[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

My mare is 209 days today with her 5th foal (in 7 years if that matters) With the first 3 foals she was ridden quite hard until about 7 months along. With this and the last one (2011) she has just been a broodmare. This time, I am always amazed at how large she is when I bring her in and out and change up her blankets...but yesterday I pulled her out of the field and went for a light hack with my sister. My mom got a few pics of us...lets just say I was HORRIFIED when I saw the pictures of my mare from the front with me on her!! Please tell my you guys have the odd mare (or two) that get massive when in foal...she has been ultrasounded 3 times since being bred and there has only been one foal in there and there was only one follicle when bred. (She has had twins pinched in the past and is usually a multiple follicle producer...so it was weird there was only one this go around...) Plus, she is 17.3hh with a big body...her foals are usually in the 110-130lb range at birth...does that have something to do with it? Please enlighten me and (hopefully) help put my mind at ease!

Here is a pic of her...

I forgot to add that she is only getting a handful of feed once a day (litterally!) just for her supplement...otherwise just gets hay...

[horsechick]

I have no idea, but OMG!!

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

I have no idea, but OMG!!

I know right!? Scary isn't it!!?

[Laurierace]

This mare only had one in there but she was term and delivered the following day. Not sure what to think about your mare. Jingles

[Kryzlstoff]

WOW!
That's an impressive belly on her!!!
Nothing to add in the way of comforting or informing, but sheeeesh!

[Gayle in Oregon]

OMG!! But I guess some are like that....well sprung ribs!! "Jesus gut in hemil" my German imagrant mother might say.

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

Thanks guys for the loads of confidence :P I wasn't kidding when I said she was BIG!! I did speak to my vet about her today and he said it is possible she is just carrying low this pregnancy. I just hope she can still fit through the barn door in 4 months time!!

Here is a (brace yourself if you thought the first picture was bad!) Hind shot... I cannot look at thes pics anymore because it just freaks the heck out of me!!

[Kryzlstoff]

HOLY MOTHER!
Is she carrying a fully grown pony in there??
I'm glad the vet didn't seem too concerned!

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

Wow, she is BIG!! Especially with her size I sure wouldn't expect her to be that big myself as usually those large mares can "hide" quite a lot in there! Any chance she has hydrops (I think that is what it is called) or any way to check for it?

Personally if it was me I think I would want her checked out a bit more to ease my concerns.

[Meggs]

Oh my goodness. Have Mercy! It is almost hard to look at, but beautiful too...if that's possible.

[jbonifas]

I had one mare last year that birthed a perfect filly 365 days from last cover.

[Laurierace]

I had one mare last year that birthed a perfect filly 365 days from last cover.

I had one that went 365 on the dot with every foal but she sure as heck didn't look like the one in the OP. I don't see how that is relevant.

[VaqueroToro]

She looks like a Thelwell pony.

Jingles that all goes well for her -- is the foal's sire known for helping to create chunky monkeys?

[Laurierace]

Gee, I wonder who gave me the thumbs down?!? This is so freaking childish.

[Sugarbrook]

All I can say is WOW. YIKES. WOW again.

[can't re-]

Sent you a PM. Hydrops came to my mind as well. It is VERY rare - but I had a mare with hydrops. I would have your vet take a look at her to be on the safe side.

[iconicbayequestrian]

We had a colt this year out of an embryo recip mare that was absolutely ginormous. The colt was big but not huge but good god mom was scary looking. As bad if not worse than yours at same time frame. Both mom and boy did and are doing great.

My wife is the vet and after a normal exam and ultrasound she told me to quit stressing. I did and everything was just fine. Very easy delivery actually (god bless foal alert!!!!)

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

Thanks guys I am going to have my vet out just to put my mind a ease. I really hope it is just a case like iconicbayequestrian's was, but going to investigate the Hydrops too.

[Dressage_Diva333]

I had one similar, I'll try to find some photos for you. By 5 months she was HUGE. She delivered a healthy, normal-smallish filly at about 325 days. She had us all really concerned.

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

So I had the vet out today...and I am now keeping my fingers crossed for a good outcome!! My mare had blood work done to see if we can get to the bottom as to why she is SO big…they are going to check to see if there is fluid pooling in her abdomen as well. If those test come back negative, then we are going to take her to Guelph (University Hospital) to see if there is twins (or find another possibility)…he palpated her and said the foal is small (as it should be at this stage) so…please keep your fingers crossed what ever the diagnosis is she (and the foal) will be ok!!