paintponylvr
Well-Known Member
So... I told my family, my hubby and MYSELF that we wouldn't be breeding any mares in 2014. We were "over-ponied" and had had some health issues (both hubby and I), had some other family issues we helped w/ financially (therefore less $$ available to support more ponies) and both of us were suddenly working more hours w/ less family help to care for our ponies. I kept my promise - SORT OF.
I moved ponies around to accommodate free feeding 2x daily the boys - who needed more protein. BUT doing so in the pasture they were in was difficult w/ my early morning leave times. We worked it out - the boys' pasture stayed empty and the grass went crazy. Good thing - I moved the Sr mares over to partake of the green-ness. THEY LOVED IT - Of course! BUT Wizard - in his stud pen w/i the pasture was quite put out. I'd been working around the area and was keeping an eye on everyone - no one appeared to be in season and the girls were leaving Wizzy alone (no teasing). UNTIL I went into the house to eat lunch.
I'm just about to head back out ... and hear a squeal - oh no. Should have guessed. Sneaky mares - all of them decide to tease Wizzy about the same time (from what I figured). Together, they "ripped out" 2 of his panels on his fence (the 16' ones that are 50" tall. Had t-posts every 8'). So he's out "enjoying" the session w/ the girls - and as I'm catching each of them (none was quite willing to be caught - they were all enjoying the squealing visits w/ Wiz) one by one, they are all suddenly squatting and showing and dragging along not leading (darn mares...). After fixing the mess, I thought I kept pretty good notes. Well - I have the date and think I had the 7 Sr mares in the pasture. Nothing else remains of my notes - written or on computer.
So the day in question - July 12th, 2014. The mares I know I put in that pasture that day - Bell, Bit, Cheri, Koalah, Tory. THINK I also had K-La and 'Clipse in the pasture as well. I know that ALL of them came back into season in August and THINK that Bell, Koalah & Tory came back in - both in Sept & Oct. November - I DID observe all of the mares (again) showing signs of season while in our temporary quarters during the "middle" of our move...
NOW - not so sure...
Here's pics of Koalah and Tory. Koalah had Bunny & Tory had Echo in 2013. They are both being retained for training to drive, showing and future breeding ponies... Even if gelded, Echo has a permanent home with us - he is the last foal by our first stallion and his name of Echo is because he is a "true" echo of his sire in so many ways.
Both of these mares are a little under weight - I was expecting that with our move and I'm not unhappy with it. They are now being fed 1x daily and working on a plan to go back to feeding at least 2x (possibly 3?). May go back to feeding free choice alfalfa pellets or cubes - don't know yet.
Koalah (1998 Shetland mare). She's produced one gelding (bred when purchased) and 3 fillies for us. All carry silver and are black based - she is homozygous for black, single gened for silver and tobiano. She is one of my driving mares, has been a riding lesson pony. Our youngest granddaughter enjoyed sitting on her during our temp qtr stay - has requested to start riding her rather than the pony we were going to have her ride. She is 43" at the withers and pretty broad - but matches well with 40" Bit for driving.
and this is more what caused me to stop and go "hmmm..."
No udder or vulva pics yet... I talked to the vet the other day about some options and I decided that we are far enough along that we aren't going to actually palpate or US. I'd rather use the $$ to pay for other things when she comes out (removing two sets of wolf teeth and extra floats). I did purchase Mare + last night and today the girls started receiving it in their feed. IF they don't foal in June, I can stop the supplement w/o any harm done, yet they will have gotten a necessary boost of minerals/vitamins if they are pregnant.
This pic was taken in Dec BUT i'm off center and when standing directly behind her - her sides are actually even (she was OVERWEIGHT at that time)...
Tory next post.
I moved ponies around to accommodate free feeding 2x daily the boys - who needed more protein. BUT doing so in the pasture they were in was difficult w/ my early morning leave times. We worked it out - the boys' pasture stayed empty and the grass went crazy. Good thing - I moved the Sr mares over to partake of the green-ness. THEY LOVED IT - Of course! BUT Wizard - in his stud pen w/i the pasture was quite put out. I'd been working around the area and was keeping an eye on everyone - no one appeared to be in season and the girls were leaving Wizzy alone (no teasing). UNTIL I went into the house to eat lunch.
I'm just about to head back out ... and hear a squeal - oh no. Should have guessed. Sneaky mares - all of them decide to tease Wizzy about the same time (from what I figured). Together, they "ripped out" 2 of his panels on his fence (the 16' ones that are 50" tall. Had t-posts every 8'). So he's out "enjoying" the session w/ the girls - and as I'm catching each of them (none was quite willing to be caught - they were all enjoying the squealing visits w/ Wiz) one by one, they are all suddenly squatting and showing and dragging along not leading (darn mares...). After fixing the mess, I thought I kept pretty good notes. Well - I have the date and think I had the 7 Sr mares in the pasture. Nothing else remains of my notes - written or on computer.
So the day in question - July 12th, 2014. The mares I know I put in that pasture that day - Bell, Bit, Cheri, Koalah, Tory. THINK I also had K-La and 'Clipse in the pasture as well. I know that ALL of them came back into season in August and THINK that Bell, Koalah & Tory came back in - both in Sept & Oct. November - I DID observe all of the mares (again) showing signs of season while in our temporary quarters during the "middle" of our move...
NOW - not so sure...
Here's pics of Koalah and Tory. Koalah had Bunny & Tory had Echo in 2013. They are both being retained for training to drive, showing and future breeding ponies... Even if gelded, Echo has a permanent home with us - he is the last foal by our first stallion and his name of Echo is because he is a "true" echo of his sire in so many ways.
Both of these mares are a little under weight - I was expecting that with our move and I'm not unhappy with it. They are now being fed 1x daily and working on a plan to go back to feeding at least 2x (possibly 3?). May go back to feeding free choice alfalfa pellets or cubes - don't know yet.
Koalah (1998 Shetland mare). She's produced one gelding (bred when purchased) and 3 fillies for us. All carry silver and are black based - she is homozygous for black, single gened for silver and tobiano. She is one of my driving mares, has been a riding lesson pony. Our youngest granddaughter enjoyed sitting on her during our temp qtr stay - has requested to start riding her rather than the pony we were going to have her ride. She is 43" at the withers and pretty broad - but matches well with 40" Bit for driving.
and this is more what caused me to stop and go "hmmm..."
No udder or vulva pics yet... I talked to the vet the other day about some options and I decided that we are far enough along that we aren't going to actually palpate or US. I'd rather use the $$ to pay for other things when she comes out (removing two sets of wolf teeth and extra floats). I did purchase Mare + last night and today the girls started receiving it in their feed. IF they don't foal in June, I can stop the supplement w/o any harm done, yet they will have gotten a necessary boost of minerals/vitamins if they are pregnant.
This pic was taken in Dec BUT i'm off center and when standing directly behind her - her sides are actually even (she was OVERWEIGHT at that time)...
Tory next post.
