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Message |
    
Terri Berwanger
Yearling
Username: Terrib
Post Number: 62
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:58 pm: | 
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I am hoping a certain person is reading this thread so I can tell him about my experience with trying to explain the "mares don't have due dates" theory.
For 2 months now my husband has been asking me when our maiden mare is due. I have tried over and over to explain, they don't have due dates and I say we go by days pregnant and watch all the signs carefully, thus the mare will tell us our due date. So the other evening he totally flipped out. "I am the only person in Ireland that can't get a due date" Needless to say we had a big row. So I finally had to say she was covered on April 1st so you can make March 1st her due date. Now I keep cringing as he keeps going around saying she's due on March 1st. If she goes over this period at any stage he will be calling the vet out to find out what's wrong with her.
My experience with the whole due date thing is that I missed my first foal because people kept telling me her bloody due date and because she had no wax there was no danger of her foaling. Well needless to say, I sought out boards like these. Luckily for me everything worked out fine. And don't think I didn't mention the foal being born on her own during the course of the argument!
Anyway, just thought you would like to know this little story Jos!
Terri |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 104
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
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Terri- it's certainly not an exact science, that's for sure. You're hubby sounds similar to mine, only our "discussion" was over coloring. He insists that his stallion last year was a "red roan" well he wasn't, but I've given up trying to prove the point to the man. I've chosen instead to let him remain ignorant. (but I'd bet money he won't get a single roan foal this year..lol, maybe a gray or two, but no roans)  |
Amber Tedford
Nursing Foal
Username: Amber
Post Number: 11
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:29 am: |
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Terri, perhaps you can use my story to prove your point as well. My mare has been at the vet's since Dec 20. He estimated her "due date" for the end of Dec. Obviously, we are still waiting. If I have learned anything from this experience it is that a "due date" is the most elusive concept I've ever come across  |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 66
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
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Yep from my experience Due date is anytime from 10 1/2 months to 13 months, I told my husband that and since then he only says how many months is it now? LOL |
Kassie Finley
Yearling
Username: Jkqh
Post Number: 75
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:17 pm: |
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Jan I doe the same thing, I tell my husband she is due around the 11th month give or take 30 days lol. Or I tell him she could foal between 320 days and 400 days. So now he just asks me what day is she on. lol.
And about the color thing, I take a picture of the stud, and write on the back of it the mare we bred to him and the breeding dates. So if my husband wants to argue we save a lot of time and I just go get the breeding book to prove him wrong lol.
He stays out of the breeding horses and sticks to the training of them.
Oh here is a funny story, I told my husband we where going to breed to a Homozygous Tobiano Stallion. Well he went around telling people we where breeding to a Homo Tabino stallion, I had some friends asking me what the heck are you doing lol. It was very funny, he still does not understand the color genetics, he just said he will stick to the training and let me handle the breeding lol. |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 108
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 01:16 pm: |
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ok girls, I'm guessing this "man" thing is a common thread amongst the male species.. No wonder God left the important part of reproduction up to us females.  |
Terri Berwanger
Yearling
Username: Terrib
Post Number: 64
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 03:55 pm: |
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I am so glad I am in good company here. Poor hubby is no fast asleep as he's due up in 2 hours for his foal watch shift. He's chilled out on the due date thing for now. Think I'll try that picture thing with all the info on the back. Might help him out a bit.
Take Care Girls!
Terri |
Alex Abel
Weanling
Username: Paintedhorses
Post Number: 44
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 04:23 pm: |
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My husband just thinks I am crazy. He always makes fun of me and says " that mare's not pregnant, she's stealing the other horses grain". He is not a horse person, but he's trying. At least he is no longer scared of them. |
Daniel Crouse
Neonate
Username: Sneakers17
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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Hi, I'm new to this breeding business and was wondering how many days does a mares pregnacy last (estimate)and when would you start counting the days? the days shes bred or when she is confirmed bred? |
Kassie Finley
Yearling
Username: Jkqh
Post Number: 87
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 01:41 am: |
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You count from the last breeding date. and the days can be anywhere from 320 to 360 days but they can go as long as over 400 days. I usually figure it based on 340 days. here is a link to a good foaling calculator
http://www.duncity.net/horses/foalingcalc.htm
that is the one I use.
Hope this helps |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 83
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 12:15 pm: |
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I know what you mean about the hubbys seeming to be oblivious to things, my husband thought how could a 100% homo horse breed a mare, I told him that they use a gelding to tease him and he said oh ok and walked away so it goes to show for some the less they know the better they feel. LOL "ask a stupid question" so dont feel bad ladies LOL |
Rousseau
Neonate
Username: Epona5
Post Number: 6
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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 |
Gynna Meiller
Breeding Stock
Username: Jw_kings_excalibur
Post Number: 111
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 08:26 pm: |
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ROFLMAO!!! OH that was pricless!! |
Joanna
Yearling
Username: Joanna
Post Number: 70
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 09:29 pm: |
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Jan, that was perfect!!! |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 86
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 09:37 pm: |
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I would like to say it's not true but umm it is! In his defense, he is a city slicker and never had any animals growing up. But your right, it is priceless. I am going to replay that little scene for the rest of my life...LOL |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Jos
Post Number: 10475
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 10:41 pm: |
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The average gestational duration is anywhere between 320 and 370 days in the mare. 340 days is very much the average of averages.
Take a look at the article on this site that asks "Is my mare overdue?". It should shed some light on the subject.} |
Daniel Crouse
Neonate
Username: Sneakers17
Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 10:51 pm: |
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What do you guys do. Say your mare had her foal in her stall, does it matter when you can let the two out in the field. |
Kathee McGuire
Yearling
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 96
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:15 am: |
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Jan - Great story - I have told all my horsey friends! |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 114
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:52 am: |
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Jan- that was a very good one!! Did you get any foals yet? I'm STILL waiting.. <sigh> This Thursday I have to make a 2 day road trip to Chicago, the weather is going to change on Thursday.. any guess on what will happen on Thursday night? |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 89
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 12:41 pm: |
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No foals yet for me either, I have always found that when it is the most inoppotune time to foal they usually foal. with that said just read the signs and make a decision based on that goosd luck and God Bless |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 119
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 01:04 pm: |
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Jan- I've already told Charles if there's any signs of waxing or any such thing, he's going alone..no IF's AND's or BUT's about it. |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 90
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 01:55 pm: |
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Sounds like a sound approuch to me E. Just remember not all mares wax before foaling, but a full udder, puffy and elongated vulva, dripping milk or any combination like restlessness, off feed, relaxation in croup/tailhead discharge (bloody show) could mean its anytime. Good luck and hope things work out. You will be in my prayers. |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 120
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 02:06 pm: |
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Jan- the udders are getting more full all the time, they already have the changes in the croup and vulva (and have had for a while) the grulla is picking through her hay, it takes her all night long to finish 2 flakes.. the black filly however is STILL a vaccuum..lol. Are your mares looking any closer? |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 91
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:04 pm: |
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If they were my mares E I would stay home just in case. but it is entirely up to you to chance it, to me better to be safe then sorry. Jade has dopped I mean really dropped. she is relaxed tail/vulva, but still no udder, she may just bad up the night she foals, would not surprise me at all. |
Amber Tedford
Nursing Foal
Username: Amber
Post Number: 15
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:07 pm: |
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E-Saw a pic of your grulla. She's beautiful! What did you breed her to? Bet she'll have a knockout! |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 123
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:44 pm: |
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Amber- Thanks, I really like her too, she's bred to http://b-kquarterhorses.com/images/referencesires/listolena.htm if you can get to that site, there's a photo of the stud. We bred 6 mares to him this year actually. I'm hoping for a yellow dun or at the least a red dun out of the cross, we'll see. Last year the grulla mare gave me a little gray colt out of our gray stud. He has the dun factor too, when he was wet you could see the stripes on his legs, but I don't know if those will show up once he's totally grayed out. |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 124
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 03:46 pm: |
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Jan- take a peek at that stud and let me know what you think. ( no Impressive blood in him, but he's a muscled up fella ) Sage is still a WIDE load, Avery dropped a while back, she just seems to get bigger every day. Tonight I need to strip stalls, just in case. I try to get them done every night, but this weekend was TOO busy so they are nasty now, and I don't want those babies born in a less than pristine stall!!! |
Kris Moos
Breeding Stock
Username: Kris
Post Number: 179
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 06:10 pm: |
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Ev...wow he is beautiful! (as are your ladies!) I am partial to hte grulla though. good luck with the hopes of a dun. That is what id like too, but more likely a red dun, which would be ok too. |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 127
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 06:31 pm: |
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Kris- I sure think he's pretty, that's not the most flattering photo of him, it makes him look too "red", in person, he's much prettier. I'd love to get a grulla out of Sage, but I'd have to cross her with a dun or another grulla or maybe a black to get it, I haven't found one yet that I like that much though. Now we have a really nice palomino stud, he'll probably be her next date, so maybe I'll get a buckskin or yellow dun out of that cross. My dark mare is bred to that same stud in the photo, I'll probably get a bay out of her, if it's a filly, I'll be ok with that. (but I'm secretly still hoping she's actually a smokey black mare and she'll throw a palomino, that would rock the barn!) we'll know soon, it won't be more than a couple of weeks at most till they are on the ground making their debut! I'm outta here for the night, maybe, just maybe I'll have photos to share in the morning!
Ev |
Jan H
Yearling
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 92
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 07:18 pm: |
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E_ Nice looking stallion and I love his line. Should turn out to be a very nice match to your mare. I can not wait to see that foal! |
Terri Berwanger
Yearling
Username: Terrib
Post Number: 68
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:54 pm: |
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UPDATE:
Well we have been on foal watch duty since last Wednesday and I think the pressure is getting to my hubby. Yesterday morning he came out tired and very grumpy and says to me when is Stella actually due? I said, "John, please don't tell me we are going to have this argument again. Stella is at 326 days and her two previous foals were 334days, which we missed because she wasn't due for another week, and last year she went 337 days." Hubby replies, so why the heck have we been up watching this mare if she isn't due until this weekend. AARGHHHHHHHH! Actually we hadn't really been watching Stella, we were watching the other mare because we had some serious problems with her last week that are slowly sorting themselves out. I was walking Stella out to her paddock at the time of this conversation so I told him to ask her when she was going to foal and to let me know because I could use some sleep too. Well he got a big girly strop on for the rest of the morning, wouldn't speak to me at all. At this stage it was heaven! I just wish these mares would hurry up and foal so we have a little break before the next batch comes in. I feel if I have to explain this one more time, I will go INSANE!
Terri |
windy fillmore
Weanling
Username: Windyf
Post Number: 31
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 07:26 am: |
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Terri do what I do ...Tell hubby to go to bed and have a girlfriend over to watch with you then wake hubby when it is time(you know when the water breaks)I have a friend just down the road and we foal watch together some times at my place and sometimes at hers the only problem this year is we each have one due mid-April. Any way this is the plan that works for me but don't forget to wake him because you know how easily they get their feelings hurt. windy |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 128
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 08:29 am: |
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Jan- thanks for the compliments, I'm very excited to see the foals out of him. These will be our first (and maybe only) foals from him, the owner plans on selling him in April this year. We are hoping for some fillies to cross back on our palomino stallion in a few years.
Terri- I feel your pain, totally. We have 5 or 6 mares due this month ( March ) and it seems like I've been watching udders FOREVER. Hubby isn't too grumpy yet, we're pretty good about keeping an eye on and being there for the first few mares, by the middle of the pack we're less concerned and the last couple...well, sometimes, they are just on their own..lol. Hope those mares drop their foals soon so you can get some rest! Good luck, and don't worry, your hubby will get his panties unwadded soon enough. |
Lisa Weir
Breeding Stock
Username: Pals_pal
Post Number: 149
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 09:14 am: |
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Oh Terri,
I hope your Stella doesn't do what our Stella does...she is over the calculated date by about a month every year. lol.
Seriously, good luck! |
Terri Berwanger
Yearling
Username: Terrib
Post Number: 70
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 01:13 pm: |
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I would love to foal watch with my girlfriend, but monitors are in bedroom and this could cause some problems! He's much happier today and is resigned to the fact of waiting.
My Stella has gone 337 last year and 334 the previous year. She is 327 today so not much longer-I hope. The maiden is anyone's guess, but she is at 333 days today.
Yeah I think it's funny how the mares foaling first get all the hoopla and fuss and the last ones your like o.k. lets get this over with. My nice big foaling kit is ready to go, and usually by the last mare to foal you pick up your bottle of iodine and a piece of string! We have 2 more in April and one more the end of May so we are well spaced!
Thanks
Terri |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 133
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 01:22 pm: |
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I hear ya Terri, iodine and towels if they are lucky on those last few foals..lol. |
Amber Tedford
Weanling
Username: Amber
Post Number: 23
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 09:57 pm: |
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E-That stud is 'impressive'! You'll have to post pics of your babies. Good luck! |
E Watkins
Breeding Stock
Username: Evie
Post Number: 144
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:46 am: |
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thanks Amber I think he is too, he's only 14'2 but he looks like a monster, especially when he's mounting a mare! He does have a good pedigree though and a nice disposition too. I can't wait to see my babies and share them, I have high hopes for them. |
