Grants Pass Auction Minis - Katya - colt born June 22

[cassie]

As Renee has said it depends on the mare and when the foal is sitting. My mare Suzie when she was pregnant had days where she hardly wanted to move she would stand looking miserable all day then other days she would fly around with her tail up in the air farting and carrying on was hilarious to see... actually I probably have a pic... I'll find it when I get home and put it up for you

it depends on where the foal is sitting and the hormones going through the mares body as to whether she feels frisky or like a whale lol

 

[amystours]

Those kittens are TOO precious!

 

[cassie]

found the pic of Suzie having a little hoon at 9 months pregnant

lol

 

[AnnaC]

Those kittens are just gorgeous - love the way Mr Pink is making himself well at home and getting folk trained as to his needs! LOL!!

Cassie, I well remember Suzie's 'loon' sessions!!

 

[Crystallos]

Cassie- Suzie's having so much fun!

Katya, though, seems like she's getting slower every day. She also walks away from her hay when before she would hoover it. It it normal for heavily pregnant mares to pick up their hind feet differently?

Udder March 15



and Bridie having fun playing "you can't catch me". That white patch in the grass is all the hair we got off Katya. Bridie won't let me help her shed, she says the grooming tools feel scary. She's mostly okay with being scratched all over though.

 

[Evelynk2000]

Just came from the list formed to follow the Grant's Pass Auction minis. Many of them are in foaling pattern right now, which leads me to ponder: do mares who live in a herd tend to go into season at the same time? Women who live together seem to "coordinate" their monthly periods. Do horses do that?

 

[chandab]

I really don't know for sure on the cycling side of it, but do believe some do. Two years ago when I bred my three mares for last year's foals; one mare was going out (missed her), another coming in and the third came in at the end of the second's cycle (and the first was ready to go again at the end of second's cycle). When they foaled last year, first foaled at about 320 days, second came earlier than expected at 307 days and last came at about 320 days. [First two foaled 1 week apart, last one came 3 weeks later.]

 

[Evelynk2000]

:whistling

What else can I say. She moseys so slowly, she's lost her waddle and sway. When she stands still, she rocks back and forth on her back feet. If it was a little faster, it'd look like a dance step. Poor baby. Still a soft bag, tail resistance is still there. My sister and I helped her shed yesterday. Hope she finishes blowing the winter coat before baby puts in an appearance! Many of the PG mares from the Grants Pass Auction are in the same waiting pattern, and I'll bet there'll be a flurry of announcements in a few weeks.

 

[Evelynk2000]

I had the farrier out yesterday, just to check while she's got the odd gait. All is well, all the horses' feet are dormant. Katya is SOOOO tolerant. I was feeding chunks of compressed alfalfa to the 3 minis while sitting on a camp stool. Bridie put her head on my shoulder and rested there, so I'm fairly sure I have green alfalfa slobber in my hair! All 3 give kisses now, sometimes at the same time! Good thing their heads are so small.

Back to

 

[Eagle]

I think we have all been out to the shops with horse slobber on us

I am so glad all is well, don't give up hope cos baby will come out sooner or later

 

[Evelynk2000]

Katya is just cruising along, shopping, hoovering, ambling, etc. I went to get her out of her normal turnout, and she tried to hide in the low branches of the fir trees. Obviously a case of "if I can't see you, you can't see me!" I reached between the branches and put her halter on, and I don't think she even noticed!

Here's a couple of pictures of her yesterday:



The last picture is of the 3 ladies snoozing in the sunshine a couple of days before. Katya is the one who looks like a beached whale

Her udder is not as flabby as it was, but all I got was a quick feel. I spent most of my time with her with the shedding blade, making a fine mess and enduring loving lips and fuzzy foreheads from all three of them. I found that I had to be exceptionally tender with the shedding tool when I got to her tummy. She let me know in no uncertain terms that she wasn't enjoying a heavy hand. Bless her, she didn't try to bite!

 

[Eagle]

Thanks for the giggle and the update pics

 

[Evelynk2000]

I can't help myself, this picture by Crystallos (with her permission) is great!



Did I mention the beached whale?

It's uncommonly warm in Oregon right now, close to record-breaking. Apparently, napping in the sun causes speckles or something.

 

[Evelynk2000]

So, how warm does it have to be to not put a blanket on a baby? I consider 45 degrees to be fair weather, and the child will be enclosed but not heated. We're in a temperate zone, and all nasty *cold* weather should be done by now. Nasty *warm* weather is never over (wind and rain).

 

[chandab]

I would probably put a blanket on baby if its below 60 for at least the first week (especially at night), as they can't regulate their body temp when they are that young.

 

[Evelynk2000]

Excellent information. Thanks. I had no idea about the regulating temperature thing. I just didn't want to get in the way of nature.

You are all so knowledgeable and free with your information and advice. Thank you so much!

 

[Evelynk2000]

Thank you. Excellent information. We have a cover ready for the baby, just in case.

 

[Evelynk2000]

There is progress! Katya is uncomfortable and has been rolling a lot, my niece tells me. She's walking with her back legs gapped way far apart and her back end rolling from side to side. It would make me seasick to watch her for long, I think, but it is compelling to watch, because I'm trying to understand the physical reasons, since she's not bagged up. All I can come up with is that the baby is stretched out between her legs. She actually let me shed her stomach, very gently, yesterday, and was accepting of us touching all her parts

. The niece says her hoohah is elongating a bit, and I was able to look inside to see that it is pink. Her back is so long that she doesn't always look PG to others, but we are developing a good relationship, and I can see her look of "OMG, isn't this OVER yet?????" I remember that look in the mirror. We spent a long time with her standing in front of me shifting back and forth on her back legs, and me scratching her forehead. When she stands still, she stands on one back leg for about 5 seconds, it quivers, she shifts to the other one. I told her I'd babysit for a while if she wanted to run around!

I'll get more pictures today.

 

[Eagle]

Ahhh there you are, I was staring to wonder if you had left us

 

[Evelynk2000]

Nah! Just same-old-same-old every day. This is NEW!

We're fixing up the birthing area today. I fully expect to drive up one day and see an extra face under the trees. She's so desperately uncomfortable right now that it can't be much longer.