Laney (*filly* 4/10-Tinkerbelle) *New pics pg 187*

[MeganH]

yay for guesses!!

Laney has a nice big udder after being out this afternoon. A little bigger then it was this morning. Still needs more filling though to match LB's lol.

We put down some shavings in her stall. See if it gets her to lay down in there at all.

Anna- the side with the shavings is the only side we can close in so she will be closed in if the weather is bad and she is looking like she is about to foal but otherwise I don't plan on closing her in. She likes to foal in the paddock and hates being stalled. She is not used to it. I do agree about the door and told my hubby that when he built it a few weeks back, then reminded him tonight after I read your post and he is going to try to close in the side and door. When he built these stalls we did not plan on having a pregnant mare or else I would have wanted it differently. The stall is small.. she can lay down both ways and has a little room behind her but not a whole lot. I hope the weather is good to us when she decides it is time!

I am so excited! We don't have much longer to wait! I am so glad she is special for this group too! Laney has no idea how many supporters she has.

She just peed on the nice fresh shavings we laid for her of course lol

 

[MeganH]

Look at that belly!

 

[Wings]

Just for Laney I will use the cutest emoticon in the world.

 

[MeganH]

SO CUTE!

I am about to go to bed. Laney has been rubbing her butt and sides along our wire fencing tonight. My husband had to go out and bend the fence back a little. It is the fencing on the right side of the screen when the cam is on her paddock. The fence should be fine but just incase if anyone sees Laney break the fence let me know so I can go out and make sure she can't get hurt. She can't figure out what she wants to do tonight. Going from one place to another then another. She has been breathing a little heavy- it is a mild night tonight so she may be a little warmer then normal.

EDIT 11:30- Went out and Laney is very sweaty. It is chilly outside now (it's colder then I thought) and Ricky is not sweaty at all so poor Laney. Felt the baby moving but it is getting harder to find. Alright- I am really going to bed now.

 

[cassie]

hmm, that is strange that she is sweaty... that can be one of the signs of foaling...

was it warm at all during the day? maybe her coat was a bit thick for the weather?

12:04am n she is standing quietly nibbling her hay

 

[Eagle]

well Madam obviously likes her new bed cos it is all over her

3.10am and she is eating her hay and has been for over half an hour

3.15am and she is down sternal again

 

[AnnaC]

4.30am and she's down sternal - looking very comfortable in her new shavings, bless her!

She is certainly moving very fast towards letting us see this foal. Will she let you look just inside her vulva Megan - the colour in there will probably give you the best idea as to whether you should be staying awake ready to welcome a new little baby into the world!

Remember that she might finish filling her udder as she foals - not all mares foal with the expected full bag, which is why all the other signs need to be taken into consideration.

I do remember you saying that her prvious owners said that Laney likes to foal outside, but I often think this is because the mare has not been provided with a really comfortable foaling stable/has been pulled away from her buddies at the last minute/because they haven't got the right set up to foal out mares. Foaling outside is fine for the mare as long as all goes well and your set up is fine because Penny is so happy and relaxed with her stall and smaller enclosed space. Will she let you get close to help her foal if she is outside? If you think she is going to foal, perhaps slip her headcollar on well beforehand, just so you can 'control' her should it be necessary (rather than rushing to find one in the middle of everything!), you can remove it immediately after she foals so no danger to the foal.

With regard to her sweating a little, mares can generate quite a bit of extra 'internal' heat on the run up to foaling - their systems are getting boosted for the 'effort'! Also laying down more will make them warmer, plus any slight change in air temperature can make them feel a bit hot, so I wouldn't worry too much, just do what you are doing and keep your eye on her.

 

[bannerminis]

4.47 and she is stuffing her face. Is it just me or does she look to have sunken in at her flank??

I was looking on the iphone but thats so small I thought I was seeing things but now on the laptop I think she has.

 

[AnnaC]

Yes Karina, not your imagination, she has dropped, also she has dropped/flattened either side of her spine/tail bone - we are getting VERY CLOSE!!

 

[MeganH]

Udder is filled a little more last night (getting wider up top). Pictures from this morning.

I was going to try to take a picture of her vulva but she only let me peek quickly. It is a nice pink color inside- not very deep ket but getting deep pink. I looked up the Crayonbox Minis page and she is not quite like the photos but getting there.

I do think I need to halter her before hand. She does NOT like to be dewormed and sometimes can be hard to halter and I don't know how she will be once she foals. I think she will let me help but I am not 100% positive. If it is really wet outside I will have to stall her because her pen gets very muddy.

I think I am going to start checking her a few times through the day and looking at her vulva to see if it changes. She could very well go before her bag is totally full because the breeders weren't sure how she bagged up but did think she had somewhat of a bag at least before foaling and never had issues with her not getting her milk or anything. Last year when she foaled the breeder said she had seen her circling about 8pm and accidentally dozed off watching her then woke up soon after and Laney had a little colt beside her.

Geez- I am getting excited

I have to figure out when to put her halter on now..

 

[MeganH]

I thought I saw a butt tuck a few minutes ago. I was watching from the window so it could have just been how she was standing and then she put weight on one leg. You could definitely see big movement in her belly. She kicked her belly a few times and bit it too.

I went out to check her and she is breathing heavy. Still sweaty like last night and the foal is very very active. Huge movements near her flank. She stood with her ears back breathing heavy and swishing her tail. Her vulva didn't look to be any deeper.

I am wondering if I should halter her now or if the weather is just making her uncomfortable. It is in the low 60s. I am trying to watch her closely.. and may put my daughter down for a nap early so I can go out and sit and watch Laney a little.

Right now she is snacking on some hay.

 

[MeganH]

Wow it really seems like it WILL be soon.. I won't leave the house with her progressing like this! She doesn't seem very comfortable today. Still breathing heavy and was eating her hay in her stall but started to kick her belly and she went down sternal for a while.. looking at her belly a few times. Now she is up drinking some water.

 

[MeganH]

She is standing in odd places. She went and stood in front of her water bucket for a while.. now she is in her feed stall just standing..

Should I go halter her? Does this really look promising?

Should I let her out to graze?

 

[Eagle]

Megan, wow she must have slimmed down cos she is hiding behind a post

Now keep Calm, she could just be uncomfy cos the foal has moved into position. Have you had any luck testing her milk? that really would help to find out how far she is. I know it isn't easy at first but with perseverance she will get used to it. I had a mare that would try to flatten me if I so much as went near her udder but with some carrots and apples she soon learnt that udder harassment meant food

 

[MeganH]

She was so mad when I tried to milk her before. I could try again.

The foal is SO active it looked like it was dancing in her belly. I will have to take the camera out with me next time I go.

I think I will let her out but keep a close eye on her. Her poop is not as solid as normal but it is not a cow patty either.

I had other questions but forgot lol.. I am staying calm but I am sure more questions will arise as she gets closer and closer

 

[Eagle]

Laney is at the hairdressers

 

[MeganH]

I checked her vulva again and it is darker then I thought. I wasn't able to get a shot of inside (she didn't like me looking) but I did get this shot where you can see it is swollen a little and getting more pink. It looks like it could be longer but I was just messing with it so she may have been trying to clinch it or something.

I got a few videos I am going to upload. Once of fetal movement and 2 of Ricky being Ricky lol

I am going to let her out to graze but keep my eyes on her.

 

[Eagle]

do you have a pic of her hooha before?

 

[MeganH]

Sorry they may be hard to see

 

[Eagle]

Thanks Megan, those are great

I think she still needs to lengthen and lose those wrinkles. Poor girl, no wonder she doesn't want you taking photos of her booty