| Author |
Message |
    
Corine
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 09:39 am: | 
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My maiden mare, at 332 days today had had a couple of changes the last 5days. The first was the filling of her nippels, then her vulva relaxed and is swelling, last night I noticed a brownnish/reddish discharge from her vulva, also there this morning, and this afternoon I checked her milk.
Before it would stream out (small stream), quite clear with a white tinge. Now it was thicker and whiter, but not a bright white, quite cloudy.
Does this mean she's starting to "make" colostrum?
How many more days do you guys think she'll go? I know you cant ever say for sure, just give me an educated guess..! |
Sandy
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 05:47 pm: |
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Corine,
sounds like your mare is close. The brownish/reddish discharge could be that she is starting to shed the mucous plug.
The longest I've had a mare take after the milk started to get the thick-skim milk look to it is about 2 1/2 days.
Some mares can foal without the milk turning totally white.
I also had another mare foal within 12 hours after her milk started turning white.
So, needless to say, I think it is time for you to start watching your mare closely!
Let us know when she foals. |
Corine
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 05:36 pm: |
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She had her baby!!!
An awesome sorrel overo filly! Mare and foal are doing great!
I'm so happy, and Sandy, this is the mare that carried on the "sides", its a filly, so your theorie holds true! |
Sandy
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:05 pm: |
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Corine,
That is SO COOL!!! I'm glad you got what you wanted. And I think it is just too awesome that my theory worked for you. Congrats! |
Katie
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:50 pm: |
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What are the stages of milk in due to foaling mares? We have a mare that had thick whitish milk for almost a month and went real sweet. Then it turned off yellowish for a couple weeks and had a bland taste to it and tested higher than it ever has on test strips, and now it's gone back whitish, tests lower, but is gone sweeter again.. She's overdue (400 days) btw and not showing much signs of wanting to go soon. Thanks! |
Corine
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 04:00 am: |
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Katie, is she really 400 days!? My God, what a wait! Check this website: http://www.ceoates.com/info/Mare_Milk.html
Good luck, let us know when she foals! |
Katie
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:42 am: |
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Yes, she sure is. She was only bred two days, and we've kept rigorous track of her since then.  I checked out the website, and it was full of useful info, I really appreciate it. Today her milk is super sweet tasting, but is not a thick whitish.. more of a watery whitish with a slight tackiness to it. Surely she's got to be doing something soon. LOL.;) |
Sandy
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:14 pm: |
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Just for sake of curiosity, what has been the average time you have experienced from the time of starting to make a bag to actual time of foaling?
My experience has been between 4 to 5 weeks after starting to make a bag to time of foaling.
I'm just trying to get an average.
Thanks |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 06:37 pm: |
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Well I've tried to keep a diary, so I'll go and try to keep this in shortened form if I can.
2/26- mare developed very elongated nipples & watered down white fluid coming from them.
3/24-Full udder and started relaxing the vulva alot.White fluid able to be milked.
4/2-mare starting to lose bag. Fluid color was yellowish white.Foal movement still active.
4/5- Udder all but disappeared except for elongated nipples. Fluid was cloudy yellow and thick, sticky and had a different taste, bland?
4/13-udder growing slightly, fluid is turning whiter and has been very sweet. Baby still active, but seems to be in position, so movement is more bumping around or hiccuping like. Mare seems fine.
That would put her at 7wks today since she started udder development if I got that right.
Vet says she's fine as long as she's eating and acting normal, which she is. Just waiting is a killer.LOL. Maybe for Easter?
She's shown signs of being ready for over the last month, but nothing yet. 
Who knows.... but what do you think about it?
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Sandy
| | Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2003 - 12:49 pm: |
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Okay, here are some averages that I've experienced:
2002
Mare #1: Bag started filling at day 340, foaled at day 375. Foaled 35 days after bag began to fill.
Mare #2: Bag started filling at day 318, foaled at day 351. Foaled 33 days after bag began to fill.
Mare #3: Bag started filling at day 315, foaled at day 350. Foaled 35 days after bag began to fill.
So far in 2003
Mare #1: Bag started filling at day 301, foaled at day 337. Foaled 36 days after bag began to fill. |
lisa
Posted From: 216.166.196.183
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 09:08 pm: |
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Sandy,
Iwas wanting to know about carring the baby on the sides what does that theorie mean? |
lisa
Posted From: 216.166.196.183
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 09:13 pm: |
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Sandy,
also have one more question I have a maiden mare and she is due i 3 weeks. I am keepint a close eye on her and tring to do all the things that Iam sapost to do. I was washing her backend yesterday and she tries to kick me and also does the same when i wash her udder which she doesn't have much of right now. iam a little worried that she will not get much milk and she also so has a little sore right in front of her udder what could that be? i keep it clean and dry when I can. what do you think . thanks lisa |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.249.224
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 11:39 pm: |
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Hi Lisa,
I hope I can answer some of your questions.
What I am talking about with carrying to the sides is that I have noticed with my own mares that when they are sticking out further in the sides than they are hanging low throughout their pregnancy, they are usually carrying a filly.
When their belly hangs low throughout the whole pregnancy, they are usually carrying a colt.
I have been keeping track of this for about the last 3 years, and it's been about 99% accurate so far. I honestly don't know if it really makes a difference, but it seems to be working for me.
As for your maiden mare, they can be very unpredictable when it comes to foaling. She could be trying to kick out at you because she is just getting uncomfortable and cranky. A lot of mares get that way the closer they get to foaling, whether a maiden or not. Their hormones are going all wacky and they will act different.
I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that she doesn't have much of a bag yet. Maiden mares can make a bag rather quickly just before foaling and some will even make their bag during the foaling process or shortly after foaling. But don't get worried if she doesn't foal in 3 weeks. She could go overdue on you too. I have a friend whose mare is due in 6 days (also a maiden) and she hardly has a bag at all yet. My guess is that her mare is going to go overdue.
The sore on your mare's udder could be from bug bites. I know where I live there are these little tiny flies that just love to attack mare's udders and the undersides of horses' bellies. It does leave little sores and scabs. You're doing the right thing by just washing it and keeping it dry. You don't want to put anything on it as it could affect the foal's nursing. But, you want to make sure you are using a mild soap or even just plain water, you could make your mare's bag dry and irritated, like how your hands get if you're washing them a lot.
Anyway, hope I was some help to you. |
lisa
Posted From: 216.166.196.72
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:02 pm: |
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Sandy,
thanks for the info. it will come in handy.
i was wandering you said if the mare caries on the side it's a filly and carries low it's a colt. does the change of the moon have anythig to due with when they are to foal? thanks again talk soon lisa |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.172.13
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:20 pm: |
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Lisa,
Glad I could be of some help.
I have heard some people say that a lot of mares will foal during a full moon. But, I've tried to keep track of that little myth with my own horses and this is what I've observed:
Out of 4 mares, 2 of them foaled on a FULL moon and 2 of them foaled on a NEW moon (no moon at all).
So, I honestly don't know if the moon cycles have anything to do with their foaling times or not.....sorry. |
lisa
Posted From: 65.216.70.62
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 12:49 pm: |
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Sandy,
thanks again for the info. is it the 30-37 days after the udder starts to fill or do you count the first signs of udder change then count 30-37 days?
thanks lisa |
lisa
Posted From: 65.216.70.62
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 12:56 pm: |
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Sandy ,
also does this work in maiden mares also? with the 30 -37 days.
thanks lia |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.133.202
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 03:53 pm: |
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Lisa,
I count the 30-37 days after the udder begins to fill.
On maiden mares, pretty much anything goes... they are very hard to predict. A maiden mare's bag can actually start to fill while she is foaling, or directly after foaling...so there really isn't an average to go by with them. |
lisa
Posted From: 65.216.70.62
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 05:37 pm: |
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Sandy,
thanks anyway I am ready to see that baby. thanks |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 10:00 am: |
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Hi,
I was just wondering if it is normal for my mare at 445 days pregnant to stil have clear milk?
Her bags have been 3/4 full and she walks them off to 1/2 full durring the day.
Yesterday she didn't walk off her bag and by this morning it was all the way full. But her milk is still clear and slightly sticky.
She is not a maiden mare, but this is MY first so I'm not quite sure what to expect. None of the books talk about stuff like this.
Also, the baby has been shifted back and kicking near her talk for a week. Is that normal? |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 10:04 am: |
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Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I don't have any of her foaling history. The guy I bought her from always forgot what day she was bred on and just dealt with the foal when it came. So don't have previous patterns to compare this to.
I DO know that her last foal was perfectly healthy, though.
She is a 5 year old Haflinger. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 11:36 am: |
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****CORRECTION****
My mare is at 345 days!!!
Geez, this lack of sleep is getting to me. I need her to have this baby soon so I can take a very needed nap. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.172.126
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 05:01 pm: |
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Kristin,
It is totally normal for her milk to be clear at 345 days. It usually will not change until about 12 to 48 hours prior to foaling.
Considering that you say her bag has kinda grown, and she wasn't able to walk it off, that is a good indication that she is getting closer.
Yes, it is normal for you to see the foal kicking up near her tail.
As they get closer to being born, the foals will start to stretch out their legs and kind of get a feel for where it is they need to go. This is a necessary thing for them to do. Basically, they are "practicing" at being born.
You probably don't have much longer to wait, then you can take your nap! |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.87.199
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 07:33 pm: |
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Thanks Sandy. I'm a first time mother and a little jumpy about anything and everything.
When I let her in tonight, I checked her milk and it was a little cloudy. Certianly not white, but it had a tint to it that wasn't there this morning. And when I milked her, instead of getting a drop(like normal) I got a stream that nearly sprayed me in the face! I was more than a little suprised. Guess I won't have to milk her with quite so much oomph next time.
Here's hoping I get a healthy baby soon. ^_^ |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 01:09 pm: |
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No baby last night. Milk is no cloudier than yesterday.
All night she rubbed her tail and bit at her sides and arranged her straw. No rolling. She didn't sleep until almost 7am! Very odd for her. She is usually sleeping at 1 am and 4 am.
Her udder still looks really full.
Maybe a baby tonight ^_^ |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.243.99
| | Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 12:15 pm: |
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Kristin,
You're close!
Let us know when that baby comes... |
Kristin
Posted From: 64.12.116.22
| | Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 12:25 pm: |
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Thought it was going to be last night. She was sweaty and biting at her sides and couldn't seem to get comfy. But insead of breaking water and going into labor.....she took a nap. Weird, weird horse. I guess all that preparing to go into labor tired her out. =P
This morning when I milked her there were white specks in her milk and the milk was a little cloudy. Tonight, then? I guess we'll see.
I'll let y'all know when the baby comes and I'll post links to lots and lots of pictures too! ^_^ |
Amanda
Posted From: 66.170.76.156
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 03:17 pm: |
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Kristin, do you have a foal yet? |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.133.223
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 06:26 pm: |
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Well, looks like I should have a foal sometime in the next 12 hours.
I checked my mare's milk this morning at 7:30 am and her milk was clear, somewhat yellowish, and a little thickish.... Came home from work at 1pm, checked her milk and it is almost totally white! This mare last year foaled about 8 hours after her milk turned white, it has now been about 3 1/2 hours, and I'm watching her on the monitor right now, and she is definitely acting like she is not a happy camper at all! I know it should be any time now.... |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.87.199
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2004 - 10:37 pm: |
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Good luck, Sandy! Hope you have a very healthy foal tonight.
I don't have a foal yet. Her milk is back to yellow(no white specks) and a little sticky. And she has seemed comftorable. No more sweating or pacing since two nights ago. I guess it is just a waiting game now. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.133.237
| | Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 01:20 pm: |
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My mare foaled at approx. 9:30pm May 5....323 days gestation....a very healthy and absolutely gorgeous black and white pinto colt...by the way, my mare is a miniature horse...the colt is 19 1/2 inches tall...both mom and baby are doing great!
Kristin,
Any change in your mare yet? |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 02:25 pm: |
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CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR COLT, SANDY!!! ^_^
Pictures???
No change in my mare. She is acting like she is 250 days along insteady of the 350 that she really is. ::sigh:: I think she just doesn't WANT to give birth.
I've been checking her hourly since day 320 so I REALLY want her to have this baby soon. I'm tired.
PS-she was hand bred, so I'm sure of her breeding dates, and she has been checked and she is still pregnant. |
Diana
Posted From: 24.69.255.205
| | Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 04:47 pm: |
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It is so funny to see us all anxiously awaiting the arrival of these little darlings. Mother nature seems to like to keep us on our toes.Nothing will happen until she says so. Just like when we have our own babies! I remember being overdue 7 days and feeling like each day was a year.And what was the most annoying was people calling all the time asking if I was still pregnant.Maybe our mares feel the same. |
Sandy
Posted From: 204.30.104.99
| | Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2004 - 11:56 pm: |
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Kristin,
Here is a link to my website. Click on the new arrivals page and you'll see a pic of the new foal.
www.angelfire.com/ut2/sbr/index.html
|
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 10:59 am: |
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awwwww. He is perfect in every way, Sandy! ^_^
I hope I get one half that adorable. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.87.199
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 07:28 pm: |
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IT"S A GIRL! Misty foaled a perfect HUGE filly today at 12:30 in the afternoon. No warning signs(milk never did turn white until after). She seemed to skip the first stage of labor all together. Took ten minutes from the time the water broke to the time the foal was all the way out and looking around.
I'll post pictures very soon. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.252.167
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 09:01 pm: |
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Congrats Kristin!
Can't wait to see the pics....
I had a mare do the same thing to me last year, milk didn't turn white until after she foaled...it really threw me for a loop. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.87.199
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 09:54 pm: |
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Hi
Well, Misty finally had her foal and IT'S A GIRL! Here are the particulars:
Name: Misty's Serenity
Nickname: Serenity or Ren
Height: 36 inches at the withers(shoulder)
Born on: May 8, 2004 at 12:30 pm
Healthy? Heck yeah!!
Story of her birth:
Caution: I'm going to get wordy. Feel free to skip to the end for pictures. ^_^
I teach riding lessons, mostly to kids with handicaps, at my family's farm. So, I had finished teaching for the morning and was going to go eat a sandwich at my house that is only about two hundred feet from the barn. Before I went to eat, I check Misty who was out eating grass in the field. She seemed happy and not distressed. NO signs of impending labor. So, I happily went to eat lunch.
Got inside realized I was out of Pepsi. Since I have a serious LOVE of Pepsi I drove five minutes to the store bought a can and came home.
Just incase you aren't keeping track, at this point I have been away from my house for no more than ten minutes. I look out into the field as I get out of my car and there is a baby!!
Misty is lying down and the baby is all the way born except the back legs are still in. They usually stay in until the mare stands. I go running across my back yard and attempt to leap the fence. I then realize I'm too short to jump over a four foot high fence, but too late because I'm already in mid air. I then catch my one foot on the top rail and fall flat on my head.(ouch) I get up and run to the baby because she still has the sac over her face and I'm worried that it is covering her nose. Turns out that it had torn enough for her to breathe (thank goodness). I lifted it off of her eyes and she looked at me with the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen. ^_^
-The End-
The story of her learning to stand is just as long and incredibly funny since she was born on a HILL. If anyone wants to hear it let me know.
Now on to PICTURES:
Her first picture. She is still wet.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1083187910731_TenMinutesOld.jpg
Misty waiting for Serenity to stand and protecting her:
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1083893603477_Protecting.jpg
First attempt to stand, can't control her legs yet. :P
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1085683837775_AllLegs.jpg
Serenity getting a little help standing. YES that's me and possibly the worst picture of me ever. But the baby looks cute so you get to see it anyway.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1082134502585_LittleHelp.jpg
Mom and baby napping.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1083683224819_NeededNap.jpg
Serenity trying to figure out where to nurse. Hint: Misty's nostril is NOT going to give you milk.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1084710317905_NursingOnNose.jpg
Close up of her face.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1085543977341_CloseUp.jpg
A couple hours old. Dry and standing.
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/107/11945185/1083494221860_MomAndBaby.jpg |
Sandy
Posted From: 204.30.104.81
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:44 pm: |
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Kristin,
She is gorgeous! And BIG! What was the daddy?
I just laughed, and cringed at the same time when I read about you taking a header over the fence....Some of the things we'll attempt to do for our horses...lol.
At least you have a name for your little one...I have figured out a barn name for mine, but not his registered name yet. I'm calling him Dusty (cuz he looks like his back has been dusted).
Also found out he's a rare frame overo...huh...go figure that one. All I know is that he's adorable and an absolute sweetheart. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.87.199
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 08:50 pm: |
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Daddy is a Haflinger too, but he was large for a Haflinger. He was 15 hands at least.
The vet came out today and was suprised at how straight his legs were and how well he stood still for taking blood.(his antibody level is good by the way). I'm such a proud mom!
CORRECTION: IT'S A BOY!!! Ooops! I was excited and I guess that bump on my head made me stupid. I am never going to live this down with my friends and family. They think it is the funniest thing EVER! lol
HIS name is: "A King's Ransom"
Barn name: Ransom
PS: Sorry, about describing all the horse stuff in the last post. I typed this story once for a non-horsey friend and forgot to take out all the explanations. =P (I was too lazy to type it twice that night because I was sleepy) |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.133.166
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 11:35 pm: |
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LOL!
I did the same thing one year....my mare foaled in the middle of the night and I could have SWORN it was a filly....called everyone the next morning and told everybody we had a beautiful filly.
Next thing I know, my husband comes in the house and says "uh...your "filly" is sure peeing funny, you better go check on it again".
So, I go out to the barn, look, and sure enough, it's a colt!!
And believe me, I have never lived it down with my "horsey" friends....lol. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 12:35 pm: |
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At least you had the excuse of bad lighting. This colt was born at 12:30 in the afternoon! Well, at least I'm not the first one to make a mistake like this. lol
Does Dusty have a registered name yet? We had so much trouble thinking of names. It took us all eleven months to find just a few that we liked. By the time he was born though, we had it narrowed down to one for a boy and one for a girl.
Haflingers make it a little easier because a colt has to have a name that starts with the first letter of the sire's name; a filly the mare's. At least it gives you a place to start. AND Haflingers are all the same color so we knew sort of what the baby would look like. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.165.3
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 12:19 am: |
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Nope, not a registered name yet.
His sire is Knee High's IB Buckshot
His dam is Double Day's Partly Cloudy
Grand sire is Neat N Nice's Feather Duster (hence, Dusty)
So, I've kinda been thinking Buckshot Dusted Cloud...but I dunno.
That does make it so much easier with having a place to start like with the Haflingers' names, and they're all the same color...wow! I learn something new every day.
I also breed Appaloosas, so every year at foaling time it's something new, we never know what we're going to get as far as color goes. |
loriannbuck
Posted From: 4.239.105.5
| | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 12:39 pm: |
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my mare is 349 days today. she is a maiden mare, and this waiting game is driving me crazy. this seemed like a good place to vent this. i have spent the last 4 nights at the barn. it will be my luck that she goes at 12 noon. |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.80.86.208
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:27 pm: |
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Loriannbuck, the more nights you spend sleeping in the barn the more likely she will foal at noon, Murphy's Law and all. ;p lol just joking.
I spent from day 320 to day 353 checking my mare every hour(day and night). And I spend a couple dozen nights sleeping in the barn too. Darn horse foaled at noon and I missed it!
I hope your foal watch is going well, and that you have a healthy baby soon. |
loriannbuck
Posted From: 4.239.105.205
| | Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:29 pm: |
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how right you were... 7pm!!! she is awesome. she is on top of me the moment i enter the stall. and she is big...probally finish on or over 17h. these creatures are absolutely amazing. i am having so much fun with both mom and baby!!! |
Kristin
Posted From: 68.81.164.242
| | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:58 am: |
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Congratulations of you foal, loriannbuck!! |
Angela
Posted From: 67.202.89.143
| | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:25 pm: |
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I checked my mare's milk today and it has changed from clear with a white tint to cloudy, but not totally a milk white. When I sqeeze her teats milk comes streaming out. I am wondering if this is normal? Also, I have not felt any movement on her belly. I had my hand on her flank area for about 45 min while she ate. I did notice that the flank area is very fluid-like. Should it be soft like this? |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.249.229
| | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 11:05 pm: |
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Angela,
The milk streaming out is quite normal, it just means that your mare is getting quite close to foaling. Especially with the milk getting cloudy.
It also is not unusual to not be feeling any movement. Sometimes it is hard to catch the foal moving.
As for the flank area feeling fluid-like, it could be that the foal has dropped lower in the abdomen in preparation for foaling.
Considering the color of your mare's milk, and the fact that it is now streaming out, I would start keeping a close eye on her. |
jan c
Posted From: 24.171.117.74
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 09:57 pm: |
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i have a maiden mare who was bred by ai and was due on Feb.23,2005. I board my horse and she is still in with the herd. She is showing utter developement and is gettin soft in the flanks. The women that boards my horse said she is not ready to leave the herd yet. I am a little concerned. When should I put her by herself? She is not dripping milk or waxing yet but being a maiden mare and appears that she is very close.She is rubbing her hindquarter in the stall and looks very uncomfortable when I bring her in. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.252.179
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 01:02 pm: |
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Jan,
It's so hard to deal with trying to foal out a mare when someone else is telling you what you should do with her and has control over your horse.
You have good reason to be concerned, because of the fact that this other woman believes she knows what's best for your mare. What does she mean by "she's not ready to leave the herd yet?" There can be so many things that can go wrong if a maiden mare foals out in a herd with a lot of other horses. Your mare can panic, trying to protect her foal from the other horses and actually end up injuring the foal herself without meaning to.
Also, just because she is not dripping milk or waxing does not mean that she couldn't just drop and start having that baby. A lot of mares do not drip or wax.
You should follow your own gut instinct and do what you feel is right for your horse. If you want her separated from the other horses at the boarding facility, then put your foot down and get it done.
I'm sorry, I just get really agitated when people at boarding facilities try to get involved with other people's mares during foaling time.
A good friend of mine had her mare at a boarding facility, she was a maiden mare. When the mare started going into labor, the owner of the facility called my friend and told her that the mare was foaling. Well, my friend got there and the mare had been pushing and pushing, the muzzle and hooves were out, but that was it. The mare was just to the point of giving up on pushing and the owner of the facility told my friend to just leave the mare alone, that she would figure it out herself. Well, my friend had no experience with foaling, so she called me in a panic and asked me if I would please come there. Luckily the place was only about a mile from my house. I got there, the mare was down on her side, sweating profusely, breathing very heavy and was no longer pushing. I asked my friend how long she had been in this position and she said for about a half an hour. I told her, "we need to pull that baby." The owner of the facility about threw a fit, telling me that I didn't know what I was doing, telling my friend that if she let me pull that baby out that it was going to hurt the baby, hurt the mare, all of that stuff, and that no one should even touch that mare or baby. Well, I got right in there, let the mare know that I was there, kind of wiggled the baby's legs around a little bit so that the mare could feel it again, which usually will make them start pushing again. Sure enough, she gave one big push, I pulled with all I had, and out came the foal. Both mare and foal were just fine. Now, what would have happened if we would have sat there and listened to this woman who thought SHE knew what was best for my friend's mare? It's scarey everytime I think about it.
So, this is why I have a problem with boarding facility owners trying to tell people what they should be doing with their horse's at foaling time.
Sorry for the long story |
TX Breeder
Posted From: 199.3.209.56
| | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 05:55 pm: |
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I'm with Sandy! It's YOUR horse...make her safe. |
jan
Posted From: 24.171.117.74
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 10:15 am: |
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I did talk with Mary on Sunday and we did pull her from the herd and left her with another horse in the indoor arena during the day and stalled her at night. I am going over on my lunch hours to check on her and a couple of other people are checking on her also. Cheyenne is very upset about being seperated from the herd.She paced the entire day. Mary called this morning an let Cheyenne back with the herd today but I am still checking on her and then we are stalling her at night. I really would prefer keeping her in the indoor arena but she was so upset. She is very high strung but I want to make sure she is safe and the foal is safe. I am hoping that she gets put back into the arena and I will talk to Mary again. I know Mary is just wanting to do what is best for Cheyenne. Cheyenne was one of Mary's horse's foal and she is very connected to Cheyenne also.
She has hooked up a foaling monitor so she can watch Cheyenne at night in the stall and she said that she was quiter last night probably tired from all the paceing she did yesterday. Cheyenne is really getting big and it appears she has dropped so it shouldn't be very long. Mary said that she usually would counnt back 10-15 days after her horses were bred to calculate delivery date. That would make her due around March 5-10
The books were alot earlier. What do you use for calculating the due date. Thanks for listening and I will keep you posted.Also Thanks for the advise.I am going to speak up more the most important thing is to make sure Cheyenne and the foal are safe. |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.228.255.213
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:38 pm: |
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Jan,
Glad to hear that all is going well with your mare at your facility.
As for calculating a due date, I also will look at the last breed date on the calandar and go back two weeks from there, which actually ends up being approx. 350 days, but you can also go 340 days, and some folks go 11 months and 5 days.
Here is a link to my website's "links page", click on the link for "foaling table", then put in your mare's last breed date and it can give you somewhat of an estimate of what to expect around what dates.
www.angelfire.com/ut2/sbr/linkspage.html |
jan
Posted From: 24.171.117.74
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 08:39 pm: |
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Thanks for the website. I have looked at it before throughout Cheyennes pregnacy. I went out on my lunch hour and checked on her she had been biting at her sides and hips and her bag was very full. I moved her into a runway close to her herd and she seem to like that. Hopefully Mary will put her there tommarrow if nothing happens tonight. She is very large and very low. I don't see how she can carry this foal much longer. She isn't a very big horse 14 3 and is the typical arabian. Tonight her bag was down and she seem more comfortable than this afternoon. So now I think she will hold off for a while. This is driving me nuts. I am more anxious about this foal than I was with my own kids. |
jan
Posted From: 24.171.117.74
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 08:31 am: |
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Just want to let you know Cheyenne had a filly yesterday afternoon. She is a very large filly. They are both doing fine. Only problem was Cheyenne retained the placenta and we had to give her 2 shots of Oxytocin to get it out. I stayed up and watched her by the foaling monitor and binoculars all friday night. She held off until I left the farm for an hour. Marys husband came home to find the baby up and Nursing. She is really beautiful. I do have a question. I bred Cheyenne to a Homozygus Black Arabian. Cheyenne is a gray with a Chestnut gene. It appears right now the baby is a BAY?>Do you think she will shed out to be black??? Its not a big deal because she is so pretty and built great and most of all she is healthy.She was already running around athe stall and bucking when she was only a couple of hours old. Thanks for this Discussion Forum it has really helped. I send picture once I get them down loaded. |
TX Breeder
Posted From: 199.3.209.127
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 05:26 pm: |
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It is possible. I have had a few babies do so. It will be a couple of months before you find out!
Are there any white eyelashes? If so, you may get a roan.
Make sure that they iodine the navel stump (3%) and give a childrens fleet enema. Have fun with your new addition. |
Jos
Posted From: 165.121.85.55
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 10:29 pm: |
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Newer research indicates that Chlorhexidine is a superior navel stump dip. You will however need to dip +/- 3 times a day. |
TX Breeder
Posted From: 199.3.209.39
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 11:25 pm: |
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Sometimes that +/-3 times a day is hard to get to. With foaling a few hundred mares a year, there are plenty of large breeding farms around here that go with the iodine. So far, so good.
Having a just a few babies affords more time dip the navel more often. How about more hours in the day! |
Jos
Posted From: 165.121.85.55
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 11:59 pm: |
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Use of iodine has been linked to a higher incidence of patent urachus, as the iodine - being more caustic than Chlorhexidine - has a negative impact on navel tissue closure.
Time is always at a premium, but any time saved by dipping once day with iodine can be quickly eaten up by a sick foal, never mind the distress of having one die of subsequent septicaemia |
Sandy
Posted From: 4.227.133.162
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:39 am: |
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What about Betadine? I was told by my vet last year to change from using the 3% iodine to Betadine....is that caustic as well?
Also, where would one find Chlorhexidine? |
TX Breeder
Posted From: 199.3.209.183
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 03:51 pm: |
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Point well taken, however, many large well known breeding farms use iodine with no reported septicimia. What is the reported % of septicemia from the use of iodine? I would like to have a look at the stats. It would be interesting to see the iodine in comparision to other known causes. Do they take into account incorrect use IE, too strong a tincture or over use?
Certainly, these farms can not have just been lucky for so many years with such a large number of foals every year. These are high dollar, well known stallion stations.
I have used Novalsan and do take the extra time. I just worry about the people who will not take the time. Which is the bigger chance? Too caustic or not strong enough? The % of navel infection before iodine must be higher than the % actually caused by iodine. |
outlawpaints
Posted From: 64.53.77.245
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 09:07 am: |
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hello. I have been reading about iodine and i was told to use 7%, so that is what we got. It is called Iodine Tincture 7%. Is this too strong? not strong enough? Where can I get the other stuff if I need to? i didn't see any other kind at our normal feed store. Is Novalsan best? sorry so many questions. just want to make sure all is well and i don't do something wrong.. Thanks! |
Jos
Posted From: 165.121.83.254
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 10:53 am: |
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As soon after birth as possible, the foal's navel stump should be treated. The purpose of this management practice is to prevent entry of bacteria into the foal. In the past, iodine was normally used. Research from the University of California has shown that the best treatment of the newborn foal's navel stump is chlorhexidine (Nolvasan). Dilution of one part of Nolvasan to four parts of water produces the correct 0.5 percent chlorhexidine solution. It was found that a 2 percent iodine or I percent povidone solution was not as effective at reducing organisms as was 7 percent iodine or chlorhexidine. While 7 percent iodine reduced bacterial numbers for several days, it caused other problems. Complications from 7 percent iodine occurred due to the rapid drying of the umbilical stump and sloughing of adjacent skin. The dry navel stump tended to break off after 35 days, resulting in development of patent urachus. Patent urachus is dribbling of urine from the foal's navel. The urachus is a small vessel in the umbilical cord connecting the fetal bladder to the allantois, which stores fetal urine during gestation until the placenta ruptures at birth. Normally, the urachus closes when the umbilical cord breaks, and urine is directed through the urethra. Failure of the urachus to close results in patent urachus.
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE
Can't quote percentages, and can't put my hands on the original research, but the above quoted summary should answer a lot of the above questions. |
Suzanne
Posted From: 64.12.116.13
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 03:26 pm: |
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My veterinary clinic only recommends Chlorhexidine as well. We have had very good luck with this treatment in the past. We tend to do this in the a.m. p.m. and at momma's lunch time, which works out well. A little extra work sometimes goes a long way in prevention! |
karma
Posted From: 63.149.104.205
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:00 pm: |
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i have a mare that is due tomorrow. this is her third baby and she has white skecks on her nipples? they have been there sesveral days but there seems to be more of them tonight than there has been before. what are they? are they an indication at all? also her milk came out better this morning and this evening then it has before. |
tonya (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 24.69.255.205
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 06:39 pm: |
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Hello all, I have 4 year old maiden due May 28. udder about 1/2 full teats not dropped yet every thing else looks ready except her milk is still amber & sticky. Thursday she expelled her mucous plug and today when I was rubbing her udder (she really likes this) the amber fluid just started streaming out does this me she is close, she is also stomping her back feet and biting at her side but doesn't seem to uncomfortable. |
AG
Neonate
Username: Tilly
Post Number: 5
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 05:56 am: |
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Hi All,
I'm a bit confused about what colour/consistency milk is normal. My maiden mare is 334 days. Her udder is now almost 2/3 full (only since last night). Before when I squeezed her teat a little tiny drop of clear fluid would appear. last night I squeezed it only very gently and lots of clear/slightly golden fluid squirted out. It is completely clear, is this normal or should it be non see-thu? When people talk about "amber fluid" I am picturing amber coloured milky fluid. Do they mean milky or clear?
Thanks |
Jim T
Nursing Foal
Username: Jim_t
Post Number: 16
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 08:50 am: |
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Tilly,
The milk will be yellowish and clear until she's close to foaling then it will turn opaque and white. I wouldn't even bother trying to check milk until her udder is completely full, but be aware that a mare's udder can go from 2/3's full to completely full in a matter of a few hours. |
AG
Neonate
Username: Tilly
Post Number: 6
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 09:37 am: |
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Thanks Jim,
I was kind of afraid it would be tonight (like i do every night!!)Its just so nerve wracking when we've never done this before!!
Thanks again |
CINDY WEST
Neonate
Username: Cindy_30
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 07:02 pm: |
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Hi all
I am new to the board.I have a pregnant Miniature mare who is also a maiden. I don't know her due date. I didn't even know she was in foal until January I had the vet do an ultra sound.She said she thought she would foal March maybe April. She has got a bag but nothing in the front of her teats, her vulva is starting to get long and she is softening in the rear. Can they be soft in the rear and realxed in the vulva a long time before they foal?
Please  any advice would be helpful..I am going crazy wondering when she is going to foal..
Thanks all |
Joanna
Breeding Stock
Username: Joanna
Post Number: 118
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 11:54 pm: |
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It is not unusual for a mare to stay relaxed in the rear and vulva for six weeks, sometimes even more than that. As for the bag, if there is any way to get some liquid out of them, than it could really help in giving an estimate on when she might have the baby. Click on the link for more info. http://www.mothernaturesminiatures.com/id44.htm
Hope this helps. |
anita kabat
Weanling
Username: Akabat
Post Number: 46
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 11:55 pm: |
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welcome go to wait and watch, i have been waiting and watching for about a month now. my horse is relaxed in the vulva and soft around the tail bagging up but just a amber colored liquid in her teats and still no foal yet. I have been told all sorts of things to watch for some have happened and some have not she was bagged up last week like something awful and today she is not that full anymore. If you can get pictures it may help some the vulva will relax but changes color on the inside that is one thing you can watch for I understand Most wax teats turning outward is a good sign. a friend of mine said once the bag fills and teats are pointing outward you have anywhere from 6 to 12 hours.  |
CINDY WEST
Neonate
Username: Cindy_30
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 03:49 pm: |
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Hello all
I looked at her teats today and there is creamy white beebees on the tip. She is just starting to wax from what it looked like. She is very restless. Can they still go a while when this starts? |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 555
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 04:16 pm: |
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Yes Cindy, they can go longer. Do you know any history on the mare ? All the wax I have ever had has tended to look like clear candle wax. Most my mares that I have I can rely on the wax issue other mares can do it maybe up to a couple weeks ahead of time.
Good luck
Kim |
CINDY WEST
Neonate
Username: Cindy_30
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 05:55 pm: |
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Hi Kim, I bought her in Septmber. I thought she was to young to get pregnant she just turned 2 last July. They let the stud run with them all year around . Which I personaly think is not very responsible. So I am just waiting unpatiently. The vet ultrasounded in Jan said March maybe April. So that is all I can go by. |
