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RenaeCD (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 139.78.187.44
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 12:19 pm: | 
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I have a ten yr old QH mare that is 345 days in foal. We bought her already bred. This will be her 4th foal and my first. The foal "dropped", so to say, about two days ago. Her belly completely changed shape and is more pendelous, hanging more downward. She has no bag and her croup muscles are not at all relaxed. I have the foaling stall ready and my foal suplly kit ready to go! However, I have not yet put her in the foaling stall. Any thoughts on length until foaling? When do they usually drop their bellies relative to foaling date? She is acting normally. Although I know that no one will know for sure, I just wanted some insight from some more experienced people! Thank you so much! |
RenaeCD (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 204.249.203.152
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 02:14 pm: |
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I also forgot to mention that the mare's vulva has lengthened some in the past couple of days. Thanks for any replies! |
Kathee McGuire
Yearling
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 54
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 03:09 pm: |
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I don't know if I count as experienced other than I have read everything I can get my hands on, including the posts on this site. I undersand that the dropping can occur anytime from two weeks to right before foaling, so it sounds like you are in the home stretch. I understand the loosening of the muscles occurs a day to hours before the delivery. If there is nothing preventing you from using the foaling stall, I would move her in so she is comfortable with the new environment. |
RenaeCD (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 204.249.203.152
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 03:30 pm: |
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Ok, thanks. I couldn't find anywhere that indicated how soon before the foaling the croup muscles relaxed! Another question...should I keep her in the foaling stall all day as well? We usually turn them out to pasture during the day. Although most mares prefer to foal at night, I know that they can foal anytime. I won't be there during the day to make sure the foaling stall is clean, and I am afraid of it becoming too soiled. We have mats in the stall with wheat straw on top of it. Do you think that footing will be ok for mom and baby after parturition when it will get wet? Thanks for any replies to this or to my previous question! |
Gynna Meiller
Yearling
Username: Jw_kings_excalibur
Post Number: 97
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 04:05 pm: |
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Are you in for a treat! One of the biggest things to remember with a prenant mare..
A mare can foal at any time...
Without any signs...
HEHE now that out of the way, the mares hormones usualy kick in about 4 weeks prior to foaling, but that is an average and many mares differ. And at 345 days she is just in the middle of what is called normal gestestion( no such thing in mares HEHE)Go to Equine Estates. com and there is a foaling chart and calculator there that shows you on the calander what is supose to be happening at what time( again..just an average thing) Most mares will start relaxing a few weeks, and others may not relaxe until a few days or a few hours before foaling!
As for keeping her stalled..I would alow her out during the day without other mares in her padock or pen and then stall her at night. Get her use to having a light on as well so that if you come in at night the light clicking on does not disterb her. Just like with us ladies, she needs the exercise. You may find the last few days that she is rubbing her butt or leaning on walls, gates. fence or post. This is to counter the internal pressure caused by the foal.
My mares foals seem to change position twice. About three weeks the mares get long in the belly and a few days or hours prior to foaling they get a big point or V to their belly. Hope this helps some. I have current pics of my maiden mare that I am doing for a timeline if you are interested in seeing. It starts at Jan 6 till today and shows many of the classic signs..mom2bigdogs@hotmail.com I am doing this since I too had problems finding the info and pics I wanted to see for a prego mare coming term. |
Lisa Weir
Breeding Stock
Username: Pals_pal
Post Number: 126
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 05:57 am: |
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Hi Renae.
Are the matts smooth rubber? If so the foal may have trouble standing when the floor is wet and the straw tends to slip away, too. Rough rubber would be easier. We just have concrete under ours and this works very well. |
RenaeCD (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 139.78.49.172
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Well, they aren't completely smooth. They have kind of a diamond plating pattern on them. Is there anything we could put down to make it easier for them to grip to stand? I have heard of putting sawdust down, but I don't know how comfortable I am with that! Any suggestions are welcome! Underneath that is fill-sand and I'm sure it's not very sanitary and would make it harder to keep the stall clean. We have two adjoining stalls...each is 14 feet by 14 feet, so the foaling stall is 28 by 14. I have been told to keep it dimly lit. Any suggestions on how to do this? The barn light coming on does not bother her right now (it is pretty bright though)...neither does a flashlight. However, I don't know how she will act during foaling under that kind of stress. I live upstairs above the barn, so at least I have easy access. Thanks for any replies! |
Kathee McGuire
Yearling
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 58
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 08:44 pm: |
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Renae - I can't help with the mats because I have never used them. I do know the saw dust is not a good idea for foaling because it harbors bacteria and can cause respritory problems. New foals are wet and sticky - the umbillical stump is prone to infection which is why it needs to be treated with iodine. Also, during the birth the foal may move in and out of the mare bringing the saw dust and the bacteria into the mare's body. The sawdust will eventually be expelled, but not before the bacteria has had a chance to do it's damage. The foal's breathing passages are wet and the sawdust can be breathed in, stick and dry in the airway causing infection or respritory problems. Straw and hay are much less absorbent so the bacteria is less of an issue. Straw is the best bedding option because most horses don't care to eat it. Hay is the next which can be sprayed with a dilouted disinfectant to keep them from eating it. I had to solve this lighting problem as well. My barn is arranged so that I have electrical outlets about 7ft up the wall close to the stall and I purchased two UL rated clamp lights with silver reflectors that plug in to the outlets. My stall is 12 X 30 and two 60 watt bulbs really provide a lot of light while still being dim. In fact, I have a camera mounted in the stall because I am about 500 feet from the barn. This lighting is enough for me to see the image perfectly. I don't know your layout, but this was an inexpensive and practical solution for me. Wow...sorry so long! |
RenaeCD (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 204.249.203.152
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 09:39 pm: |
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I already have straw to put on top of the mats, I just didn't know if that would be adequate for footing! Good idea about the clamp lights. We have several already that we used for something else in the past...just need to get them up there! Another question....how do I know when to wrap the mare's tail? And if foaling doesn't happen soon afterward, how often do I need to change it? Just when it gets dirty or is coming loose? I have VetWrap and some waterproof medical tape to additionally secure it with. Will that do? Thanks again!
I understand about the sawdust...I was wary about it already! |
Kathee McGuire
Yearling
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 59
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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According to Blessed are the Broodmares, the tail should be wrapped as soon as she enters the first stage of labor and removed after the placenta is passed. However, I too would like to hear some practical experience from some seasoned foalers. Anybody? |
Gynna Meiller
Yearling
Username: Jw_kings_excalibur
Post Number: 100
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 02:43 am: |
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If I think they are getting close I use electrical tape in about two or three inch intervals starting about a third the way down the tail and after the tail head ends I twist it curl it up and tape the end so it is also out of the way( it makes a little coil de fuer lol and gets oung maidens use to something bangin a bit on their hocks so that when they shed the plecenta is does not freek them out). The electrical tape has worked well for me as it stays on well, does not seem to irritate the mares and its cheap. When your done it looks like rubber bands( its also fexable). I tried to everything to tape and wrap my mares for foaling as well as breeding and this seems to work the best. It also alows air flow ( I dont put it on tight just snug enough to keep the hair tucked in) and I change it every other day if I need to. And its slick so stuff does not stick to it. |
Lisa Weir
Breeding Stock
Username: Pals_pal
Post Number: 132
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 06:45 am: |
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Renae,
It sounds like your mats will be fine under the straw. If there's a pattern on them, there should be enough grip.
Gynna,
I love your idea about the tail wrap!  |
Terri Berwanger
Weanling
Username: Terrib
Post Number: 42
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 03:32 pm: |
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As far as tails are concerned, I use guaze roll because it's easy to throw away. Also, sometimes my husband gets a little excited and puts them on many times before the mare foals, so it saves my washing loads. This probably is a big environment no no, but it is easiest for us.
teb |
