Pony Leaking Milk With No Foal

We received a call from a worried walker who had seen this pony on three consecutive mornings in the same spot. She was slightly hunched and was leaking milk from her udder. She was on her own and a herd was not close by, on the third morning the walker called us to report.
Our welfare assistant went to assess, however by the time she arrived the pony was no longer in the spot. After a short search the pony was found with a group of mares, she was clearly agitated but was managing to graze. She did indeed have milk residue coming from her udder, although the udder was not overly swollen. The ponies owner was informed and came out straight away, he assessed the pony and concluded that she did not look pregnant but could be experiencing a phantom pregnancy. He agreed to monitor the pony over the coming week, as did the welfare assistant.

By chance a few days later our welfare assistant spotted the pony again, her belly had dropped a little and she did not look so hunched up. She was alot calmer and was happily grazing with a small herd. She was not leaking.

Again by chance on 2nd July this pony was spotted near Long Ash garden centre with two other ponies. Her belly looked rounder and she had a yellow waxy looking residue covering her udder. The three ponies were then chased off by a group of ponies.

Another chance meeting with this pony occurred on 4th July whilst looking for another pony reported in the Long Ash area. The bay mare again had a waxy residue, Our welfare officer came to assess. She concluded that the mare did look pregnant but could indeed be a phantom. Both welfare staff have agreed to monitor this mare as she could be having a problem foaling, however it could well be a phantom pregnancy and it will settle in time.