Teats still milking 2 years post partum?

[horsegurl]

Hello and thanks in advance from breeders experienced with this. I have a 10 and a half year old warmblood mare, she’s been back to work for two years now. Prior to my purchase she had two foals, one as the six-year-old and one as an 8 year old.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹ I have noticed over the past year and a half or so that her sack seems to get liquid in it, as I can squeeze her teats and “milk” her. It isn’t a cloudy type of milk that comes out it’s mostly it clear to partially cloudy liquid. Some days I can get more than other days. Today I got four good squeezes and it squirts out it doesn’t just drip, it seems like there’s plenty in there.

”‹Is this normal two and a half years post partum? Or is it abnormal, indicating a hormone imbalance or other problem? That I need to address with a veterinarian?

I’m not sure that it bothers her, I don’t think it bothers her physically, She is one of the best behaved horses I’ve ever sat on, she does have her moments when she is marish. I’ve been able to “nurse” her whether she’s on regumate or off.

Thanks for any feedback.

[cedarlake]

My old mare did this and my vet said to not be concerned. It was not an infection but perhaps due to clover or other natural changes. My mare did it constantly no matter what the season or feed she got.

I would simply keep an eye on it and if her bag becomes inflamed, has a cottage cheese like substance being pulled out or heat, then call a vet.

[Texarkana]

I don’t know how “normal” it is, but some mares never dry up and never develop mastitis.

I have a now retired 25 year old broodmare who hasn’t had a foal in 6 years, but still has milk. I keep an eye on her udder and make sure it never feels hot, hard, or painful- she’s never had a problem. Every few months, I strip the tiniest bit out of her just out of curiosity. Her bag has gotten smaller over the years, but is always fuller than normal for an open mare and she always has something that can be excreted.

I wouldn’t recommend milking your mare with any regularity, though.

[Green_pastures]

Slightly different situation but you might find this interesting. We have a 26yo mare, hasn’t had a foal since she was in her late teens. Very mummy mare, nuzzled up to everyone/thing, we always had to separate her from any mares with foals because the foals cries would upset her.
About 3 years ago we lost a mare within 12hours of foaling to an infection, our mummy mare went mental listening to the foal cry for his mum and since he was hysterically upset and wasn’t letting us bottle feed him, and she had always had a calming influence on other horses, we introduced them to each other.
She spent the rest of the day licking and fussing over him and he calmed enough to bottle feed. Within about 24 hours of introducing them she started producing milk. Had it checked by the vet and then let the foal drink it and foal ended up great!! Since then we’ve offered her to anyone with an orphaned foal and every year she’s had an orphan introduced to her she’s produced milk!

[wannabedvm]

@Lily pearl

Slightly different situation but you might find this interesting. We have a 26yo mare, hasn’t had a foal since she was in her late teens. Very mummy mare, nuzzled up to everyone/thing, we always had to separate her from any mares with foals because the foals cries would upset her.
About 3 years ago we lost a mare within 12hours of foaling to an infection, our mummy mare went mental listening to the foal cry for his mum and since he was hysterically upset and wasn’t letting us bottle feed him, and she had always had a calming influence on other horses, we introduced them to each other.
She spent the rest of the day licking and fussing over him and he calmed enough to bottle feed. Within about 24 hours of introducing them she started producing milk. Had it checked by the vet and then let the foal drink it and foal ended up great!! Since then we’ve offered her to anyone with an orphaned foal and every year she’s had an orphan introduced to her she’s produced milk!

My friend has a broodmare who produces milk for other foals even when she isn’t pregnant or with a foal of her own. Silly girl lets anything nurse her.

[Texarkana]

@Lily pearl

Slightly different situation but you might find this interesting. We have a 26yo mare, hasn’t had a foal since she was in her late teens. Very mummy mare, nuzzled up to everyone/thing, we always had to separate her from any mares with foals because the foals cries would upset her.
About 3 years ago we lost a mare within 12hours of foaling to an infection, our mummy mare went mental listening to the foal cry for his mum and since he was hysterically upset and wasn’t letting us bottle feed him, and she had always had a calming influence on other horses, we introduced them to each other.
She spent the rest of the day licking and fussing over him and he calmed enough to bottle feed. Within about 24 hours of introducing them she started producing milk. Had it checked by the vet and then let the foal drink it and foal ended up great!! Since then we’ve offered her to anyone with an orphaned foal and every year she’s had an orphan introduced to her she’s produced milk!

I have considered doing the same with my old mare. I almost offered her to a neighbor a few years ago for the same reason, but wasn’t sure if she’d produce enough or if her milk would even have nutritional value after all these years. Hearing your story, I’m definitely encouraged to offer her to try if the situation presents itself again.

[Toblersmom]

@Texarkana

I have considered doing the same with my old mare. I almost offered her to a neighbor a few years ago for the same reason, but wasn’t sure if she’d produce enough or if her milk would even have nutritional value after all these years. Hearing your story, I’m definitely encouraged to offer her to try if the situation presents itself again.

Even if she doesn’t produce enough and the foal needs a bottle or bucket for actual nutrition, you figure the behavior benefits of having a horse “Mom” have got to be huge for a foal.

[fordtraktor]

Um, Have you had kids? I could do the same to myself a couple years after I finished breastfeeding. My OBGYN said it was completely normal…milk takes forever to completely dry up. I could NOT have BF another kid without hormone inducement shots! Don’t do that to her without help but there is a protocol to induce lactation.