Horse has wax and milk, is she in foal???

Question
I got my horse in October and this evening we noticed that she was sightly waxed up, my mom was able to milk her a little, and such, she is fat, but more out of shape fat, she has been avoiding the other horses. she is only 11 years old and I really want to know if she can have milk without being pregnant. I was told that she will probably foal within the next 48 hours, but I need a second opinion.

Answer
Hi Kristin,
            There are some mares who if they are having a false pregnancy will come into milk. There are others who will always be in milk. Most of those mares though do not get wax. I would bring her to the vet to have her palpated and to let him/her know that you have a mare who is going to foal soon. If you do not have her is a separate area then you should move her now so that she can foal without other horses being around. You will want the following for her 12x14 or 12x16 stall, straw, since shavings can cause infection.  Access to electricity and lights and access to a phone so that you can call the vet. A Foaling Kit. In your foaling kit you should have the Vet's phone # posted close to the foaling area. A clean bucket, tail wrap to wrap her tail and to tie up the placenta. A large trash bag to put the placenta in so the vet can check it. Iodine and a film canister so that you can dip the navel of the foal. A 60 CC syringe with the needle end cut off in case you have to express milk from the mare.  Banamine for cramps after she passes the placenta. Bran for as bran mash for the dam after she foals, clean warm water for the mare to drink. A watch or stopwatch to time the stages of labor and notepad and pen to record observations.  Record the time labor begins, when your foal is born, when he stands, when he nurses, and when the placenta is delivered.

Good luck with your foaling and let me know what happens.

Lisa