Stages of Pregnancy in a Miniature Horse

Miniature horses become fertile at the age of two years but are not sexually active until the age of three. Their normal gestation period can be anywhere from 11 to 12 months, although in some cases it might be less than or exceed this duration by up to ten days. Pregnancy in miniature horses can be confirmed with the help of a pregnancy test for horses.

  1. Onset of Pregnancy

    • Pregnancy is established after successful breeding. The embryo takes 21 days to form inside a capsule. After this, the capsule is broken and the embryo is transported to the uterus where it takes another 16 days before it can attach itself to the uterine wall.

    The First Trimester

    • In the initial months, miniature horses might not exhibit very prominent physical signs of pregnancy. A pregnant miniature horse exhibits several behavioral and chemical changes. Various pregnancy tests confirm pregnancy by determining the presence and extent of these chemical or hormonal changes. A placenta develops around the fetus, from which it derives nutrition for growth.

    The Second Trimester

    • In this period, the miniature foal fetus begins to develop bones and limbs, and its nutritional requirements increase considerably. The pregnant miniature horse requires extra doses of protein in the second trimester. She feels lazy and, therefore, is quite inactive during this stage.

    The Third Trimester

    • Signs of pregnancy become quite pronounced in the last three months. The belly becomes enlarged and the miniature horse tends to become even less active. The udder also increases in size through the course of the last trimester. The vulva's color becomes darker. The end of this trimester is marked by the birth of the miniature foal.

    Birth

    • During the first phase of birth, the miniature horse starts to exhibit signs of approaching foaling. She might also become restless around the last few hours before delivery. The miniature horse usually is lying down during labor. In the second stage of birth, the front legs of the foal emerge through the vulva. This normally takes 10 to 15 minutes, but if it takes longer, it is advisable to call a vet in case there is a problem. The nose and then the face emerge. Once the face and the front feet are out, the remaining delivery is quick and easy.