Darla's official foaling thread.

[MeganH]

Darla was backed up against the back wall and kicking her belly a few times just now. Now she found a spot to plop down.

I dont know if I answered you about the stall and am too lazy to look back but the shelter is about 14x13 and each stall closes to be about 7x9.

 

[Equuisize]

Our barn was built when we moved here so we had no choice as to how the

interior was set up. It's a big barn with lots of loft space but wasn't

set up by someone that ever thought horses were going to be housed in it.

Michael made the stalls 10x12 as that is what worked with the way the interior

supports were spaced. I'd have preferred them to be 12 x 12 as that was what

they were used to, before we moved here, but these work.

The kids are outside about 12 hours a day depending on the weather. I like them

having space to move around in their bedrooms, in case they have to be kept in

because of ugly rainy or icy weather.

The walls are tongue and groove. Everything is screwed together rather than nailed.

The tongue and groove slides into runners so height can be changed if necessary or

can be removed to combine a stall for foaling. Top rail is stainless steel in case

they are tempted to chew. Floor is conrete so stalls are matted with 3/4" mats.

 

[Wings]

I love seeing everyone's barns.

My two stalls are 4m x 3.6m.

I have future plans for some smaller ones that will only get used by the show horses at night and I have to work witht he existing shed size.

I also have a foaling shed planned as well, hopefully ready by next year! It will have a 3m x 3m open front shelter with a fenced yard, next to it is a 3m x 6m open front shelter for hay feeding and next to that is another 3m x 3m with yard. The idea is I won't remove the girls from their comfort zone but they can still seek privacy and no one can pinch their foals. The 3m x 6m will also have gates I can close to lock everyone in there if I need to.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Beautiful Barn Nancy!!

 

[Equuisize]

Thanks Heidi!

Darla thinks that back scratching is ALRIGHT.

Any changes today, with her milk?

How is her tail if you lift it up a ways...does she try to clinch

it back down or does it just fall back into place when you let it go?

 

[jessj]

she clenches it...there toward the end did it look like she was having contractions whe i was rubbing her back? she kept tucking her but and arching her back, but i was standing over her so it was hard to tell.

 

[Equuisize]

I don't know if it's my screen or what but the feed looks somewhat blurry.

It isn't just your feed cause I've noticed it on other's feeds, too.

Sorry, I was watching her tummy but just couldn't tell if she was contracting or not.

Maybe someone else was watching then, too and can tell what they saw.

My experience is that when the tail looses it's resistance, where they can't clamp

it back down again and the butt gets soft you're closing in.

 

[MeganH]

Jess I was watching and did see her butt tuck down and her back arch. Have you tested her ph?

And that barn is beautiful Nancy!

 

[jessj]

when i went out to check her in the pasture she was laying in her favorite spot. So i went out and sat with her for a bit. she kept nudging her tummy and rolling. I went and changed her water and then sat with her a little while longer. She got up and kept dropping the booty and arching back (like she had to go pee) she finally did go pee, but then she kept doing it. So i brought her in. When i put her in the stall i noticed that her muscles on her back looked bumped up (honestly the first thing thru my mind was that the foals head was there bumpin it up!) so i started rubbing her back there. she really liked it and started swaying side to side, but then did the butt drop back arch a couple of more times too. Oh and lots of flehming the whole time including in the pasture.

ph hadnt dropped any more when i checked it at about 4:30 or 5

 

[lucky lodge]

Jess i dont think shes got long at all to go I thought she might of had it yesterday can the ph levels drop really sudden

 

[jessj]

Miss Diane...your barn is actually alot like what i am planning. i want it to be sort of open air, only maybe have the bottoms of the stalls a little more solid (it gets a little bit colder here than in sunny south central florida!) I was thinking about either 10x10stalls with a 10ft center aisle or 10x12stalls with a 6ft center aisle.

 

[Equuisize]

Diane, I read back a bit to catch up and saw the grandest baby girl's photos.

She is beautiful....Photos are never enough but guess they'll have to do until

October.

Your barn looks very airy/well ventilated and I can imagine that to be necessary

in your climate. Plus be super well constructed. You've a good place to head to

in case of a hurricane. God forbid!

Thanks, Megan.

Ours is a typical Pacific Northwest barn made of cedar.

It is well ventilated with 4 doors to the outside on the main floor and 2 loft doors

that open on each side plus a plexiglass vented window on the back side in BabyZee's

room. There are 2 aisleways of 8 feet and our doors wing in, also. Our vet shakes her

head every time she comes and reminds us that it's not a good idea in case of a fire,

that we'd possibly have to push against a frightened horse..but I prefer them swinging

in, so I can block an escapee, should someone try that. (never experienced it with a mini

but did with big horses when I had a boarder barn)

We actually have a fire alarm in the barn that is hooked to our security system.

Ventilation can't be under rated regardless of where you live.

There is lots of good barn ideas, here on the Forum, that work well for each person.

 

[MeganH]

Diane I love your barn and shelters. Love all the pictures and descriptions too.

Darla seemed so uncomfortable before you came in to feed her Jess. She was down and rolled a lot, changed positions, bit her belly... she was not happy.

 

[jessj]

hey lucky lodge...i have a question! Where you saying that ph levels can drop fast or asking if they could??? Cause this is my first time testing milk and I would really like to know if it can!

 

[jessj]

Megan.. I saw! She was really looking uncomfortable wasnt she!?! Thank you so much for watching her for me! Ive gotta go straighten up the kitchen really quick and pull the trash can to the road...if anything happens call me!

 

[lucky lodge]

hey lucky lodge...i have a question! Where you saying that ph levels can drop fast or asking if they could??? Cause this is my first time testing milk and I would really like to know if it can!

I was just asking dont no maybe it can

 

[lucky lodge]

Iam here to jess,,,,,,,,,,, because iam in australia will your phone number work for me??????????????

 

[MeganH]

You are very welcome. This is much better then watching any of the crap on tv. I keep the cams up and check them through the day.

Darla was pawing the ground a lot and held her tail up before she decided to plop down. Now sternal.

Lots of eyes on her on the marestare forum.

 

[MeganH]

Diane that is one pretty baby. Very cute big brother too!

 

[jessj]

I think the marestare aunties put up like 7 or 8 pages in three hours last night! So glad there are lots of folks watching on both forums!!! Makes me feel better!