My mare may be pregnant

Question
Hello,
Hi, my dad got me a mare Appaloosa who is about 15 years old. She may be pregnant is there any way to tell without a vet. My dad will not pay to have a vet come out because he does not beleive she is pregnant. But her udders look differnt then my uncles horses. Sandy has never foaled before. She lives with my uncles horses who are all mares but one day there was a stallion across the fence then Sandy became on to heat with him. Well what do a pregnant mares udders look like. Sandy, and baby white one (one of my uncles horses my baby cousin named her) both never foaled but Dolly and Wheenie both have foaled before. They are all different breeds too. Baby White One, Wheenie, and Dolly's udders all look the same. The teets drop down a little. But Sandy's udders are kind of puffy, they have been waxy for months, there are two things sticking out outside the teets. But the teets dont drope down like the others. COuld you send some pictures are a pregnant mares udders and some of a none pregnant mare. If you can. Thank you
Erica

Answer
Dear Erica:
You can access the university of Guelph's Veterinary college to see photos - or simply do an on line search for lactating mare-udder photo. A mare only bags up about 24-48 hours prior to foaling but can have waxy plugs much earlier. Has your mare been in heat since she may have been covered by the stallion? If not, there's a chance she could be pregnant though some mares have continued to cycle and still been in foal.
I am concerned by the fact that your father doesn't want to have a vet come out- surely you have the vet come out for routine worming/vaccinations- a simple blood test would tell all if he doesn't want to go to the cost of a pelvic exam or an ultra sound. I understand that money shouldn't be wasted and neither should a vet's time but if there's any chance she could really be in foal (or perhaps have some kind of infection in her udder) he could be looking at a much higher vet bill if he were to allow a 15 year old maiden mare to foal without a vet.
Your Uncle seems to be a horseman- have you asked his opinion?
Good Luck,
S. Evans