Gracie's Mini Mommas' To Be Page- All done foaling! Five Healthy Foals!!

[bannerminis]

So they torment you another day. Dont ya just love those mares LOL

 

[Sandy B]

Okay, so I finally can breathe. The 4-H meeting was great yesterday. The kids are preparing for the Placer County 4-H qualifying show for the Ca. State Fair. Then we had a BBQ and then today my in-laws came in to town to attend Gracie's piano recital.

The girls have not changed again in days. The only thing I keep forgetting to report is that Lexi almost does not look pregnant anymore if you know what I mean. At some angles you have to look twice to tell she is pregnant. Her udder is the same, her hooha the same....... so boring......GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[Sandy B]

Thought I would take pictures and update this morning. Today Fancy is 338 days and Lexi 337.

LEXI-





Fancy-

 

[Eagle]

They can't hold on much longer surely?

 

[Becky]

I would say that Lexi looks very close to foaling from her udder. I wouldn't take my eyes off of her. Is it firm yet? Can you get milk?

 

[Sandy B]

They can't hold on much longer surely?

I have tried asking them directly but they just ignore me. Fancy's hooha is so floppy and relaxed its crazy, but her udder department is extremely lacking. Lexi's udder nicely filled, but waiting for nipples to fill for days now and nothing is happening.

 

[Sandy B]

I would say that Lexi looks very close to foaling from her udder. I wouldn't take my eyes off of her. Is it firm yet? Can you get milk?

I can barely get anything at all from her udder and its still a clear-yellow and the amount I can get out even after bumping the udder and milking awhile is about the size of a stick pin head.

 

[Sandy B]

Lexi looks "flat-sided" with a good udder and it looks like her hooha is beginning to swell a bit !! Just wonderful -- watch her closely! Fancy looks like baby is still riding a little "left" of center, her udder looks like a couple more days of filling should do it, and her hooha looks like she's elongated and swelling a bit too. These are two girls that are very close, I think! Keep a good watch! It shouldn't be long now!

Yes, Lexi barely look pregnant right now. Its a weird look to me. Her hooha looks the same to me but I am looking at it every day. Both girls are a tad more brighter pink inside though, Lexi more so. Can't get anything out of the udders though, even after some effort.

 

[Sandy B]

I just got Gracie tucked in my bed and my hubby tucked in on the couch because Gracie insists on sleeping with me so she can see the camera as when she did the final evening cheek and stall pick, she said Fancy's hooha was so mushy that the baby is bound to just fall out. I would say that her udder would have to do miraculous things really fast for that to happen. And yes Fancy's hooha has been preparing for the event for weeks, its too bad her udder would not cooperate too. Lexi is back to doing some intense bun rubbing today after a couple days what seemed like a lot less of it.

So I am off to bed my nutty nursery friends! Sweet dreams and I hope any babies that are born are all healthy and momma too!!

 

[AnnaC]

I wouldn't take my eyes off Lexi either. The fact that you said she doesn't really look pregnant any more could mean that the foal is dropping/has dropped into the foaling position - Lexi has suddenly lost her 'round' shape. Her nipples could fill at the last minute, dont worry about getting milk from her, lots of mares dont want you pinching their supplies. LOL!! But keep a really good eye on the colour inside her hooha as this might be the last sign that you see!

I think Fancy has a little longer to go yet, but that could change suddenly of course! They are both looking good Sandy and Gracie will soon have two beautiful little babies to look after!

 

[MeganH]

Sandy- With my mare I could not get much to anything out when I milked her until less then 12 hours before she foaled. Once Laney's nipples filled (about 1pm) I waited for my hubby to get home and we were able to get pure milk out VERY easily (around 8pm) and Laney foaled right after 10pm. So I agree Lexi looks very good.. keep an eye out for dripping or filling the nipples and I think once you get milk it will be no time.

 

[Sandy B]

Todays update-

Fancy 339 days and Lexi 338 days

I finally was able to get a drop of fluid out of Lexi's udder this morning without much effort. It is still pretty clear. Her hooha is looking a tad more swollen, but not elongated. Fancy looks the same, no changes to her.

 

[Eagle]

another step closer

 

[a mini dream come true]

The waiting is agony, but it will all be worth it. Each step is a step closer to having those beautiful foals. Praying for perfect foaling and heathy babies.

 

[griggsmel]

Wow, still waiting! I haven't logged on in a while due to lack of sleep myself thanks to wonderful foal watch

You look so close! I wouldn't let the fact that you're not getting milk deter you. My mare wouldnt give me a stitch of milk no matter what I did and two or three hours later she was dripping tons of milk and baby came within an hour. Milk comes fast and your girls look pretty close! Hopefully you won't get them both in one night, huh?

 

[Sandy B]

As Melissa said above, I hope you do not get them both in one night. LOL! I thought maybe that was going to happen last night as Fancy went through a real restless stage of stall walking and major tail swishing and a lot of elevation. Lexi was stomping her feet (maybe just mad at Fancy for the interruption) and would walk a few steps forward then back a few steps and raise her neck up as if to stretch. This lasted for about an hour then the switch was turned off and all was quiet again.

Girls are 339 & 340 days today. Today, I am going to separate them and put them in to their own stalls at night. Since my stalls are large (horse sized) they have been sharing at night and I wonder if that is not helping. I am wondering if I should bring in two additional buddies of theirs and put them in the adjoining paddocks that hook on to their stalls so that they can see a friend. Otherwise I am afraid they would have a fit if they can not see anyone. My husband put on chain link gates on the stalls so that they can see out of the stall, otherwise they would not be able to see out at all. What do you guys think?

 

[targetsmom]

Sounds like you keep your horses a lot like we do. Ours are used to seeing buddies and we used stall screens with other horses outside the screens right up until they foaled. Except for Sox; we have started closing her door and it really doesn't bother her at this point. I think when they are this close to foaling that is about all they think about. This is also why many people bring their mares "in" to their foaling stalls at around 300 days gestation so they can get used to their new surroundings. And of course once they foal all they care about is that foal! Keeping fingers crossed for you and Gracie.

 

[Eagle]

Yes great idea, they need their privacy but they also need to feel part of the herd still.

 

[Sandy B]

OK, glad you guys think it is a good idea. BTW- Lexi is a major grump today and both mares hooha are changing shades of pink.

 

[cassie]

all good progress, glad to hear everything is going well

I think the idea of letting them see their buddies is great as well

I do the same thing, as my stable was built for my big horse we put a mesh gate as the door so my little mini's can still see out to their friends.

You and Gracie are such great mum's to your horses. come on girls we want to see your babies now please