Gestation Period

[MooreAcres]

Hey guys,

Was thinking about how far along my mare is in her pregnancy and it sparked a question.

How long do your mares usually hold on to their foals before popping?

I bred Sandi April 29-May 2, 2007. She foaled April 10th 2008, at 344 days. Bred her back May 17-20 2008. Shes already at 260 day today. I know that as horses they are unpredictable, but sometimes they start to form patterns, routines. So for those of you that have been breeding for awhile, do your mares seem to foal around the same amount of days they did previously? Hope that makes sence, kinda hard to word it right.

Erin

 

[horsehug]

Yes most of mine tend to follow a pattern year afer year.

Most of my mares foal anywhere from 303 days to about 325....... with a few going closer to 335 once in a while.

I have Always had short gestation foals, often making me wonder if my high altitude had any effect.

Susan O.

 

[Joanne]

I think we average in the 320-330 range. But we have had live foals from 287 days to 363 days.

These are based not only on bred dates, but ultrasound.

 

[Jill]

So far, we've only had 5 foals where we instigated the breeding, but they've all been right around 330.

 

[kaykay]

all of ours have always gone about 330 to 335

Kay

 

[Lucky-C-Acres-Minis]

We've had a range of gestation periods but for the most part, most of the foals have been born between 330-340 days..

Star gave us three foals (well 4 but the first foal out of her I did not have breeding dates for so no idea how long she carried her), born at 332 (filly), 336 (colt) and 333 (filly)

Lacey my app is the "cooker", she likes to hold on to her babies, well colts since that's all she's given us so far! First colt was 347 days and second was 355 days

Tango foaled TJ last year at 339 days, first foal for us and no foaling history prior, she's in foal for this year (due May 20th, at 330), Think she's carrying a filly so will be fun to see if she goes earlier than she did with the colt!

Lexi foaled Phoenix last year at 337 days

Sweet Tart foaled Chili at 333 days, in foal again this year

And our earliest baby was out of Daisy, a filly at 318 days, due again this year and thinking another filly

 

[Tatonkas Dream]

My experience is limited but so far

Katie – came to me in foal unknown # had a baby girl mule, 343 days had a colt in 08

Sui – 331 days had a colt in 08

Sugar - as of today we are on day # 335 showing signs but she is not very bagged, there is some bag but nowhere near super sized. I have no history other than knowing she had a foal previously so not sure if we have another few weeks or if shes going to foal and bag almost at the same time (or require an injection once jr gets here)

Watching her at night on the cam she’s uncomfortable – laying flat out a lot esp stretching herself almost arching backwards ‘cat like’ – some relaxation/elongation in the rear - getting into what I refer to as Yoga horse stretching/positions and some nights my normal ‘vacuum cleaner’ spends more time tossing her hay around the stall than eating it. I had her vet checked in mid Dec and he said my bred dates where right on and almost nightly you can see the little ‘guy’ bouncing around in there like a tennis ball so hopefully SOON.

Sorry I got off your topic there Sugar is driving me

 

[Reble]

330 - 345

 

[Riverdance]

For the most part, mine follow the big horse gestation table. Most go for about 340+ days, with only a few a week earlier.

Though this year I would like two of them to go early as they are due right around a show. Do not want to leave if they have not foaled. Both are my oldest mares. One is 16 and the other is 21. Both are bred to Windchaser.

 

[icspots]

hmmm, no high altitude here, but mine go from 298 to 320 on average, I've had an occasional one go as far as 330, but don't think I've ever had one go over 330 days. They are for the most part smaller mares, so maybe their little bodies say enough already???

 

[sedeh]

I have one mare that likes to go early. Her earliest has been 311 days and her latest was 327.....she's always on my "watch like a hawk" list. The others have been between 330-342. Of course I have a maiden this year so all bets are off!

 

[cowgurl_up]

My mare has foaled 3 times at 325 days, the longest she has gone was 340 days. I'm hoping she sticks with the 325 days, if so she will be right around the 4th of July for a little firecracker baby!

 

[REO]

Once in a while I'll have a maiden mare go a long time (335-340) and then after that go less the rest of her foals.

While mares generally do tend to keep to the same gestational times, the stallions she is bred to insert their genetics into the mix and causes variations into gestations of their foals. It is the FOAL that initiates when it is cooked enough and triggers labor (not the mare deciding)....(although they can wait until you're not looking or put it off until you go to bed LOL)

The variations might be none, small, or a lot. It depends on the mix of genetics the foal gets at conception.

These are my beliefs.

Our mares foal between 297-330. With most of them foaling 302-324.

 

[Millstone Farm]

I've had mares go as early as 285 days (and had live, healthy foals) to ......402 days.

My mares are *mostly* consistent year-to-year, but not always.

 

[PaintedMeadows]

Mine have gone between 320 - 387 days. Yup, last year a maiden mare of mine went 387 days. Definite breeding date as she was only bred once and then no where near any stallions after that. I hope she doesn't do that this year. lol

 

[miniaddiction]

This always makes me smile! You just never know. However with my mare, her first time she went 309 days, second time around we were ready for her to go early again and she went even earlier at 307 days. So it seems that a shorter gestation is normal for her and thats all the time she needs to cook her babies and boy does she cook em well!

 

[ClickMini]

Oh, you guys are making me NERVOUS! One of my mares is at day 291...I didn't think she might foal this early, but maybe so??? Better get that pager on!

 

[REO]

PLEASE do Amy! Better safe than sorry.

Each year someone asks about gestations and each year there are many replies telling of mares foaling 330-340. Yes there ARE! BUT!!! Many, many many mini mares foal around 305 there-abouts and, there are the people thinking that their mares won't foal until 330 or so (so they don't watch them yet) and then they come on here and say they lost the foal because it was "early".

Some say their mares foal "early" each year and the foals lost in the sacs when they were not being watched. NO, those mares are foaling at their normal time and should be watched from 290 days on.

IT BREAKS MY HEART to hear people come here and say they lost their foal (on their unwatched mare) Those foals could have lived if the person was expecting the possibilty of her foaling that early.

Over the years SO MANY foals have been lost. Please everyone, watch your mares starting at 290 days or earlier. You might be very glad you did!

I'm not trying to be mean. I'm only posting my feelings because I CARE and I know what it feels like to lose a foal. And if my warning can save one foal, one person from a broken heart, then that is all I'm trying to do!

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

I think I am definitely going to be watching my mares now I have one that is 277 days and the other is 240 days approx. Both are maiden and one is 30" and the other is 29". I cant wait for them to foal but I am always so nervous about it too!

I have been checking them occasionally just to get accustomed to the way they feel and look but now I am going to start watching them like a hawk

.