How would you distinguish between a horse who is fat and a horse who is pregnant? Well, before we go on with the specific features, let’s discuss how important it is to get your mare diagnosed.
A pregnant horse needs more care and attention because of all the possible complications that can take place. It is essential that you recognize your horses pregnancy as early as possible so you can take the proper steps.
On the other hand, obesity in horses is as problematic as pregnancy since it can lead to diseases of the lungs, heart and bones. Obesity in horses can also affect their mental health.
Now, let’s answer all the questions step by step and help you figure out what your horse is going through.
How to Tell Whether a Horse is Pregnant or Fat?
The best way to determine if your horse is pregnant is if she has been around a stallion, misses her heat cycle, changes her diet, or has steady growth in her stomach.
Mating
Unfortunately, your naked eye examination is not enough to form a legitimate conclusion. You need to know about the mare’s history and look for specific signs of pregnancy.
 The very first question that you should be asking is if your mare has been in contact with a stallion within the last year. If she has, there is definitely a chance that the mare is not only fat.
If the mare did meet a stallion, remembering when it happened for the first time makes things easier. Since a mare can carry a foal for around 12 to 13 months before giving birth, it will not be possible for your mare to stay pregnant for a period that exceeds the timeframe mentioned above.
If you suspect your horse is pregnant and you live in a cold environment, you should check out my article on the best way to heat a horse barn.
Heat cycle
Second and perhaps the most important sign is to inspect the horse’s heat cycles. Before you find what’s missing, you need to know what typically exists.
For example, a mare who is in heat or estrus will naturally raise its tail, squeal, urinate frequently, will be hard to handle or ride (aggressiveness) merely because of anxiety and will show increased interest in stallions.
These heat cycle signs last for a week, and the cycle continues for another two weeks. Therefore, a mare will begin to cycle as the summer starts.
Throughout the summer, the estrus cycle continues, eventually coming to a close when the days start to shorten. This reproductive cycle usually begins once a mare reaches the age of one year and lasts the rest of her life.
If you do not find these signs of heat cycle when they should be present, there is a good chance your horse is pregnant.
If you are interested in horse pregnancy, you should check out my article on why horses have big willys.
The diet
Have you been feeding your horse a lot more than you used to? Has your horse been less active than before? If so, the horse will naturally gain weight due to more calorie intake and less of it getting burned. However, if you have not changed the diet plan or altered the mare’s activity and she’s still gaining weight, it could be a sign of pregnancy.
Relative growth
Horses that eat more or are overweight due to other causes gain weight in all parts of their body. If you have seen the mare grow, you will notice that all the parts of her body grew simultaneously, which suggests that the horse is just fat. The other case is where only the horse’s belly and udder grow in size while the rest of the body remains the same. If this happens, you guessed it right; she’s probably pregnant.
Foal movements
Even though foal movements inside their mother’s abdomen seem to appear late in pregnancy, it’s one of the signs that confirm it. The movements occur late as the foal grows and runs out of space. So, the foal moves to adjust, which later flatten the sides of the mare’s belly.
A pregnant horse will also start to lie down on their side.
Vulva examination
Examining a vulva (female reproductive part) can give a good hint as well. For this purpose, you may need another horse who is not pregnant to compare it with; if not, look for some online pictures. Usually, a fat horse will have a stuffed vulva compared to a loose and relaxed vulva of a pregnant horse.
Confirmatory procedures
Remember that the best approach to tell whether or not your mare is pregnant is to have her tested by a certified veterinarian. These tests include ultrasounds, blood tests and a urine test.
Conclusion
It’s a beautiful experience to watch your horses mature and give birth to a foal. But, sadly, what we think of as a baby horse growing within a horse’s tummy is sometimes merely fat. So, if you found out that your mare is pregnant, congratulations, you need to take extra care of her, and if she’s just fat, she needs to exercise more.
