Runaway mare is pregnant, vet says

Princess, the 6-year-old runaway mare that bolted from its owner in Germantown on Saturday, is 31/2-months pregnant, according to the Pennsyvlania SPCA's chief veterinarian.

"She is expecting," said Dr. Ravi Murarka, who performed an ultrasound and sutured the horse's wounds yesterday. "The results came up positive."

Murarka said X-rays of the right hind leg and the ribs showed no fractures.

"So far, we are expecting her full recovery," he said.

He said Princess was highly agitated throughout the day and was on antiobiotics round the clock. He said he had to sedate her several times and re-suture her rear hock after she reared, ripping her stitches.

On Saturday, Princess crashed into a car, crushing the windshield and causing minor injuries to one of its occupants. Then, she lead police and animal-control officials on a nearly two-mile chase for about three hours.

Murarka said X-rays Saturday night revealed that Princess might be pregnant. He had been cautious with medications, pending a pregnancy test.

The horse's former owner, Milton Mangual, said yesterday that Princess' pregnancy was news to him.

"I didn't know. I don't have a box of cigars yet," said Mangual, 52, who surrendered the horse to the SPCA on Saturday so she could get medical care. Mangual will not get the horse back.

Princess pulled free from Mangual as he attempted to graze her. The horse struck several cars and people as she headed down Greene Street toward West Mount Airy.

Representatives of the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association finally helped collar Princess behind a house in the 6600 block of Lincoln Drive.

Mangual, who walked the horse away with a police escort after it refused to enter a trailer, said he purchased Princess at an auction in Bucks County, a year ago. He was not charged in the incident.

He said yesterday that he was sad to lose his only horse, one he described as "very friendly." However, he said that everyone, including the SPCA, agreed that getting her proper medical care was a priority.

"It's like losing a part of your family," Mangual said. "But it's the best thing for her right now."

As for the prince? It could be a reddish stallion, Mangual speculated. He said he boarded Princess in a stable next to his property on the 200 block of West Hansberry Street in Southwest Germantown with the other horse, owned by someone else.

"These things happen," he said. "They're animals."

Horses have an 11-month gestation period, which means the baby horse will be born in late December, Murarka said.