I have owned my 21-y.o. mare for 14 years. As far as I know she's never had a foal. But at any time of the year, her udder is somewhat filled and you can actually milk her. The milk varies from nearly clear, to fairly milky. I am not a breeder and don't know a lot about nursing mares and what the milk should really look like. Her udders aren't sore, there's no sign of any kind of infection, no heat, no hardness She's been like this as long as I've owned her. I have consulted two vets who just shrugged it off and said "look for any changes." There have been none. I have asked a number of local breeders who are equally mystified.

 This horse rarely shows a heat cycle. In fact I did try to breed her when I first got her, but she wouldn't let the stallion near her. He did finally cover her once, but she didn't take. I tried again a second time, but she never showed a heat cycle through that whole season. I'd say in 14 years, I have seen signs of heat maybe four times.

 What's even more puzzling, is that she acts more male than female. When we go to shows or trail rides, she must have her "herd" (my daughters ponies) within eyesight at all times, and if another horse goes anywhere near the ponies, she pins her ears, bares her teeth and kicks at the "intruders." She's fine when we are without her "herd" - goes quietly along. But if my daughter is riding nearby, she's a total jerk if there are other horses nearby. If it's just my daughter and me riding, she's also fine. She's just very protective of her ponies.

 This is also true when we introduce a new horse to the farm. It takes weeks, even months, for her to accept any new horse without violence. She charges the fence line and "herds" her ponies away from the newcomers.

 Anyway, I would like to know if this is something anyone else has experienced. Also, I would like to know if her milk would be any good to an orphaned foal. (nothing immediate, just wondering) Thanks for any comments.

She's personable to all humans, men, women, children. Doesn't have it in for dogs or cats. In every other aspect, she's a sweet horse.

No, no foals anywhere around here. Do you think she would equate a miniature horse or a shetland pony to a foal? She's always had a mini or a pony pastured with her.  I would think that "size" wouldn't matter and it would be more scent or behaviors that would help a horse determine what is a foal in their world.

She did one time, act very peculiar at a show. There was a paint weanling there, across the arena from her and she went nuts calling to it, etc. This was several years ago. The baby kept answering to her, of course. My mare just wanted to get to that baby in the worst way! My mare is a paint.

This past fall, however, we were on a trail ride and there was a baby running alongside it's dam. I don't know if my mare was ignoring it, or simply didn't notice it. The mare and filly were in the back and we were more in the middle of the riders. She didn't react at all to this one (it was a chestnut 1/2 arab)

curiouser and curiouser!

Her behavior is typical of an "alpha" mare.  In the wild, stallions are outcasts and the alpha mare is the herd protector.

The milking and foal stealing may be the result of her having lost a foal at some point in her life.   Psychologically, she may never have gotten over grieving for a lost baby.

RIDE ON!

I am not sure how far I want to go with the investigation. She's not in any pain and doesn't mind her udder being palpated. No bad smell or anything. But I think it might help solve the mystery somewhat to get the hormone levels checked, shouldn't be too costly.

If she were in more discomfort or completely nutty, I would go further. But it's more of a curiosity thing than anything else.

She's my soulmate and l love her dearly. I just wish I could figure out why she's producing milk. Maybe there was a lost foal somewhere in her past!

Still wondering if she could help an orphan foal, should need arise. (A couple of years ago my friend's mare died after foaling. It didn't occur to me then that my mare might be able to help the foal. The foal took the colostrum that was milked from the dead mare and then was drinking foalac, etc, but died  a few days later - it was very sad and in retrospect, I wonder if my mare could have helped)