Mare @ 280 days & Hubby is Kinda Concerned

[Little Wolf Ranch]

I have a mare that I purchased back in October - she was huge then but she can barely waddle around the paddock, literally she hasn't even trotted in about 2-3 weeks. I was watching this morning and let's just say this - that foal was having a party in there! Her belly is more dropped and her udder is getting slightly bigger but isn't "filling in" as of yet. She's 280 days and totally huge. Take a look at her and see what you guys think!! I believe she has a few more weeks to go but hubby is thinking otherwise?

She isn't carrying as high anymore and she seems uncomfortable at times. I've never had one get this big on me!  

(Please excuse the "shaved spots" as she had some rain rot there we had to treat)

THIS PICTURE TAKEN JANUARY 13TH

THESE PICTURES TAKEN TODAY JANUARY 23RD

 

[supaspot]

I dont think she looks that close , shes low but still the wrong shape , I have a couple like that , I have seen them even worse when the broad ligament is weak theres not much support , but Im no expert so if youre worried then I would get her checked

 

[weerunner]

She's looks on target to me. She's just one of those mares that has little stomach muscles and hangs her baby low. Here is my girl that does that. I often think I'll need to put wheels under her near the end of her pregnancy.









These pics were taken a few weeks before she foaled.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Thanks guys for the input - my husband was the first to mention it and then I was like "hmmm. . ..maybe you're right?" so I thought I'd come on here. 

She does look like she needs a skateboard under her belly LOL. She had a beautiful buckskin filly born April 2010 and she's bred to a very nice black frame overo with splash && LWO+ (she's LWO-) 30.5" with two blue eyes so I can't wait to see this baby!!!

 

[weerunner]

wow,, that is going to be a gorgeous baby. I love pintos. Best of luck.

 

[ohmt]

To ease your mind a little, here is a picture of my mare last year that we watched for THREE months. Yes, three months! She was pasture bred (never, ever again) and this is what she looked like 2 months before she foaled:

She had a bag and a V shape the whole time. The way I knew for sure she was going to foal was when her milk finally changed. I checked her milk consistency for 3 months straight, poor Vanessa. It's a good thing she is such an easy going mare, because I'm pretty sure any of my other mares would have put a stop to that after a couple of weeks!

Oh and Vanessa ended up having a little 18" filly-tiny little thing! Her milk was very sub-par so she is now retired and living the good life.

 

[Bonny]

Wow, she is low and wide... I love the picture from behind, it really shows how they can get that lopsided egg shape. She's a cutie!

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

OHMT that's a very pretty mare. My mares were all pasture bred but I know they all took on the first heat. My mare's are true "hussies" when they are open and when they are in foal - they go into "kill mode" when it comes to stallions, then in the last three months they become hussies again and love bugs with the stallions! 

I appreciate all the advice, I am still having all of my girls under cameras 24/7 come February 3rd and I am going to be using marestare as well so I have as many eyes as possible on them! 

 

[Bess Kelly]

Here's my input.....do you know how long she carried last yr? Generally they repeat within a close few days, at least mine always have. Plus, she isn't quite "v" yet but could be easily with the low carry. My small mares usually carried 300-310 days. So while she may not be ready she sure needs to be monitored as you are doing/saying. Since the majority of my herd is 30" and under, when I was breeding they were coming into camera watch at 275 days. Again, what she did last year would be a big consideration.

Anyhow -- I'm sure hoping there are pictures in less another 2 months

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

do you know how long she carried last yr?

Unfortunately, no I do not. She was bought at an auction by a friend of ours and the owners who took her to auction pasture bred her year round so they had no idea of when she was due. So frustrating!

Anyhow -- I'm sure hoping there are pictures in less another 2 months

YOU AND ME BOTH BESS! I have a feeling she'll go before March hits us, I just have "the feeling" about her. Now my maiden mare and my red bag mare is a whole different story!