non pregnant mare with milk

Question
I have a mare that I have not been around all winter. She was in a pasture with a gelding.  This spring I noticed that her bag is kind of full and her teets are filled. I squeezed them both and milk comes out of them both. I have no knowledge of a stud being in with her. Between her teets there is a real waxey material. I have not noticed this either before with her.  Could she produce milk while in heat?  Or for what other reason would she be having milk come from her teets?  I am almost positive she is not pregnant.

Answer
hi penny lee,
this is often called witches milk. your mare can think she is pregnant so her body produces the milk. this happens because she is in the pasture with the gelding. her body tells her that she is ready to breed and she mentally thinks she is pregnant. another thing could be that the gelding is a rig. meaning he was not properly gelded and still has testicals and can breed. therfore meaning your mare is pregnant. best thing to do is have a vet come out and do tests to see if she is pregnant or not. i used to work for a thoroughbred breeding farm and there were two mares in a pasture together. one had a foal and the other didnt. well the gfoals mother came down sick and she died. the next morning the other mare had milk in her teats and was nursing the foal. the colt grew up healthy and raced. but definitly get a vet out and be sure. you dont want to think she isnt pregnant and wake up one morning with a little surprise. good luck.
amanda groff