Pregnancy check in ponies

[TandyTX]

Not fa![](iliar with best way to have a pony checked. I always ultrasound my big mares at the typical intervals. My knowledge level is good…pony is just about 2 foot smaller than what I’m used to dealing with!
So here’s the deal. Pony was a salvage, pulled out of a tough situation a few months ago. Appx 4-5 years old, Hafffy mix. 13.1 hands.
Have been carefully tending to her needs and she’s done well. Looks great actually and she has just turned into a lovely little gal. Was hoping to see if she might make a cute show pony.

Last 2 weeks she has quite seemingly “sprung” through the middle-flank region. Not as noticeable from the side until your next to her. Pretty noticeable from hind/front views.
Initial thought…naaah…she’s just trying to be round pony.
The more I look at her, the more I wonder.
Her body condition is right where it needs to be. Topline acceptable, not round.
With that said, I mentioned this in passing to my vet. Have another mare that needs a follow up U/S soon. My vet roared with laughter, thought it hilarious that I picked a pony who might have a bonus baby.
If she is, she is…and if not, she’s not. And what I’m seeing very well could be the Haffy coming out in her…but I dunno…
If in foal it’s anyone’s guess as to what (ugh).
So, just HOW does one best check a 13 hand pony mare?

Few weeks ago:
[IMG]http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/Notyurmomma/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsclscczoh.jpeg)

Last week:
[IMG]http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/Notyurmomma/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsstaai4qq.jpeg)

[IMG]http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/Notyurmomma/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsiqlf8ekz.jpeg)

[Daventry]

We breed ponies for a living. Our smallest mare is 12.2 HH. I rectally palpate and ultrasound all of the mares myself. Before that, my vet did. The ponies have been no different to palpate and ultrasound than our 16.1 HH Dutch Warmblood mare. There should be absolutely no problem rectally palpating and ultrasounding a 13.1 HH mare to check for pregnancy.

[TandyTX]

Thanks Daventry,
Will have to see about getting her lined up. LOL, she’s just so much smaller than my big girls, that it made me wonder. Vets are always hesitant to palpate yearlings (even good sized ones), that I didn’t know if it was an option for pony.
Obviously, people breed/AI and then confirm pregnancy…so knew one of you guys would be helpful.
Many thanks.
Fwiw, this pony is a blast. I may be converted :).

[exvet]

LOL, after being harassed (and not in a nice way) by a couple of large animal veterinarians/faculty members in vet school about my petite size and interest in doing large animals, it was, I, who almost always was requested to be the one to come palpate and ultrasound mares while at the first practice I worked at because I had the ‘smallest’ arm (was the only female and first female large animal vet in the tri-county area). I still do my own palpations on my mares, 13 hands, without issue. I never understood why men always felt it was just fine and dandy for me to milk cows, show cattle, break/back horses and then for some reason felt I’d have a ‘hard’ time being a large animal vet. Truth be told I did ‘wise’ up after more than a few years of the grind and transitioned to something else with my DVM that gave me the income to actually enjoy and spend time with MY horses yet my size had nothing to do with the decision to change. Point being there are a lot of experienced, professional small arms out there now…LOL.

[TandyTX]

Hey guys.
It appears that pony girl is indeed in foal.
For the past few weeks I’ve spent a lot of time looking at this little mare, scratching my head…taking a lot of kidding from friends. I was on the fence, as this pony does have a well sprung rib cage and it’s been a process to get her in good condition. She was a hot mess when I first got her, hence wrote off the idea as my normal micromanaging.
Unable to secure an ultrasound here by my regular vet, I planned on hauling her with another horse to the specialist, next week…just because I could. It’s a 2 hour haul but figured I’d put her in the trailer and be done in satisfying my curiosity.
Over the past few weeks, Taffy pony has only gotten fuller in her mid section.

A few nights ago, I had her on cross tied brushing and received an unmistakable kick to my hand, along with multiple other bumping. I stood there with mouth wide open. Past few evenings, while she ate I felt for movement…rinse and repeat of mostly cyclic bumping, distinctive foal tapping.
Either her colon does minor gymnastics or there is a +1.

So…a lot of unknowns here. I have no idea of breeding date and getting that info is unlikely. I’ve not felt movement like this in a full size mare before 7 months. To me, she looks farther along than that, based on front/back viewing (to me)
Not having a timeline…is a nemesis to this discerning person.
There is no noteworthy udder development.

Things going thru my head:

1. How best to accurately close in on how far along she is?
2. Concern for the lack of care during early gestation…she is in good condition now and on a great plane of nutrition. But still…
3. Has anyone found benefit in ultrasounding to determine appx fetal age? If there is no real benefit to doing one, I’m more hesitant to haul her in the heat 2 hours away. It would be an all day trip (there, appt, coming home).
4. No idea what she was bred to. The hell hole I pulled her out of had several full size QH type on the property. Too far away that I didn’t get a real look at any.
   Odds are, she was bred to something far bigger than her 13.1 self.
   Yes, lots of studies about crossing draft/pony mares. Theoretically, I shouldn’t worry…but I am ???.
   Anyone got some pics of pony mares at different months of gestation for comparison?
   She’s a great pony and will get what she needs. My barn is set up for foaling mares, including video, hence she will be monitored when the time comes. Whenever that might be (ugh).
   Trying to think of this as an adventure, but with so many unknowns the want to fill any gaps is strong.

Tips? Thoughts?