Conference noted::equitation

780.0. "Pregnant Mare who will not eat" by BUGEYE::MACEACHERN (Electric Horseman) Wed Nov 16 1988 00:44

	I have a mare that is due to have a foal in April.  Until recently
we have had no trouble with her eating her grain.  Last Sunday she started
acting like Morris and not eating her grain and just picking at her hay.
	She has no temperature or any other signs of illness that we have
seen.
	On Monday she seemed to be back to normal, but today she acted the
same at the evening feeding.
	We have been feeding her TRIM from Agway and adding MARE PLUS as
a supplement, because of the pregnency.
	Because of how she acted on Sunday, we have cut back on her grain,
by half and were bringing her back to full ration.  She is willing to eat
carrots and will pick them out of her grain when we mix them in.
	Also she is drinking normally.
	Any ideas?  We are new at this, but she has had a foal before
(5 yrs ago).  I don't know if there is a real problem or if she is just
being tempermental.
	Thanks for any help you can be.

			Dave.

    My suggestion is that you call your vet and explain the situation.
     There are so many things that can happen....however, mares have
    been having foals for centuries with great success.
    
    One of our mares acted somewhat like that at 8 months.  She carried
    to term and presented us with twins...one alive and the other dead.
     We came to the conclusion that one of the twins was passing on
    at the time of her upset.  She had a normal birth though.
    
    Good luck...

    I agree with .1, call the vet, better safe than sorry.  Does
    anyone know if its possible to hear a fetal heartbeat with
    a stethascope in a pregnant mare and if so, at what stage in the
    pregnancy could you do this?
    
    Thanks.
    

    Not sure about the heartbeat but one can have an ultrasound done
    to find out what is going on.