Is my mare in foal? read below for more info?

Question

I bought my section d Mare about seven months ago and she has started to produce a sort of milky substance from her teats its not bright white its more like semi skimmed milk to put it frank and she hasnt had a proper season either she had one when we first bought her that lasted a week i have only done really gentle work with her as i have only just broken her in. she has really put on weight but it hasnt dropped she has just got really wide..... any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!! also the person who we bought her off has said that if she is in foal the foal is theirs is he right in saying this or do i have legal rights over the foal? i really do hope so as i know the type of home the foal would be going to and lets just say hes the sort of guy that ties horses up by lunge lines and leaves them in a field

Answer 1

possibly in foal, but i would get a vet to check her over.  if she is then the vet should be able to give an approximate date for foaling.

the foal would be YOURS unless you signed anything.  don't let this man bully you into giving him the foal.

happy waiting.

Answer 2

mares dont produce any milk until a few days before they foal so if she is pregnant foaling will be very soon. Also if she was definately in season 7 months ago she wouldn't be due to foal (pregnancy is about 11 months). Probably best to get her checked over if your worried because it could be some sort of infection.

Also the person you bought her off doesnt have any legal rights over the foal if she is pregnant. afterall its you whos had to care for the mare and foal all the feed vets bills etc. hes probably just trying his luck!!

Answer 3

Best and simplest way to check...is have the vet do a palpation on her.  It's not expensive, and will answer your question better than any guess we could make here.

She likely could be...if the previous owner is saying that the foal belongs to him.  Means the previous owner exposed her to a stallion.  

As for who the foal belongs to...if you bought the mare...IT'S YOURS!  Unless WRITTEN down on a sale contract that a foal from this mare would belong to him.  

NO CONTRACT...YOUR FOAL!!  Call the vet and pay for a pregnancy palpation on her.  If she is in foal...you need to give her the appropriate care for a broodmare.  Feed and vaccinations, and worming.

Answer 4

Well I would have a vet out and that mare is legally yours. Their is no way the previous owner can claim the foal. Not only is it just law, but you are putting in the time and expenses to the mare and foal. If you bought her out right then you have all the right reason to win in a court of law if he tries to take it that far. Sounds like he might just be trying to threaten you so he can get the foal to sell it for money, it doesn't sound like the type of guy to take it any farther then that. He sounds too lazy. The only way that man can claim the foal is if their is a contract saying the foal is his when it is born...etc, etc. Also id you have papers on the mare or a bill of sell in your name then it is completly fine. The only thing that he could do is if he has the papers in his name, BUT Im sure you have witnesses that the mare is yours and you have been the full care giver for the 7 months or whatever it has been. I wouldn't worry about that man. Sorry I went on, that makes me mad that he is trying to claim the foal

oh and I have a friend who bred her mare to her stallion and she thought it didnt take because the mare came in season shortly after, so she figured oh well it wasnt ment to be so she didn't breed her again, well about 9-10 months later...she realized that her mare might be in foal...and sure enough now she has a beautiful yearling filly named bella. This all happened before I knew my friend/boss/landlord

Answer 5

It is very unusual for a mare to produce milk early in pregnancy. But it is usual for cobby types who are overweight to produce milk-like excretions. It is very important to get her checked by a Vet ASAP as any change in the udder is an indication of a probelm. He/she will be able to do an internal and check if she is in foal. A near-birth foal belly is quite unlike a fat belly. If she is in foal, then it may be nearly D-day!!

Swelling in the udder can also be caused by fly bites, If she isn't in foal, make sure she has a clean udder, and spray lightly with fly repellent.

Untreated, this can cause a very painful mastitis.

If you signed a contract about any possible foal being the previous owner's, then you have to stick to it. But if he only said that, then you are most likely in the clear, the very most he could demand is a re-payment of the stallions stud fee, but then you have to have all the documents. Do you have her passport, or is he still holding it??

Best of luck!!

Answer 6

If she is in foal then I do believe it would be yours after all you bought the entire horse that includes whatever is in her body..

from what you are say - I do think she is in foal - best to have a vet check her out.. Good luck

Answer 7

Best to get the vet involved who can do a quick internal examination to check if there is indead a foal in there.  She would be too young to have a foal, but it is very possible.  The foal would be yourrs.  I hope for your sake it is not a foal.  We had this once but the horse was sway back and no foal was forthcoming.  Another produced over night and suddenly wwe had two!