Grants Pass Auction Minis - Katya - colt born June 22
- Thread starter Crystallos
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countrymini
Well-Known Member
They look very content
Crystallos
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I just found Katya grazing on tree moss. Does anyone know if the moss has negative effects on minis and pregnant mares? Thanks
Evelynk2000
Well-Known Member
Oh, good! I get to go SHOPPING! Good thing Wilco Farm Store is having all-month sales. Diane, are you saying moss won't hurt her? Most animals won't eat things that aren't edible, unlike humans, who will put *anything* in their mouths!
I was trying to post yesterday and got truly frustrated. Glad I read the "Posting" thread (thank you niece!)
I was trying to post yesterday and got truly frustrated. Glad I read the "Posting" thread (thank you niece!)
Eagle
Well-Known Member
Well I have just read all 11 pages and I would like to say a late Welcome to you both. Your horses look like a very lucky bunch
It will be a pleasure to follow this pregnancy with you and the other aunties. I always find it easier to take pics of the udder from behind, just a quick lift of the tail and snap. As Anna says (even though I never listened and peaked daily)
it is easier to see a difference if you leave it 4-5 days between looking at this stage.
From under the tummy it is harder to see swelling if they have spotty ****ies
As you can see from behind is easier to notice swelling
It will be a pleasure to follow this pregnancy with you and the other aunties. I always find it easier to take pics of the udder from behind, just a quick lift of the tail and snap. As Anna says (even though I never listened and peaked daily)
From under the tummy it is harder to see swelling if they have spotty ****ies
As you can see from behind is easier to notice swelling
Crystallos
Well-Known Member
Eagle- Thanks for the welcome. I've tried to take pictures of her udder from the back, but all I get is thigh. What angle do you take it at?
Here are today's pictures.
Here are today's pictures.
countrymini
Well-Known Member
You might need to hold your camera a bit lower and pointed slighly up.
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Eagle
Well-Known Member
Yes Counrymini is right, I kneel behind them, lift their tail and lean the cam up slightly. It will get easier as her udder grows a bit.
Evelynk2000
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the welcome, Eagle! I'm aunt to Crystallos and 1/2 owner of Katya; my sister owns the other 1/2. I don't know enough about horses to know what to worry about, so my niece presents me with problems and we worry through them together. I'm *so* glad I have Crystallos.
So, being the total amateur that I am, I will propose that, because horses carry their udders between their back legs, when the udders begin filling, the back legs will part a bit to make room for them. Am I 'way off the mark? I realize I'm trying to apply logic to an animal, but it makes sense to me.
So, being the total amateur that I am, I will propose that, because horses carry their udders between their back legs, when the udders begin filling, the back legs will part a bit to make room for them. Am I 'way off the mark? I realize I'm trying to apply logic to an animal, but it makes sense to me.
LOL!! Evelyn you are in fact right - well a lot of the time anyway! A lot of mares develop the Maternity Waddle when their udders grow to the full extent and can be seen walking around looking as though they have wet their panties!!
However it does not pay to rely on this fact as a lot of mares foal before their udders get that large and the udder actually increases to its full extent during or soon after foaling.
Katya for instance, could develop a full udder or she might not - looking at the pictures one could say that she has approx a couple more weeks to go yet. On the other hand she could go another approx 4 to 5 weeks before she foals - there is just no telling with these sneaky little darlings LOL!!
If she will let you check her vulva, then when you gently part the lips and look inside you will see the colour is a pale pink. In most mares this turns deep blood red as foaling is imminant (approx 24 hours). But before you get to this stage you will find that the fleshy area on her hindquarters, either side of her spine, will become softer, even squashy, and when you gently try to move her tail from side to side, it will feel 'loose', almost floppy - next time you are with her try moving her tail and get used to the 'firm' feeling it gives you (she may easily pull it away from your hand) so that you will feel the change once the 'loose' stage sets in. All little pointers that she is getting really close!
However it does not pay to rely on this fact as a lot of mares foal before their udders get that large and the udder actually increases to its full extent during or soon after foaling.
Katya for instance, could develop a full udder or she might not - looking at the pictures one could say that she has approx a couple more weeks to go yet. On the other hand she could go another approx 4 to 5 weeks before she foals - there is just no telling with these sneaky little darlings LOL!!
If she will let you check her vulva, then when you gently part the lips and look inside you will see the colour is a pale pink. In most mares this turns deep blood red as foaling is imminant (approx 24 hours). But before you get to this stage you will find that the fleshy area on her hindquarters, either side of her spine, will become softer, even squashy, and when you gently try to move her tail from side to side, it will feel 'loose', almost floppy - next time you are with her try moving her tail and get used to the 'firm' feeling it gives you (she may easily pull it away from your hand) so that you will feel the change once the 'loose' stage sets in. All little pointers that she is getting really close!
Evelynk2000
Well-Known Member
Thanks, AnnaC! You've given us a more reliable body part to watch. Hmmmm, looking for jello on her butt, checking her hoohah for deepening colour (a bow to the King's English, there!); what FUN! I'm enjoying the heck out of this process, since I can hand worrying over to my niece, who excels at it, and blithely contemplate the joys of having a foal of my very own! I'm gently teasing, here. My niece is the voice of reason and research. I, on the other hand, prefer to believe that this process has been successfully done by this very same mare a number of times. We will, of course take all necessary precautions, and be prepared for eventualities, but I find that I can't agonize or I will lose sight of the wonder and beauty of it all.
We've assembled the foaling kit and my niece is almost done with the birthing stall. Poor Crystallos does all the heavy work while I stand around pointing and encouraging. Oh, and my official title is Mini-Wrangler. I keep the ladies out of her way while she's moving things around. Such tedium! Petting, feeding carrot chips, petting, walking the path with my escorts gazing at my left pocket with avarice and longing! We've been working on touching Katya's back half, which she's persistent in moving aside. So far, the only way we can touch her is to halter her and let her edge toward a wall. Oops, trapped! I need to sit down on her level and touch her all over, but I can't do that right now. I don't want to keep annoying her about it, but we need to touch her without problem. suggestions?
We've assembled the foaling kit and my niece is almost done with the birthing stall. Poor Crystallos does all the heavy work while I stand around pointing and encouraging. Oh, and my official title is Mini-Wrangler. I keep the ladies out of her way while she's moving things around. Such tedium! Petting, feeding carrot chips, petting, walking the path with my escorts gazing at my left pocket with avarice and longing! We've been working on touching Katya's back half, which she's persistent in moving aside. So far, the only way we can touch her is to halter her and let her edge toward a wall. Oops, trapped! I need to sit down on her level and touch her all over, but I can't do that right now. I don't want to keep annoying her about it, but we need to touch her without problem. suggestions?
Eagle
Well-Known Member
Ditto Diane, my motto is "scratch and snack" they usually enjoy scratches with all that winter fur so just move down and under slowly. She will tell you when she is getting uncomfortable.
Crystallos
Well-Known Member
I finally got a decent photo of Katya's udder from the back. It took someone holding her to do it. The photo from the side was taken this evening and one from the back taken yesterday.
Beau, the older Arabian, started colicing today. I caught it early, but since it's Sunday, I couldn't reach my regular vet and had to call around. I finally got a hold of the vet that did the minis' ultrasounds and he advised what medications to give. He also said that walking a colicky horse is just to prevent rolling and doesn't have any other benefit. I thought it helped keep their gut moving. Other than the meds, he advised stalling and electrolytes. This is the first colic I've had to deal with. I've been lucky enough to avoid it until now.
Beau, the older Arabian, started colicing today. I caught it early, but since it's Sunday, I couldn't reach my regular vet and had to call around. I finally got a hold of the vet that did the minis' ultrasounds and he advised what medications to give. He also said that walking a colicky horse is just to prevent rolling and doesn't have any other benefit. I thought it helped keep their gut moving. Other than the meds, he advised stalling and electrolytes. This is the first colic I've had to deal with. I've been lucky enough to avoid it until now.
Liz k
Well-Known Member
Oh crystallos hang in there, it will get better, have had my share of those and this appears to be the time of year.....great you have a vet handy( even on Sunday ) fingers crossed this passes quickly for you......
Crystallos
Well-Known Member
Thank you Liz. I've been checking on him regularly and he has some small gut sounds again. Hopefully by morning he'll be back to normal.
Eagle
Well-Known Member
Evelynk2000
Well-Known Member
Got my early morning call from Crystallos: "He POOPED!!" That's the way to wake up! Beau is special. He was a gift from some folks who hated him. He's in his upper 20's, handsome, troop leader/herder in the mares' presence, and such a sweet ladies' man. It was an incredibly sad thing to contemplate his loss. At his previous home, he acted out badly. He was part of a herd that was rented out to summer horse clinics or something like that. We met him and my other niece said she'd like to try him out. They couldn't believe that she could just walk up to him in the corral, tack him up and ride him like they'd been together forever! The guy said "I have...um...$13 in my pocket. I'll pay you to take him." So she did. We're lucky he's here! And no, she didn't take the man's $13. Should have!
We're almost done with the mini-stall, got all the gravel spread and the mats down, thanks to help from my son. Foaling kit is complete. Mare is munching and pooping. All is well.
We're almost done with the mini-stall, got all the gravel spread and the mats down, thanks to help from my son. Foaling kit is complete. Mare is munching and pooping. All is well.
Crystallos
Well-Known Member
Yes, Beau is doing much better. He started to have normal gut sounds late last night. Found manure in his stall this morning and he drank water overnight. I'm taking him out to graze on fresh grass until I know his gut is moving along like normal.
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