Re Pregnant mares

["Arikara Appaloosas" <arikaras@iafrica.com>]

Hi to all,
Well  my endurance mare is pregnant again,last time we only found out at
9months at a 100Miler after 50 miles of hard going her pulses were
erratic,at least this time round as soon as her pulses were erratic I knew
she was pregnant.She is always well rounded and in supberb conditions,this
time I knew the stallion had covered her,but she had come into season
again,I took her away from the stallion the two of them hate being parted
its as if they joined at the hip.Why do mares still come into season when
pregnant,have a few mared that do this to me on a regular basis.
At my last ride I found out Shanni is 5 months pregnant,I cried like a baby
of course yelled at my husband to do something about his stallion.Then I
thought about it,not such a bad idea except I dont have a competitive horse
to ride now,realised how spoilt I have been on Shanni for the last 6 years.
Now I have time for all my young horses,not too  bad ,its such a long way
to go though,we take 4 years to condition a horse.
So now shanni is officially retired after 12 wonderfull  years of doing
endurance,her only withdrwells were twice being pregnant and once my fault
for getting lost.Not a bad track record at all,numerous BCs and first
places and normally in the top ten as well.
We are not allowed to compete with pregnant and lactating mares in South
Africa, even though I have done both unknowingly,even had Shanni's first
foal with us at endurance rides ,just made Shanni move faster ,never mind
the strange looks I would get milking Shanni in the middle of nowhere when
her udder was too full of milk.
People thought I was very cruel but not realising that Shanni is always fit
as a fiddle and riding does them no harm what so ever,it does them more
good than bad.

Just ride your pregnant mares at a moderate pace and look out for signs of
stress.
Just my 2 cents worth
regards
Kathy and *Shanni* who loves being pregnant* and *Tuckahoe ,thank heavens
he cant ever be pregnant***and the rest of them all 24 of them and more on
the way!