How accurate is palpating a mare around 6 months?

[zoehesed]

I am new to this whole breeding thing so I am sorry if this is a dumb question. I had my mare who is an older maiden palpated today to check on her pregnancy. The vet was out for another of my ponies so we checked on the mare while he was there. He did not have his ultrasound machine with him as it was not a scheduled stop because the other pony was acting colicy so it was a last minute stop made while he was in the area…

He palpated her and said that there was no baby. Her uterus felt normal sized but her colon seemed a little larger than normal. She had previously been ultrasounded at around 45 days and there WAS a baby - saw the heart beat etc.

Is there a chance that the palpation could be wrong? I don’t want to miss out on any prenatal care she may need if she is actually still pregnant? The vet seemed pretty confident that there was no baby. Im pretty sad about losing the foal as I was greatly looking forward to this one…

Other info - she lives out with my stallion. She has been flirty and been acting in season throughout the whole pregnancy but he has not been getting on her. Even this week she has been showing etc. and he just sniffs and walks off.

[DressageFancy]

At 6 months the foal is getting close to the size of a small kitty. Your vet wouldn’t have missed it. Best to get her scheduled for an ultra sound and culture to begin getting her ready for next breeding season. Mares can and do resorb early pregnancy. So sorry that you have had your hopes dashed.

[Didi]

Definitely get an ultra sound. While it sound like the worst case scenario, there have been many threads on here where people were told the foal was gone only to have one pop out on the appointed day! Expect the worst, hope for the best, but get confirmation before ceasing prenatal care. Good luck and keep us posted!

[NancyM]

At this stage, the fetus has dropped below the pelvic arch. To preg check at this stage (I was told by a vet many years ago), one “taps” the top of the uterus (the only part you can find) and see if something bounces up and taps you back on the hand. If so, that would be the fetus.

And yes, I’ve had pregnancies missed at this stage, by a senior vet with an international reputation. Was he ever surprised when the foal arrived in the spring.

If your stallion says that the mare is not in heat, put some value in his judgement. Also, if they are living together, she may well have lost the first embryo, and may already have another, on another cover (you may not see ALL action that happens, when it happens). Wait and see. In the situation your horses are in, IMO, there is little point in spending money to pursue this information, which will become apparent by spring. If you wish to give rhino vaccines (I don’t, but you can if you want to), you can do that, they are less expensive that pursuing information that will become obvious to you in time. Good luck. Patience is a virtue when breeding horses. Don’t throw money away that you don’t have to.

[zoehesed]

Thanks everyone! I guess I am still a bit cautiously hopeful that maybe she could still be pregnant. I looked at her this morning and she just looks pregnant to me? She has a grass belly look and it’s a bit lop-sided… paired with how my stallion shows no interest in getting on her makes me kinda doubt what I was told yesterday… I had JUST finished telling him how excited I was about the foal etc. and then he tells me she’s not pregnant… “wait what?!?” felt like the rug got pulled out from under me… I want to believe what my vet says but my GUT is still telling me she IS pregnant… I dunno… maybe I am just crazy…

I think I will just continue to treat her like she IS pregnant and just watch if she gets bigger or not and dry lot her closer to her time if she gets any bigger…

[crosscreeksh]

Thanks!! You all just saved me a farm call and exams on 6 mares!! Same scenario times 6!! We hand bred, then left each mare with a “very happy/content” stud. Each mare was taken out of the pasture when a new mare was added, but have a fence line within 40 feet of stud. The last mare was left in with him. No mares showing anything, but social interest in the stud and the mare living with him shows nothing…nor does the stud. Guess I’ll just wait a while!! Too late to do anything else!!