MOST BOOKS SAY ABOUT 11 MONTHS, BUT THE PERIOD COULD VARY. I HAVE HEAR OLDER FOLKS SAY THERE IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS THAT A MARE WILL CARRY HER FOAL. DOES ANYONE KNOW THAT NUMBER OF DAYS?
Jos
Posted on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 05:33 am:
340 or 341 days is considered the average gestation period for a mare.
If she is carrying a colt however, she may go a few days longer.
If she is "due" early in the year (i.e. in late winter), she may go longer. Coversely if she is due in the height of summer, she may go a day or two shorter.
"Averages" however, are very much that. The range is between 300 (very much a "premie" and in need of intensive neonatal care) to over 400 days.
Karen
Posted on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 02:33 pm:
That's interesting about colts being carried longer than fillies - I had always heard that, but recently had also heard that this theory was dismissed as a falicy. Has there been any real solid research on it? I thought the only "tried and true" gestation-length influence was time of year. Thanks!
Jos
Posted on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 02:54 pm:
There has been research that supports the concept of colts being carried longer than fillies, although it is not new research. Roipha R.T. et. al. carried out the research in Thoroughbred mares in the late 60's.
Karen
Posted on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 04:14 pm:
Interesting. I think it would be neat to do some updated research on this. Of course, you'd need to know absolutely when the mare ovulated to know for sure how far along she was. Because I beed AI, I usually know exacly when my mares ovulated. Interestingly, the longest pregnancy one of my mares had (360 days) was a filly - the shortest (320 days) was a colt. Both foals were perfectly fine. If there were a study being conducted, I would participate in such a study, but I don't think my pool of four broodmares would give statistically viable results, ha, ha.
Here's another question - I have noticed that the foals of certain stallions seem to be carried longer than foals by other stallions. Has anyone researched (to the best of your knowledge) whether or not the sire of a given fetus has any consistent influence on gestational length? Thanks!
Jos
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2000 - 05:02 pm:
There has been some suggestion of a correlation with individual stallions, but as far as I'm aware there has been no research and I believe from personal observation that the correlation is not conclusive.
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2000 - 03:38 am:
hi, this is amy again. i talked to my vet today and she said that my mare may have shut things down because it is so cold here right now. fancy was progressing well with the udder development and the loose muscles in the rear but then if seemed to just stop when it got very cold here. it has been below zero here (wind chill). can she determine when she foals according to the weather. like if it is to cold for the foal to regulate his temp properly can she put the birth off until warmer weather?
Jos
Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2000 - 05:00 am:
Within reason this can happen. Essentially it would only amount to a day or two's, or at most perhaps a week's difference though - she's not going to decide to wait until March or something!!!
It's just nature's way of avoiding giving birth in the middle of a snowstorm or perhaps if there is a lot of predator activity (in the wild).
Hi Jos, If 300 days is very much a premie, what is the least amount of days a mare could foal and NOT be a premie? We have a mare due in 6 weeks that is showing signs of being very uncomfortable.
Jos
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 04:41 am:
In Thoroughbreds (and most other horse of a similar size) the "full term" gestational length is 320-370 days, with the average being 340. If the foal is born before 320 days, it is considered to be "premature". It is generally agreed that a foal born before day 300 of gestation will not be viable, even with neonatal intensive care facility intervention.
Mares are often seen to be uncomfortable in the last four to six weeks of their pregnancy, so it is quite possible that there is nothing out of the ordinary going on with your mare.
Just FYI, there is also another condition (which doesn't actually concern you in this instance) called "dysmaturity", which is where a foal that is chronologically at term displays the characteristics of prematurity.
Thanks Jos, One more question, What are the characteristics of a premature foal?....Jill
Jos
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 07:25 pm:
Premature foal characteristics are that they are born before 320 days; have a silky hair coat; floppy ears; soft lips; lax flexor tendons; thin body condition; and a low birth weight.
Hope you don't have to see them!
Bill
Posted on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 08:39 am:
I have a mare that is 332 days today. Yesterday, after making some sac for about six weeks, her nipples dropped down and filled completely. Her tail bone is sticking out as if she were undernourished and her ribs are all showing. She is so swelled in the vaginal area that she no longer has the control to suck it up when I lift her tail. She has no wax at all and now seems to be ganted-up as if the foal were entering the birth canal. Most all of these changes occured yesterday. How much longer will it take once the foal is in position?
I don't know who I am writing to but I was hoping someone could e-mail with some info. I have a mare who's due date to foal is the 7th June 2001, unfortunately a week ago she went down with very bad colic and had to be admitted to a equine hospital where the problem was resolved and they believed it to be the foal trapping her bladder and preventing her from passing urine. I was due to bring her home today but the hospital have contacted me to say that they are concerned because her udders have grown considerably and they feel that this may be a sign she about to abort so they are keeping her longer to observe her as if the foal was to be born at this stage it would almost certainly die. Obviously I am very concerned and I would like to know a)If there is any chance she would be bagging-up this early normally and b)If the foal is born will it definately die. I would appreciate anyones advice!!
Jennifer
Posted on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 10:25 pm:
Hi Sue...I don't know if this helps but my mare is due about 2 1/2 weeks before your mare and has been bagged up since the second week in February! Now here we are in April and she has begun to wax a bit. I do think she will go early but I think she is going to give me a run for my money (wax up for 2 weeks and probably drip for another week). Unfortunatly when born too premature the foal usually doesn't make it but don't write this baby off just yet. She will probably shock you and bag up and go down for the next few weeks and hopefully if she can hold on for another 6 weeks (which isn't a long time) the baby will be big enough to make it! Good Luck and keep us posted!
Thank you Jennifer I will let you know!! She's is coming home from hospital on Thursday and I will be keeping a close eye on her!! Lets just hope she can keep her legs crossed for 6 weeks.
Question about abortion in one of my mares. Sorry for this to be so long, but here is some case history on this mare, Morgan bred as a 3yr old gestation of 313 days, was a colt, down some in the back pasterns came up on them in a couple of weekes, front teeth came threw in the second week. Weight of 91 lbs. Born in March, January of his coming two year old had him castrated and he everserated his small intestines, vet couldn't save him. Bred again (not foal heat though) gestation of 313 days, colt born couldn't straighten his front legs to be able to stand, (I think called contracted tendons) other problems, not enough colustrom, impaction, he died, not even 48 hrs old. Asked the vet at the time, if this was a problem with this mare, or possibly the stallion or combination of both, he told me that it was just a fluke, bad luck, that nothing particular pointed at either one. So I go on, bred her again, 313 days gestation, filly born, no problems, healthy up on her feet, 90 lbs at birth, she is now 11 months and 13.1 hands tall. Bred her for her 4th foal, and she was due april 31 at 313 days, she aborted the foal on March 16. The day before I had seen the foal move. The foal was in the amneotic sac and also the placenta. Mare looked alright foal looked as if it was developing, could not tell any deformities. Only sign was she did have milk, which I checked when I called the vet,( different vet). My question, what is your take on this, is it something genetic, mare, stallion, or combination of. This mare is given free choice hay, grain, min. blk, wormed regularly, spring shots. Looks healthy, stands 14.3 hands about 1000 lbs, big boned, easy breeder, no difficulties in delivery. A half sister to her (same sire) carriers her foals around 320 days, no problems. Can you help me to try and understand better. Thanks for your time. Tamara
Jos
Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 10:19 pm:
I don't believe there is any problem with the mare, as all the occurrences seem unrelated in their causes.
It is vitally important that you be present at the foaling.
Contracted tendons will usually relax within a few weeks - often without intervention, although there are procedures that can help.
A lack of colostrum (or IgG absorbtion) can and should be checked for with a blood test from the foal taken at about 9 to 12 hours of age. This would have permitted you to supplement the IgG with a commercial product.
It is likely that this foal died from neonatal septicaemia brought about as a result of no immunity - this is called "failure of passive transfer" (FPT) and more can be read about it on this site by "clicking" here.
The impaction in a foal that young is usually a "meconium impaction" and is easily treated with a soapy enema. Occasionally veterinary intervention is required, but usually the enema will work just fine.
Although 313 days is premature, it is not termed an abortion. With intensive care premature foals born between days 300 and 320 may survive.
It is essential that someone be present at the foaling to deal with problems such as potential suffocation caused by the amnion not being broken. I cannot stress how important being present is.
The presence of milk is an indicator of impending foaling. This should have been an indicator for you to follow. There is an article on this site about this available by "clicking" here.
Unless there were other factors of which I am not aware, I would encourage you to re-evaluate your breeding program and perhaps seek some outside assistance.
Jos, I always try to be present at foaling, I sleep in the barn, have monitors to watch the mares in there stalls, I truly believe you need to be present at every foaling, you never know what could happen. This particular mare I am talking about has had 4 pregnacies, Her 1, was down some in the back pasterns, came out of it in two weeks. Her second, I did try to get vets help, and I was I guess what I considered to be not critical. And I did get the foal to the vet, and he did give me the option of the IgG shot but told me at that time it was optional that the foal would make it. We were getting some milk "colustrom" into him, but he was already to the point where he was going down hill. So unfornatly, because I couldn't get a vet out there, and had to finally take to the vet at his convience, the foal did not do well. The third foal is a filly, she is fine. The fourth was due April 30th for a 313 day gestation, he was born March 16, which is 6 weeks earlier than 313. Everything the mare did in showing signs of birthing were no different than previous years, and at 6 weeks early there was no reason for me to be checking her for milk, she wouldn't normally be having milk. This is why it was a surprise to me, she had been behaving normally, I didn't see any signs that would have told me she was going to abort. The day before, I had seen the foal moving, so I know it was alive, The foal was in the amneotic sac and also inside the placenta, so I am thinking something happened to make the placenta detach and the foal died. I have sent my vet the same original question, he hasn't given me a response yet. I was just wondering if you might have had some more experience in some of these things happening. I had called my vet that night, and he had told me that he had had other mares that had aborted, and he had had 4 foals sent to the university and the could not find anything wrong. Sincerly Tamara
Jos
Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 11:20 pm:
I'm glad you clarified all this! I was a little concerned with what I'd read....
Again - I don't think that there is any relationship to the mare, beyond her just having a string of bad luck follow her around. All the incidences are far enough removed in type to lead me to that decision.
Contracted tendons in newborns are not unusual - as you know - and will usually resolve themselves.
The foal that died of neonatal septicaemia might - note "might" - have been saved with intervention, but it usually requires aggressive antibiotic therapy and there can be no delays in treatment as those poor little duffers can go downhill really fast....
The last pregnancy loss (my apologies for getting the timing wrong) is more likely as a result of something like a bacterial ascending Placentitis or Rhinopneumonitis although placental insufficiency or cervical incompetence is also a possibility. A review of the placenta by your pathology lab. may yield some results on this if you were able to send it to them.
Any time you see milk too soon in the pregnancy, warning bells should ring though.... it's a sign of impending abortion.
It might be worth having an endometrial biopsy performed on this mare before re-breeding, to establish the quality. It might indicate a problem, although the abortion too may be just "one of those things".
I'd run a complete breeding soundness exam by a competent repro vet before re-breeding if I were you.
I was wondering if there was any gestation time at which you would consider inducing a mare. I have a mare on day 361, who has been dripping milk (which is opaque white) for 3 days. She has had 7 other foals between 340 and 355 days. I read in another of your messages that 370 days can be normal, but I am curious at which point you might consider induction. Also, is induction always done with Oxytocin or is there a prostaglandin gel you can put in their vulva/cervical area?? Thanks!
Jos
Posted on Friday, April 13, 2001 - 03:36 pm:
There is a very strict protocol that must be followed for successfully inducing foaling without accidentally inducing a premature foal. The fact that the mare has gone past day 340 of her pregnancy is a totally insufficient reason to induce.
A veterinarian must be involved in the induction process as they will have to assess all the parameters and provide the drugs. Additionally there may be complications from malpresentation (more common with inductions), so they should be present to assist if that occurs.
Hi there, I have a 14yr old miniature mare that had had about 7 perfectly healthy and easy deliveries in the past. She is a couple of days away from her due date. The problem is that she has transparent amber serum coming out of one teat and blood mixed with serum coming out of the next. I live on an island in the Caribbean and the vets do not really know what the problem is. I was advised to put the mare on 7 days of penecillin, but to stop if she foaled. Advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Jos
Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2001 - 11:20 pm:
As long as there is no sign of heat in the bloody-discharge portion of the udder (which would indicate mastitis) it is quite likely that it is not a problem, unless a significant amount of blood is present. I would however suggest that you contact a veterinary teaching hospital such as the one at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, or Colorado State University. Searches on the Internet will turn up contact information.
Good luck.
Erika Lewis (205.188.198.163)
Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 05:56 pm:
I am trying to research "post partum bowel displacement" any help, I have searched high and low, and come up with nothing?
Hello, I have a 18 year old Tennessee Walker mare that was exposed to a young colt in pasture. He was 16 months old when gelded. She was in heat twice while pastured with him and he deffinately knew what to do and she was very willing. When I had him gelded in July the vet said he was deffinately old enough to breed. In September I had my mare checked by the vet, he did a rectal palpation and said, "Get ready for a foal, but he wouldn't put no $$ on it". I am getting anxious to know if she is truly with foal or not, so I can feed her properly, and get ready properly. She has never had a foal and always been heavy. What are some ways I can tell? Things for me to watch for? The vet said he'll be back in March he'll tell me for sure then. I don't want to wait! Any suggestions of things I can do to tell? I just bought a stethoscope, is it possible to find the heartbeat? As you can tell I've never had a foal before and no experience in breeding. Help!
TSQH (198.107.233.26)
Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2002 - 11:54 pm:
There is really no way to tell(until they are about 3-4 or so weeks from foaling) other than a vet check. I would have the vet check her NOW.
I was hoping to hear something different. There are no vets that come to the farm where we live anymore, it would mean trailering my mare 100 miles (one way) in the dead of winter. We had 10 degrees below zero this morning. If I can't find out for sure until our vet does his rounds in March I will just treat her as if she is. The changes in her personality and other factors give me the gutt feeling she is. The only thing that makes me nervous is that she is swollen on both sides in front of her nipples and I mean a handfull on each side! She no longer likes her belly rubbed or underside scratched which used to be her favorite passtime. I know she was in heat last May and was bred either in May or June should she be so swollen this soon?
Denise, I have a mare who was bred in May of 2001 with due date being around April 15th. She has the same enlargement of the "runners" in front of her nipples already and has had them for about two months now. Vet says healthy normal pregnancy! So I do not see that sign as a need to worry unless there are other signs of early parturition or milk loss.
Thanks Robin, She seems healthy and happy in all ways. So I guess I will just have to be patient until March. I wish we had a local vet up here so I could hear the words "Healthy Pregnancy".
AMR (207.177.53.96)
Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 01:09 pm:
Warning Bells! On April 6th 2001, Jos had a post about warning bells going off if a mare gets milk to early. Last year we lost twins after the mare bagged up early then aborted that night. She was under 300 days. I now have another mare at 303 days gestation. Her udder filled up three days ago.Today she is starting to have edema under her belly, just like she did last year befor she had a "term" foal. If she does like last year she will be having this foal within the next few days. What course of action if any at this point or options do I have?
Jos (142.177.105.176)
Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 09:57 pm:
AMR - this is a bit of a hard call. The chances are fair to good that all you are seeing is normal pre-foaling filling. It is however of course of concern, especially after your previous experiences.
Once you are past 300 days, the foal if born will be viable, although until 320 days it is still most decidedly considered a "premie" and will require neonatal intensive care.
I would suggest that you talk to your vet, have them assess the situation and go from there. Better safe than sorry!
My daughter got a mare around June of last year and when we got her she was still nursing her 7 month old colt but soon after we took her to our place she dried up. She has always been kept with our other 2 geldings and now I have noticed that she is bagging like she was when we first got her last year. Can you tell me what might be going on beings she has been with nothing but geldings since I got her? thanks
Jos Posted From: 142.177.6.149
Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 10:15 am:
Seeing as you have only had her 10 months, and the gestation period for horses is 11 or more, the first thing you should rule out is pregnancy!
If she definitely isn't pregnant, it could be just a hormonal issue, or (less likely) mastitis. Unless there is heat in the udder, I wouldn't be too concerned about mastitis, but if you are, then get your vet to have a look. It might not be a bad idea fof the vet to preg. check her too...!
Angela Posted From: 67.209.71.163
Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 09:22 pm:
My question is not so much about pregnancy duration, but rather labor duration. My mare started laying down this morning. She never does that. She rolled and flung her tail around quite a bit. When she got up she pawed at the ground. She has done this several times today. Her bag is full and you can tell she is uncomfortable. question is: How long can this go on before she starts real labor?
Sandy Posted From: 4.227.133.245
Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 12:35 pm:
I have seen mares have false labor for a week or so prior to actually getting down to business. I would check the milk in her bag and see what it looks and feels like. That can be a better predictor of foaling than the actions sometimes. If her milk is thick and honey colored, or whitish looking, then I'd start keeping a close eye on her. When my mares get real close to foaling time, I will check their milk twice a day. Once in the morning and again in the evening. You only need a few drops!
Sandy, Hi! it's lisa again my husband had a qestion if you breed in the summer months does this have an afect on the foal coat when it is born. I have herd that when you breed late like that the coat can end up looking funny. or is this just something someone beleaves? also my vet said I could breed my mare back at 30days the should be about the middle of July. she thought the colt died from being so small and she also thought he had a heart problem that even she could not have fixed. please let me know. thanks lisa
Sandy Posted From: 4.228.243.96
Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 06:10 pm:
Lisa, I've never heard of the time of year of breeding affecting the foal's coat at all! The latest I have had a foal born was in September, and she was born with a very normal looking coat. Sorry about your colt. It's hard to believe that it was so small considering your mare went so far over due. But, I have actually heard of foals who were born well after the 340 day mark that almost look immature, even though at that point they are called "dysmature" because they were actually carried long enough, but still have the appearance of a premature foal. Maybe it was due to the heart problem that your vet found. I would go ahead and breed your mare back on her 30 days, as I do not consider foaling in July late at all and it WILL NOT have an effect on the foal's coat!
my 10 year old mare went to the stallion last year was scaned at 14 days and told that she was not in foal. she has shown signs of being in season all year, but now she seems to have put alot of weight on and has 'runners' in front of her teats, could she be in foal? heres hoping, Tracey
Tracey, I breed miniature horses, and one of my stallions broke in with my mare in season while i was a away for a few weeks. When i came back i had her preg tested at 17days, and i was told she was not pregnant. She kept coming into season, but wouldnt stand for my stallion for the whole rest of the season. I couldnt work out what was up with her. 8months along she began to put on weight, and two days before the day she would have been due from that first mating while i was away she put a lovely little colt on the ground for us. It is very possible that you mare is pregant. Try getting your hands on a "Do-it-yourself" type blood test to see so that you can ensure she gets all her vitamins and minerals and vaccinations etc due to a mare in foal. Goodluck!!
Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:39 pm:
Repeated urination would not be an indication of pregnancy loss specifically.
You do not tell us how long ago your mare was bred, how much "quite a bit of urine" is, nor if she has been checked in foal. If the mare only just returned from being bred, repeated urination may be an indication that she is still in estrus ("heat"). While it is common for a mare to continue to display estrus for a couple of days after ovulation, if the display continues beyond that, it may indicate that she needs to be bred again on this cycle (sperm only exist for 48-72 hours at most in the reproductive tract following breeding on the average with fresh semen). If she is indeed out of estrus, but only just recently bred, be aware that the pregnancy remains in the oviduct up to about day five and a half following fertilization. And finally, beyond possibly being an indication of estrus behaviour (which if seen may indicate pregnancy loss in that she has come back in to "heat"), repeated urination would not be an indication of impending or having undergone abortion or pregnancy loss.
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