program a little.

[Murphy_s_Mom]

[QUOTE=K~2;8638643]
Interestingly, I know of two people locally that have picked up miniature mares, and both were surprise in foal. I think many miniatures horse owners have somewhat lax attitudes when it comes to herd management, and often let colts run with the mares. It may also be difficult or impossible to ultrasound some of these small mares rectally and external ultrasound during some stages of pregnancy may not be entirely accurate.[/QUOTE]
Definitely not the case with this mare. She came from a well respected miniature horse and Shetland breeder, trainer, and judge. This mare was, in her early years, a national champion and if she is carrying a foal it would be quite valuable (some of her other foals went on the become national champions).

This morning I looked at her and just thought “fat”. Here are some photos of her that I took the other day. Please excuse the mess (and farrier is coming this afternoon).

[Texarkana]

My 22 year old mare has had 11 foals and tends to carry her weight in her belly. I think things have gotten stretched out over the years and don’t fight gravity as well as they used to.

[clint]

I have a 17 y.o. mare who has had about eight foals. She retains a belly that could be called “pregnant”. I blame it on her short back.

[Murphy_s_Mom]

Mare started bagging up. Called former owner and she came and took her home tonight. She will bring the mare back once the baby is weaned. I guess this time around that “baby belly” was really a baby. :D:D:D

[half_pass1]

At least she had an excuse for her figure!

[ElementFarm]

If you bought the mare, isn’t the foal yours? I wouldn’t think the former owner had any claim to the foal if the mare was sold as open, with no caveats written into the contract…

[Sparrowette]

[QUOTE=ElementFarm;8648261]
If you bought the mare, isn’t the foal yours? I wouldn’t think the former owner had any claim to the foal if the mare was sold as open, with no caveats written into the contract…[/QUOTE]

^^^ This.

Although you may have to pay a fee or two to get a dad determined, and registration…

Keep us posted. Babies are fun!!

[Murphy_s_Mom]

[QUOTE=ElementFarm;8648261]
If you bought the mare, isn’t the foal yours? I wouldn’t think the former owner had any claim to the foal if the mare was sold as open, with no caveats written into the contract…[/QUOTE]
The mare was given to me as a companion for my mini as long as I promised to return her if I no longer wanted her. It wouldn’t be right to keep the foal. She wouldn’t have given me the mare if she knew the mare was bred. It would have been fun to have a foal running around but this lady has much more foaling experience than me so it’s better that she go back. She did offer to bring another mare over to keep my mini company.

[shezabrazenmare]

Nice of you to respect the former owner and let her get the foal from your mare. Even though legally the foal is yours.

Every year my mare has a false pregnancy and gets the look of being in foal. Then she loses the weight till next spring.

Hope your mare comes back to you as soon as the foal is weaned.

[quietann]

Wow, very nice breeder you are working with.

I know one person who rescued a mini mare and another who rescued a mini donkey jenny, and both were pregnant!

In general, I’ve heard that if you don’t know a mare’s origins or immediate past owner, especially for an auction mare, assume she’s pregnant

[quietann]

Wow, very nice breeder you are working with.

I know one person who rescued a mini mare and another who rescued a mini donkey jenny, and both were pregnant!

In general, I’ve heard that if you don’t know a mare’s origins or immediate past owner, especially for an auction mare, assume she’s pregnant

[maybedog]

I commend you for returning the mare and not taking on the responsibility of foaling out a mini. We foal out 25-30 mares a year but will not accept any minis.

[ElementFarm]

kudos to both you and the breeder for giving this old girl a good senior life, and giving the foal the best chance at a healthy start!