Supposedly pregnant mare showing strong heat....???

[Donella]

We have a mare here who was preg checked in foal just after 90 days. She is due June 10th. I did notice that she has started to develope a bit of an udder about two weeks ago(very small, totally normal I assumed). We were gone to the world cup for the last week and on getting back today I noticed this mare showing a very obvious heat to the horses in the next pasture. She showed a couple of times in the half an hour I was out there so I am not mistaken. Her udder is also a bit more developed, not anything abnormal I dont think. She also doesn't look pregnant like she usually does, she is always very huge and carries her babies low and yet right now, she does have a belly but not anything like the other mares. So I am thinking that she must have slipped the foal at some point , showing such a strong heat, not looking all that huge and yet when I went to see if I could express some milk, some appeared immediatly after a few squeezes. In fact , it looked like colostrum, not milk.

I have heard of mares showing heat when pregnant, but can they be pregnant and show a heat THIS strong??? Also, could she NOT be pregnant and yet develope milk/udder?

Outside of all of this she looks completely normal in all ways.

Anyone????

[YankeeLawyer]

One of my mares was showing strong heats while pregnant, but only during the first half of the pregnancy (granted, that was during the spring and summer). By fall she settled down. Just gave birth to a healthy colt last month.

I would have a vet check your mare, for peace of mind if nothing else.

[Donella]

Hmm, yes, we have had two mares show a heat earlier on in the pregnancy...but not this strong. We will get her palpated forsure asap.

[Kyzteke]

Last year I had a mare checked at 90 days -- she was in foal & all looked well. I noticed her looking longingly at the stallion in January -- not a strong heat, but not as "stallion adverse" as I like to see a pregnant mare. She WAS chubby, but then she normally is abit fluffy anyway.

Was assured that "sometimes this happens" to pregnant mares, and didn't bother to get her checked till March, as I knew I wasn't going to breed till later.

She's open and, per my vet, "has been open for some time."

I would get your mare checked ASAP, especially if you would want to rebreed. Although I have heard of VERY pregnant mares showing heat to a stallion, I've never personally seen it.

[Equine Reproduction]

I have heard of mares showing heat when pregnant, but can they be pregnant and show a heat THIS strong???

Most certainly. At one facility we freeze at, they used a mare that was 9 months pregnant as the jump mare - she displayed estrus THAT strong <smile>.

Also, could she NOT be pregnant and yet develope milk/udder?

Yes.

Anyone????

Have her checked to be sure. At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus would be easily palpated and it would lay any worries you have to rest.

Good luck!

[Donella]

Thanks so much for the replies!
Kyzteke, sorry to hear about your open mare :o( Yes, we do want to know soon what the deal is.

Kathy, what would be the cause of the udder developement if she is indeed open? The production of colostrum ect?

I will get her palpated. Crossing fingers like mad....sigh.

[ise@ssl]

We've had pregnant mares tease quite obnoxiously at all stages of their pegnancy - some right up to the end. At this point she should have an obvious physical change.

[Donella]

Well, had the vet out today and she is not in foal . This was a Quaterback foal to boot. I can't for the life of me figure out when it would have happened, but it must have been earlier on in her pregnancy as we would have seen it/something. :(:(

[clint]

Rats, I'm sorry. What a disappointment. :(

[Donella]

Thanks Clint, yes it is. I suppose it just wasn't meant to be.

[Dressage-ryder]

Kyla- I am so sorry. That foal was going to be super. Hugs to you..

You do have another QB foal - correct??

[Colorful Colorado]

I have one mare that will show signs of heat, although bred, stand for breeding but will kick the stud if he attempts mount. A client mare came in that continued to show signs of heat AND allowed the stallion to rebreed her, but was later ultrasounded in foal and foaled by date of the first cover.

I have had 2 different mares that slipped, but bagged up and "waited" for a foal and tried to steal the babes of other mares. Both showed signs of heat and lost the bag after breeding to the stallion. You just never know....

[Donella]

Thanks Emily. Yeah, we have our Waldkoenig mare due to him in 3 weeks...what a blessing!