Darla's official foaling thread.

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Hi! Just wanted to compare these side by side...hope you dont mind me reposting the pic of your girl lindy...just makes it easier for me to compare if i see them side by side. I know every mare is different, but at least she gives me an idea of what to look for!

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Yes, I do think she has filled a bit more.
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I think that what is making it so difficult for us to see changes in her is the fact that her udder seems to be 'hanging' rather than 'tucked up'. Maiden mares seem to have tiny 'flat' type of udders, tucked well away high up between their legs. These then slowly fill, but sort of 'across' in width rather than 'down' - dont think I'm explaining this very well, and of course all mares are different. LOL!!

Darla seems to have an udder that has at first dropped longer and is THEN filling out, almost from the bottom up - her actual teats look quite filled, and the lower half of the udder is filling, but the top looks still quite 'empty'. Plus her teats are pointing straight down, whereas most mares teats point inwards as they slowly gain a 'milk' supply, and the fact that their teats suddenly point downwards and fill up, as their udders become full, is usually a sign that they are pretty near to foaling. It is really interesting to see that Darla almost looks as though she is doing it the 'other way round' and also makes us think she might be near foaling and her udder will fill completely as she foals.

Please keep the pictures coming - it is so interesting to watch the changes/progress.
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There is definitely a change in the udder but I think there will be more filling and you will see those creases disappear but she seems to be moving and the rest can happen really quickly.
 
Yep sure is progressing,. Anna I agree she seems to be starting at the bottom and working her way up. This makes me think that you will need to watch her as she hasn't read the book
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I agree Karina, the creases need to fill out but she is not bagging up like most mares so she could fill after foaling.

You watch and we all wait
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thanks guys! i love it when you guys give me your opinion and feedback! Her nipples actually seem the be getting smaller as the top starts to fill. At first they looked huge and "blown out" but as the top fills they are shrinking back down a little. Do you guys think the crease in the middle will fill out more before she foals or will it just be the two halves hanging down?? (does that make sense?) I wasnt sure if yall where talking about that or the wrinkles in the top of her bag. I am still testing her milk twice a day and the ph is still almost 8. Maybe when it drops it will do it suddenly...this waiting and watching and waking up several times a night is killing me!! I think i am gonna have to stop reading threads where other people have had a hard time foaling, because everytime i do it freaks me out and makes me even more nervous! thanks again everyone!
 
We mean the creases at the top should fill, see how Lindi's girls bag is without creases!
 
gotcha! that is what i thought you meant! i wonder if it will fill out more in the middle or still have that deep crease? guess we will find out soon enough!
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I checked darlas milk about an hour ago before her bedtime snack and it was still way too high. But I just went out to check on her before bed. When I first peeked at her she was down sternal..then she went flat (which is unusual for her, but she has been doing it more the post few days). I started to leave her alone but her food pan was right in the middle of her stall making it hard for her to get comfortable so I decided to move it. I walked into her stall moved the pan and stood there for a few minutes...probably 5 minutes total. She finally stood up when I was going out of the stall. Anytime she is laying down she usually gets up the minute she sees me...it was really odd for her to lay there that long. I also noticed while she was down that her vulva was so loose that it was literally hanging open and I could see the pink inside. Her ph was still almost 8. I dont know if the laying down and the vulva being so loose are signs that she is closer to foaling or how fast the ph can drop...i am sure that I need some sleep though...all of this waiting and watching is making my head hurt tonight!
 
Jess
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Suzie has done the same to me lol gets us so worried! LOL

I think the way they are lying down puts pressure on the bits behind making them looser, if that makes sense I am totally with you on the head hurting and lack of sleep
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are you using the foal time test strips??
 
hey cass! I am using the pool test strips! Will someone post a few pics for me if i email them? I am at home and haven't figured out how to post them from my phone. I need an opinion from the experts on her vulva...if I had a qh looking like this I would be looking for a foal soon...but I don't know about these minis. Her ph still hasnt dropped either.
 
hey cass! I am using the pool test strips! Will someone post a few pics for me if i email them? I am at home and haven't figured out how to post them from my phone. I need an opinion from the experts on her vulva...if I had a qh looking like this I would be looking for a foal soon...but I don't know about these minis. Her ph still hasnt dropped either.
 
I had to run by work so I will post them! This is Darla this morning...notice how loose her vulva is...what do yall think?

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yep all is progressing fast, I think that her bag will fill more as she is growing each day. I am going to make an estimated guess of a foal within a week.

Come on girls, Place your bets
 
She looks quite swollen to me Jess but im no expert..i posted pics of my mares bits a few hours before she delivered its just so hard to tell if theyr ready..sorry im not much help but you shoud try get some sleep..i started watching my mare on 2 hourly checks 3 months before she delivered and some nights slept right through because i was so tired..its hard going and sriously if she hadnt have had the baby at 8 pm sat night i would have missed it for sure checking her or not..she showed no signs until literally a few minutes before she went down in labour then within 10 mins it was all over..i think its a case of luck more than judgement unless she has a foal alarm to wake you
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My home internet is FINALLY fixed!! Yay!!! Now I can watch suzie from home! We are getting ready to go to the horse show in about an hour...it is only about 10-15min from my house...I hope Darla will be ok while we are gone! I am really nervous about leaving her now with her vulva so swollen. She has just been standing in the corner of the pasture all day...not even grazing. It is so hot and she looked miserable, so my daughter and I got her out and gave her a nice cool bath a few minutes ago...she REALLY enjoyed it and looks much happier now! This is the show that her previous owner will be at so I will let yall know if I get any new info when I get home!
 
definite change
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sorry Jess have been out all day
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she will prob go before Suzie!!! but thats ok as we both want fillies!! hehe

exciting about the progress!!
 
I think we are getting even closer.... i just went out to check on Darla...then got caught with her in the barn by a rain storm. The foal has been very active for the last week, but I watched her for about 45 minutes and saw nothing!
 
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