HPR 2023 Foals!

[NoahG]

Izzy and Cocoa have both started small udders now. Izzy is 302 days and Cocoa at 298. My camera link is now live for anyone that wants to watch. I think we have a couple of weeks yet but you never know! High Plains Miniature Horses Streaming By MareWatchers

Keep on cooking little mares! Can't wait!

 

[LostandFound]

It's so exciting! Izzy looks pretty much wider than my girl, I think you will have a foal first.

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Udders and bellies this morning.

 

[Crimson Rose]

So exciting I am praying for a safe delivery for all of your beautiful mares!

 

[NoahG]

Udders and bellies this morning.

This really makes me think my friend's pregnant mini (who the vet said was due any day now in December) still has at least a couple weeks. Her udder is nowhere near this big.

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Both made good progress today. Izzy is looking about like she did a week prior to foaling previously. Of course she could easily go longer. But I am definitely watching her closer now. And cocoa has an even larger udder so…..

 

[NoahG]

Both made good progress today. Izzy is looking about like she did a week prior to foaling previously. Of course she could easily go longer. But I am definitely watching her closer now. And cocoa has an even larger udder so…..

How many days are they at now? I assume for minis as well you hope for at least the 320 day "safe zone"?

 

[elizabeth.conder]

300 days is considered the safe date for minis. Average is 320-330 days of gestation. So both are within the safe date. I’d like for them to make 310-315 anyway. But many foal under 310 (some even under 300) without a problem. Izzy is 306 and Cocoa is 302.

 

[NoahG]

300 days is considered the safe date for minis. Average is 320-330 days of gestation. So both are within the safe date. I’d like for them to make 310-315 anyway. But many foal under 310 (some even under 300) without a problem. Izzy is 306 and Cocoa is 302.

Wow something I absolutely did not know about minis! Is that because they're smaller? My friend's mini mare has to be getting closer. Her bag grew a tiny bit but not much. Baby is noticeably bigger and stronger since December. Instead of little taps, he KICKS now.

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Honestly I’m not sure what the actual reason is but I do believe size has a part in it. These are pics this morning, but they’ve made more progress throughout the day.

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Tested ph tonight…Izzy is testing 7.8 and cocoa 8.1. So it seems Izzy is starting to drop ph levels.

 

[NoahG]

Tested ph tonight…Izzy is testing 7.8 and cocoa 8.1. So it seems Izzy is starting to drop ph levels.

Come on mamas!

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Izzy is testing 7.2 this morning and has a brix of 30. Udder has shrunk some so it’ll be an interesting couple of days!

 

[NoahG]

Izzy is testing 7.2 this morning and has a brix of 30. Udder has shrunk some so it’ll be an interesting couple of days!

Of course it shrunk lol

 

[NoahG]

What's a brix?

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Izzy is down to 6.6. Brix is up to well over 30. I use a refractometer to measure colostrum quality which gives me the brix.

 

[NoahG]

Izzy is down to 6.6. Brix is up to well over 30. I use a refractometer to measure colostrum quality which gives me the brix.

Oh wow! For my neighbor's mares I just stayed up 2 weeks straight.... If I ever get a pregnant mini I'm doing all the tests. She's also getting a maternity shoot for sure. I've seen some rescues do it.

 

[LostandFound]

I was very curious about the whole brix thing so I googled it. Most of what I've seen seems to say it's used to judge the quality of the colostrum immediately after foaling. Do you find it helpful in predicting foaling? And if so, how do you use it for that?

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Yes we find that brix rises before ph drops. I use it when ph is high to help predict the drop. Then I usually use it just for free sting colostrum quality after she foals to determine if I need to supplement.

 

[LostandFound]

That makes sense. It looks like it's easier to test than the ph. How far before foaling does it usually hit 30?