OK guys more questions from a newbie. My mare is at day 323. For the last two nights there has been this sort of exaggerated leaning from hip to hip, and some standing against the stall with her tail and some sort of pushing against that stall. Her udder is full but have not seen any waxing or milk. Her tailhead and vulva seem very loose and relaxed to me. Spoke with my vet yesterday and he said she was probably getting close. Since she is maiden and this is my first time I am needless to say anxious. Have any of you other guys seen some of this behavior?
Sandy Posted From: 67.31.170.63
Posted on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 01:24 pm:
Yes, that behavior is quite common. Some mares will begin rubbing their behinds on things a few weeks prior to foaling, while others won't begin to do it until a few hours prior to foaling. I've seen some mares push so hard against things with their butts that you're afraid they are going to destroy whatever it is they're rubbing on! The shifting back and forth on the legs is a sign that she is getting somewhat uncomfortable. I have one mare that when I see her shifting back and forth on her legs like that, almost like she just can't stand still no matter what, I know she will foal within the next couple of days. You may not see your mare wax at all. Don't depend on that. Some mares do not wax. And as for seeing any milk, I had one mare this year whose milk never turned white prior to foaling and two other mares whose milk turned white approx. 8 hours prior to foaling. I would say that your mare's behavior indicates that she could be close. But "close" could mean a few more weeks! Hang in there.
Marty....wanted to say "hi" and we have mares at the same day (I think)...well, mine was bred on three different occasions last year. She belonged to me for last years foal, I sold her to the stud owner, he bred her and I bought her back (he was getting out of paints and back to t-breds), anywayz, I am going by the middle breeding last year, and she is close to where yours is....last year's pregnancy went to day 355 or so. How old is your mare? I was told that the older they are the longer they go, but this may be a nasty rumor. I believe the "normal" pregnancy, as you probably have read here is 340 or 342,,,with a week or two either way ok. I know it is so hard to wait. Last year we had groaning and laying and weight shifting for 4 weeks before baby. The only real difference in this mare last year was some edema in front of her bag 24 hours before foaling. Keep in touch on this thread, or email..wanted to let you know I am hanging in there with ya...
Marty Strout Posted From: 208.6.56.254
Posted on Monday, May 26, 2003 - 11:49 am:
Hi Sharon, still waiting. My mare has a great full udder, firm and warm, she is very relaxed all through her back end. Continues to do a lot of hip shifting and what not. Still with a great apetite and looking well although somewhat restless at times now. I am not sure but think the baby is less transverse this am. We are just watching and waiting and hoping things go well for her and the foal. I think your right though, I was prepared that she would go well after the 240 date as she is maiden and 14 but I don't think she'll go much past 240 although I could certainly be wrong as I am new to this...Hope your mare continues to do well.
Marty, you still out there?? Just wanted to move this thread to the top and need an update on your mare. My mare is at day 350 or so, according to the vet's calculation of the correct breed date. Her bag is full and hard/hot, clear, not even skim milk...she is loose around the tailhead, vulva not softened too much yet. Last year was 355, so we are hoping soon. Boy, sure would be nice if she didn't have three different breeding dates last year!! Did your mare foal yet?
marty strout Posted From: 208.6.56.254
Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 09:30 am:
Hi Sharon, I hadn't posted as we had such a terrible thing happen. My wonderful lovely mare foaled a colt on June 1st at 0213 in the morning. My kids and I were all there to watch and she did an absolutely great job foaling and for a maiden mare she took to the mothering from the get go and she was fanastic about letting us all get in and work with her and the baby after the foaling. Vet checked both of them at 0800 in the morning and pronounced them fit and 'perfect'. Two days later my mare became ill. I hope you understand if I don't go through all of that but the vets best guess was that she threw a clot after or during delivery and she infarcted her bowel. We euthanized her on the third day after delivery. It was an awful thing and such a terrible loss as we are just a family farm and that mare meant everything to my daughter.
The good news is that the foals IGG level was over 900 and as we have an old gelding at home who raised another orphan for a friend of mine 2 years ago, we elected to hand raise the baby with the help of the gelding who by the way is 34++. Our colt is now 15 days old and has a voracious appetite and is lively and thriving. He was I think very sad for the first few days after Mom died and I wish his 'uncle' would play with him more but the poor guy is doing great tolerating such a lively addition to the farm and they have become quite the pair.
So you see feeding every three hours has kept me very busy. I don't know what I would do if the kids weren't taking the midnight and 0300 shift. My wonderful 16 year old son who tolerates horses but has no real love for them is doing the killer 0300 shift and he has been such a man through out this. He is even back to giving his mom some occasional hugs and kisses which he had given up last year.
I hope that despite my reply you can still be happy and exicted about your upcoming event. I think what happened to us is very rare and I wish your girl and you all the best. Hope you don't have to wait much longer. Mary
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