Udder is developing but that lopsided belly says you've still got some waiting to do. They belly will become equal and then sink as the foal gets into the correct position. I'm hearing two perspectives on our foaling season so far! One says it's likely to be quick as we have the perfect set up for an early spring while the other says the foals will stay in for long because it's so cold right now. If my girls are to be trusted their voting for the second option! Based on your girl's belly and udder I'd say she is currently just behind my Painted Lady in development so I imagine you're looking at an August/early September bub.
Hopefully my mare is close so anxious
- Thread starter bellah32
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Well she is certainly moving quite fast in the right direction.
I would say a foal in another two or three weeks, but one can never be completely sure with these girls, so I would be watching her very closely from now on!
I would say a foal in another two or three weeks, but one can never be completely sure with these girls, so I would be watching her very closely from now on!
cassie
Well-Known Member
wow look at that tummy! I agree with the girls
that udder needs to fill up more yet
but won't be long now woohoo!
Ok well went out this morning to check on mercedes and looks to me she has dropped a bit and when took pic from behind she thinned out and is not bigger on one side. I also took more pics of udder which I dont think looks like it changed although you can clearly see she been rubbing udder on dirt have no idea if that means anything. I have locked her in barn until I fix fences as the gelding found a way to crawl in her paddock. Not a bad day to be locked in there anyway as bit snowy and the silly girl was in it.Maybe I just too anxious lol.does anyone see what I see or think anything changed?.
cassie
Well-Known Member
tummy definitely looks to have dropped a little... I agree about no change in the udder
she is progressing really well though
she might be one to bag up fast one of my mini mares, bags up only 1-2 weeks before then foals lol
Bit hard to tell from that side angle, really need to be taken level with ehr rather then looking down. But that back angle looks like she has dropped. Udder still ver y unexciting except for it's new paint job
some mares are such grots!
I also think she has dropped a bit more. Will she let you handle her udder? Apart from the fact that it and inside her legs will need to kept brushed/clean when she gets nearer to foaling, a lot of mares 'sit' as they get up from rolling so they can rub their tummies and udder area on the ground for a good scratch. She may have a lot of dirt trapped between the two halves of her udder and you need to gently work this out with a warm moist (not wet) cloth. Most mares enjoy this once you can get to the spot!
Hi all well changes with mercedes she is rolling and rubbing a lot there are hair patches everywhere in paddock she is even loving me scratch her(which is strange) Her udder looks a lot bigger today and she is not running to me as normal. She scratching everywhere and tail sticking out mostly all the time. I have more pics let me know what you think...
Hi she will not let me go near her udder at all but I put her in barn for the night with hay covering and she has cleaned herself quite a bit as you can see above.I also think she has dropped a bit more. Will she let you handle her udder? Apart from the fact that it and inside her legs will need to kept brushed/clean when she gets nearer to foaling, a lot of mares 'sit' as they get up from rolling so they can rub their tummies and udder area on the ground for a good scratch. She may have a lot of dirt trapped between the two halves of her udder and you need to gently work this out with a warm moist (not wet) cloth. Most mares enjoy this once you can get to the spot!
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She is moving forward quite suddenly, judging by her udder plus it looks as though she has dropped more in her tummy. I think you will see a foal sooner than we thought! I wouldn't be letting her out of my sight from now on.
I only mentioned about the mud on her teats because a lot of foals dont like the smell of mud when they first try to nurse - hopefully she will keep herself a bit cleaner. LOL!! Well done for putting the hay down in her barn, remember that a nice deep, fluffy bed for the new baby to snuggle down into, especially at nights, to keep warm and out of any draughts in the cold weather you are having at the moment - foals cannot regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks of their life and can easily get too cold or indeed, too hot!
Good luck!!
I only mentioned about the mud on her teats because a lot of foals dont like the smell of mud when they first try to nurse - hopefully she will keep herself a bit cleaner. LOL!! Well done for putting the hay down in her barn, remember that a nice deep, fluffy bed for the new baby to snuggle down into, especially at nights, to keep warm and out of any draughts in the cold weather you are having at the moment - foals cannot regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks of their life and can easily get too cold or indeed, too hot!
Good luck!!
Hi Anna had to say this I was showing my husband the pics of mercedes udder for comparison showing how big she has got in just 2 days and he said she got ages to go she needs heaps more milk in her bag as look at cows lol!!! Anyway I am hoping it very soon...She is moving forward quite suddenly, judging by her udder plus it looks as though she has dropped more in her tummy. I think you will see a foal sooner than we thought! I wouldn't be letting her out of my sight from now on.
I only mentioned about the mud on her teats because a lot of foals dont like the smell of mud when they first try to nurse - hopefully she will keep herself a bit cleaner. LOL!! Well done for putting the hay down in her barn, remember that a nice deep, fluffy bed for the new baby to snuggle down into, especially at nights, to keep warm and out of any draughts in the cold weather you are having at the moment - foals cannot regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks of their life and can easily get too cold or indeed, too hot!
Good luck!!
Well she could fit more in there but I certainly would say she'll do something sooner rather then later! Although things are really moving slower because of the cold, not sure if it's the bubs or their mums but I can't blame them... even though I really want my foals
update! at 3am this morning my hubby checked on mare before going to work and she was ignoring him and walking around in circles and didnt stop as he shon torch and got closer so at 6 30am I went out to check on her and she was just standing in paddock there is no dripping milk or wax(previous owner cant remember if she waxes but said she doesnt get much of a big udder). She is rolling a fair bit but that is it I will go check again in hour or so. What do you think could it be tonight or next few days??? Oh and she keeps putting her backside to gelding at fence and he smells and rubs it dont know what that means....
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How does her udder feel? regardless of size or wax an udder kicking into that final gear will feel hotter and tighter. A small udder won't feel as tight as a large but it will feel different. She could potentialy be in first stage.
My husband had a feel he said although it bigger it feels tighter and warm, he tried have a little squeeze but got nothing she does not like being touched down there.
cassie
Well-Known Member
good steps forward to getting your little baby woohoo! would love some more pics please? she might be a very fast bagger.... keep a realy close eye on her... time is definitley getting closer to seeing her little baby she has been cooking!
There is no need to try to get any milk from her if she doesn't like her udder being handled, just a very gentle feel (with a warm hand!) would be sufficient to see if it is tighter/warmer/hot.
But at the rate that she has filled that udder, plus the fact that she has been rolling quite a bit, is really promising and I think you should be planning to watch her continuously from now on throughout the night if at all possible, and rarely being far from her during the day. Remember that even if the birth is straightforward, many mini foals simply dont escape the 'birth bag' and drown within seconds - nothing more upsetting for the mare or for horrid feelings of guilt on the part of the owner who popped away for a few moments to make a cuppa or visit the loo!! We have all done it, thinking we were safe for five minutes only to find that the mare has foaled, sometimes with tragic results. If you need to sleep or rest maybe you could find a friend who would do a 'sit in' for 4 or 5 hours in the afternoon for you (many are happier to help out during this time rather than take night watches!) providing that this friend is prepared to watch your mare and not the tv/be on a computer etc etc!!
In my personal opinion, if we breed from our little chips, then it is of utmost importance that we are prepared to watch over them 24/7 as they near foaling to give them the best possible chance to welcome their little baby into the world.
Wishing you good luck and a safe smooth foaling!
But at the rate that she has filled that udder, plus the fact that she has been rolling quite a bit, is really promising and I think you should be planning to watch her continuously from now on throughout the night if at all possible, and rarely being far from her during the day. Remember that even if the birth is straightforward, many mini foals simply dont escape the 'birth bag' and drown within seconds - nothing more upsetting for the mare or for horrid feelings of guilt on the part of the owner who popped away for a few moments to make a cuppa or visit the loo!! We have all done it, thinking we were safe for five minutes only to find that the mare has foaled, sometimes with tragic results. If you need to sleep or rest maybe you could find a friend who would do a 'sit in' for 4 or 5 hours in the afternoon for you (many are happier to help out during this time rather than take night watches!) providing that this friend is prepared to watch your mare and not the tv/be on a computer etc etc!!
In my personal opinion, if we breed from our little chips, then it is of utmost importance that we are prepared to watch over them 24/7 as they near foaling to give them the best possible chance to welcome their little baby into the world.
Wishing you good luck and a safe smooth foaling!
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I have searched to hire a foal alarm and no luck unfortunately and at $1000 I cant afford to buy one just for one use. I do get up and check on her through the night. She has had few foals before so hopefully I am there though but is scary and difficult as my husband works nights and i have 3 kids under 3. Would I hear her at all? I dont think much has changed in last couple of days I have added pics of this morning see what you think. I had a friend come over yesterday who breeds horses and she suggested I lock her in barn so I did as she said that the foal may get caught in fence or something. I just dont know if it time to lock her up.. I think I might let her out for the day while I am outside with her. If I could I would have her inside with me lol... I hope nothing goes wrong.Oh my hubby said udder feels warm and tight
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