FAQs
The short answer is yes. There are some things to consider though. Your mare can be turned out with other mares as long as they get along. A pregnant mare should not be turned out with a stallion or even geldings.
Geldings, while they no longer have the sex drive of a stallion, can still get an erection. Should a gelding mount and then penetrate the cervix of your mare, the pregnancy will likely be aborted.
With a healthy pregnancy, you should be able to ride your pregnant mare until she is at 200 days of gestation.
The gestation period for a pregnant mare is typically 338-343 days. Some mares can foal as early as 320 days or go out as long as 380 days. If you mare’s pregnancy goes much past 340 days you may want to consider having your veterinarian perform an exam to ensure your mare is healthy and all is well
The danger isn’t in eating the fescue itself. The danger is in eating endophytic fungus infected fescue. If your mare does eat endophytic fungus infected fescue she may contract fescue toxicosis. If your mare does become exposed the following pregnancy complications may occur:
- The mare’s pregnancy may be prolonged, causing her to deliver a larger than normal foal increasing the risk of problems during birth.
- Milk production can be effected to the point the mare produces little or no milk.
- The placenta may become thick or tough causing the mare to have problems expelling the placenta.
- A foal that does not develop properly in utero, resulting in conformation or functional abnormalities.
- The death of the mare and/or foal during birth.
The only way to know for sure is to have your fescue tested for endophytic fungus. A survey performed on pastures grazed by horses shows that 63% of the more than 800 farms in 31 states tested positive for endophytic fungus. Surprisingly, 57% of the farms infected with endophytic fungus didn’t realize they had fescue in their pastures.
A standard pre-purchase exam at Mid-Rivers Equine Centre starts at around $200 dollars. A standard pre-purchase exam is a hands-on evaluation. Your vet will evaluate the overall health, conformation, and soundness of the horse you wish to buy and provide you with a report.
Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays, blood work, drug screening, and ultra-sounds can be added to the exam at an additional cost. To see a complete list of diagnostics available and their charges, please see our Request A Pre-Purchase Exam form.