My mare is in heat and got into the stallions paddock. No one was home while she was in there so I'm not sure if he got her or if he did, how many times. Is there anyway I can tell before the next time she comes into heat? If she is pregnant any vitamins or supplements I should put her on?
Talking from experience, that's all it takes, just get the 2 together, they'll take care of the rest. If you know the exact date she was in with him, or dates, go approximately 17 - 21 days out from that date and have her palpated and ultrasounded to find out if she's pregnant. If you reallllllly don't want her pregnant, she probably is. The earlier you get her checked, (you can even have her checked at 14 or 15 days but that's not as fool proof) the easier it is to terminate the pregnancy if she's pregnant. Call your vet tomorrow, he might be willing to give a shot or just flush her at some point without knowing she's pregnant, kind of a "just in case" kind of thing. You'll still need to check her to be sure though.
Feed, vitamins, and all that, don't change much until the 2nd trimester when she starts to lactate and the foal puts on the last growth spurt. I keep an eye on my mares to make sure no one loses a bunch of weight once they're pregnant, and I just keep them in good flesh and I give a daily vitamin anyhow. A good, daily multivitamin would be all she'd need.
If you decide to go through with the pregnancy (if she's in foal) then ask your vet about how selenium deficient, or not, your area is. Here, I give a Magnesium, E and Selenium supplement because we're known to be pretty much ZERO for Selenium.
If she's pregnant I'm deffinently going through with her pregnancy. I'll call a vet out. I have her on a daily vitamin already so I'll keep giving that to her. She was with the stallion May 31st, if he did get her do you know approximately when she's due. I've never had a pregnant mare. My aunts always had the foals. Also, I heard they need to eat more then usual.. Is that true? Sorry for asking so much i just want an easy pregnancy for my mare.
That's ok, no problem at all with all the questions you want to ask. Let me correct something, I typed 2nd trimester in my first response and that's not correct. At the beginning of the 3rd trimester is when I start really increasing the feed. At any time, if she starts to look like she's dropping weight, you can up the amount of food you're feeding her. But she really shouldn't have too much demand on her body until the beginning of her last trimester.
She'd be "due" roughly May 6 - 11, if you go for somewhere between 340 and 345 days. She could go more or less depending on her. Has she ever had a foal that you know of?
I've only had for about 8-9 months. Her last owners starved her and the other horse she was with and abused drugs and alcohol so they know nothing about my mare. I think she has had another foal because her nipples sag down as if she's had milk in them. Is there any other way I can tell if she's had another foal?
Okay I am going to be the one to step up and ask WHY would you keep her pregnant? It sounds like she was a rescue? You don't know anything about her history. Is she registered? Is she bred to a stallion that would have this foal eligible for a registry?
Sorry but with so many unwanted horses out there I do not support an "oops" foal from an unregistered mare and stallion that do not compliment each other.
I'm not going to kill a baby horse and why does my horse have to be registered? The stallion is registered, I already know that and why can't I breed a rescue?
Can you post pics of the mare and tell us as much as you think you know about her breeding? Also give some pics of the stallion and a link to his pedigree?
Anyone who has a stallion on their place can have an OOPS. It's not great and not something to try for but ........it happens. It happened to me. I had a 2 year old filly, not an age I would EVER condone breeding, and my stallion get together because of an accident with an older broodmare. We loaded up the broodie and hauled A$$ to the vet to have her put down and someone, no fingers pointed, left a gate or 2 open. The stallion bred the filly and was back in his pasture before we got home. Never even occurred to me that the breeding had happened. The barn helper found the gates open and closed them and never thought to mention it to me. Come Feb of last year, Mare 1 foals out as scheduled, Mare 2 foals out as scheduled and when we came home from having the newest foal checked out from the vet, I saw a white thing out in the pasture. Went out to see who had been throwing plastic bags around in the pasture and found.....a placenta and....a still wet filly. Fortunately that 2 year old was a great mother. I had bought her to breed to that stallion, but discovered personality and temper flaws that had caused me to put her up for sale, not one I wanted as a breeder. Her filly, that I would have flushed had I had even an inkling that the breeding had occurred, turned out to be the 1 of the 3 that I liked the most and she didn't have any of her mother's character flaws. Go figure! So, I double registered her and sold her as a yearling to a great home.
I got very lucky. There were all kinds of pitfalls with that breeding because of the mare's age and her temper and the plain fact that she had a few screws loose. She was gorgeous and double registered, but I had decided back when SHE was a yearling that she didn't fit my breeding plans because I breed for conformation and temperament before anything else.
So, I'm the last person to get on your case about an accidental breeding! Not gonna hear it from me, but what I would like to do is find out as much as possible about the 2 horses involved, so that I could maybe give you some good direction.
She doesn't really have a history. She was left in a pasture to fend for herself. I trained her and everything. I did all the work with her, her past owners left her. I don't get what's so wrong with her breeding. And I didn't purposely breed her, fyi. She got through the fence when no one was home.
The reason many are against an accidental breeding is because of what happened to your horse before you got, neglected. To give a horse the best start in life, you plan it, study bloodlines, and hopefully end up with a horse that is valuable will be wanted. An unregistered foal of unknown lineage is more likely to end up starved, or in a kill pen if something happens to you and you can't keep horses any longer. Also another unplanned foal in the world takes up space that could be for a rescue already on this earth. However, it's your horse, your choice.
I'm keeping the foal and I find it kinda rude that you think unregistered foals are unwanted. Who cares if it's not purebred? If someone really loved horses the breed or whether it's purebred or not shouldn't matter. And there are tons of registered/purebred horses that are neglected. Just because it's unplanned does not mean I am going to kill this foal because of it not being registered or purebred. The stallion has great bloodline and we have a beautiful healthy foal from him right now. I'm really offended by how your going about my mare being pregnant with a mixed breed..
Who cares? The people with money that buy horses and feed them. The people that don't care are the ones that neglect them. No, not all grade horses are neglected & yes, lots of registered horses end up as rescues as well, but that's not the rule. As a conscientious horse owner, I would never, ever condone a willy nilly breeding unless it was too late. I couldn't do it. But again, it's your horse, your choice, good luck.
If your just going to be rude and judge me and my horse for an accidental breeding then please don't post. I'm keeping the foal. Not selling it. So that means it is going to be taken care of and it is not going to be neglected. Stop judging others for there mixed breed horses, it's dumb and rude. I know tons of people who love the horse for them and not for there breed. Sorry not everyone is picky about there fancy purebreds/registered horses.
Registered, pure or not. Have you considered that having a baby could kill your mare, what will you do when (if) that happens? How old is your mare? You don't know that she's had babies before, so it could be incredibly difficult for her and the fact that she was starved before you bought her does increase her risk.
How did your mare get in with the stallion anyway? Maybe you need to look at your fencing...
We're not judging you because you're breeding a grade horse. Yes, that is a bad decision with the current state of the horse world with over population. The biggest concern we have is that you know nothing of your mare's history. Has she or the stallion been tested for frame, HYPP, HERDA, or any other genetic disease? Have you heard of OLWS, HYPP, or HERDA? They are all genetic disease that can kill a foal. THAT is what we are most concerned about with your mare. If she is bred, and she and/or the stallion are a carrier for any of those diseases, there's nothing you can do to prevent the foal from getting it.
Quoting as it needs repeated. Its not so much that it is a mixed breed. Its that you do not know the mares history or any genetic conditions that could be carried in her blood lines. FRAME/OWLS means a dead foal with zero chance of survival when born. Is that fair to your mare or the foal that will be born in pain until its dead?
I know it can kill her, she's 5 and she got through the fence. I'll just get rid of the baby to satisfy you guys because obviously me and my horse are the two dumbest things on earth. Sorry she's not purebred and sorry no one was home to stop her. Can't help the fact it happened. I'm going to bed so I'll finish this tomorrow. Sorry for being rude I just feel like my horse isn't good enough to breed and it's not my fault she got in with the stallion. I just hope now she's not pregnant that way no ones freaked out about a neglected mixed breed foal.
You had to check off the box stating you understand that breeding is a very touchy subject and you will get mixed responces and reactions to any thread in breeding. Sorry its the way it goes. I do not condone any reckless/oops breedings when they can be avoided or caught early enough
You sound young. You have lots to learn. But what would happen if something happened to you and the horses need rehomed? Do you not want it to have the best possible chance for a good home and reduce chances of ending up in the kill pen?
Well, I'm sorry. Now I'm worried, if she's pregnant I'll keep everyone updated so you all can help me figure out what to do but im going to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow. And I'm sorry, I'm just stressed about my horse.. I did not want this to happen.. I'm sorry.
And I already have someone to take care of them if something did happen... I'll just wait and see what happens. I'll update you all. I'm sorry and goodnight.
OP, now you know how the general horse public feels, but you already stated you will keep the foal, so end of my mentioning it. I would however make sure your mare is vaccinated and preg checked by a vet to ensure the best possible chance for her.
Let me preface by stating I've never owned a horse but rode in the past for many years. I've never bred horses although I would love to one day when I can afford to. In the meantime I've been on here, I've read numerous books, and websites and researched until I was blue in the face.
My advice and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, get her ultrasounded when you should to confirm a pregnancy and check for twins. I know you don't want to kill a foal but if there are twins this puts the mare at a much higher risk so please...if there are twins, let the vet pinch one. You should still end up with one foal and majorly lower the risk of your mare having complications or dying during or after birth.
Make sure her feed is the best you can get and when in the third trimester, increase her feed as recommended by the vet. Others on here can give great advice when it comes to brands, supplements, etc.
Get her vaccines when advised by your vet.
Please please please get her tested for the genetic diseases mentioned above. Also, get the stallion tested! A lethal white foal or LWO is not something you want to have and the other diseases aren't good either.
I've noticed that while a lot of people on this forum are rude and blunt with differing opinions, most have great advice but sometimes you have to look through the comments you don't like to see them.
I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure most of us (mainly me) would like to see pictures of your mare and the *maybe* daddy! This is a picture happy forum! Keep us posted!
Serenity it is your decision alone to decide if you want the mare to carry the foal or not.
It is no crime to allow her to have the foal even if it is not registered.
Feed the mare more good quality feed as Dreamcathcer has posted in her last trimester. Ensure she has her annual shots 4-6 weeks before foaling to ensure the mare passes on her immunity to the foal. Worm the mare about 4 weeks before the foal is due. If you do all these things you should have a healthy foal. Good luck. Shalom
I just want to add too that they are asking for pics of your mare and sire because different breeds have some distinguishing characteristics, and some breeds are more susceptible to the genetic diseases mentioned than others, so they could guide you along the way if you needed their advice. Some on this forum are straightforward and down right rude... But it's ONLY because we all have a passion for these animals and want only the best for ALL of them. Don't take any comments personal, the people on this forum will become your very best friends when it gets close to foaling time, and u will rely on them and hang on every word... They've helped me through 3, the first 2 were grade mares that I bought late in gestation, unknowingly , the third is registered and just had her baby on April 15. I bought her when she was 7 months pregnant with a very planned pregnancy.... Anyway, my point is, they have good advice even if u have to wade through the butt chewing first, but when it gets down to business And your in a panic, need advice and ur vets a heavy sleeper, these girls and guys are always around. Good luck with your mare, and if she is pregnant, happy foaling! Posted via Mobile Device
The "none of your business argument." *sigh* Don't want something to be the business of someone you don't know online? Don't post it.
OP there are very valid concerns raised. The breeding section gets quite volatile that is why there is a warning you have to agree with before posting in this section. If I were in you're place I would call my vet and get a shot of lute for the mare and keep her away from the stud.
Appy, it's partially the "none of your Beezwax" arguement and partially it's because she stated very clearly in her 2nd post on this topic,
"If she's pregnant I'm deffinently going through with her pregnancy."
Once that's said, flushing or aborting the pregnancy in any way is off the table. If she'd been the least bit hesitant in her decision I could see maybe trying to talk to her some more about options, but she was very clear on her wishes. At that point, it's none of my business and all about just trying to be helpful. I had already talked about giving a Lutalyse or Prostin shot, or flushing or several of the ways an unwanted pregnancy can be terminated. She let me know very quickly and very clearly that those were not options she cared to discuss.
I wouldn't push a 14 year old girl who got pregnant once she clearly stated, "I will not terminate this pregnancy, I will carry to term.". End of discussion, at least for me.
There is no reason a breeding section of a forum should be volatile.
If we dont agree with some ones opinion or their breeding program then like Dreamcatchers has posted give your advice and let it go.
a foal is not going to impact the world. We are not talking politics, religion, or science here. No reason for any controversy.
There are people that are passionate about the horse industry. Thats great. They want to give sound advice to new members , that I have no problem with. In fact we should encourage this.
How we word our advice is as important as the information we give.
Starting an arguement with anyone is not going to change their minds. In fact the opposite is more likely to happen.
Make suggestions. No one wants a lecture.
There are some very knowledgeable members here OP listen to them. Dealing with a foal destined to die is not pleasant. You sound like a young person. There are easier ways to learn the hard lessons about owning a horse than watching a foal die. Shalom
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