My horse is bigger

Question
My horse is huge.  This is her fourth pregnancy, and this is the biggest that she has ever been.  I'm worried that something may be wrong.  Are there signs of anything I should look for?  Is there a way to tell that she may be having twins without an ultrasound?  If the stud has been cut, is it ok to leave him in pin with her if she could possibly go into labor?

Answer
Hi Michelle,
                  The short answer to your question is that there are no tests other than ultrasound that can show if she is having twins. That being said, ultrasounds are only good if the mare is at least 16 days along and no more then 60 days. After that time period the foal has moved, and it is very difficult to get a good image.  You can get an ultrasound from outside of the mare after that time period, but it is very expensive and the Vet will not be able to do anything to reduce the twins.

In most twin pregnancies, there is a spontaneous reduction of either one of both of the fetuses .

When a mare carries a twin pregnancy to term, you often have one foal born full term and the other mummified.

If she is bigger then normal, then it could be a larger foal then she usually has. On the safe side, I would put the Vet on alert. Make sure that someone is there when she foals and that you have bottles, extra colostrum and milk replacer.

I would not leave the former stud in with her as she could get hurt. Even though he is a gelding, he could still try to breed her. There is also the chance of him kicking or biting her, which could cause early labor or the death of the foal. If you could put him in a pen where they could see each other, then would be fine.

I hope this helped.

Lisa