Mare Stare??

[zoey829]

I wanted to get a foaling system but they are costly. Someone on the board suggested marestare. It looks great but who actually is watching? I am afraid if I sign up for the system no one will be watching to notify me if my mare foals. Do you just rely on users to call you? Or are thier monitors?

Thanks for any sugestions.

 

[mmmorgans]

I use an Equipage system - but last year found MareStare - and wouldn't be without it. The MareStare extended family is a fantastic one. Many many people watch the mares on cam - and I have not had a foaling that was on cam where I didn't get a phone call - and lots of people were watching. There is a fantastic forum that you can post updates on your mare on - that way people know if your mare is getting close. There is a special thread on the forum for high risk mares - or mares that need lots of people watching because the owner needs some well deserved sleep, etc. I have even had phone calls when my internet has gone down - people will let you know when things aren't quite right - it is the best service you could possibly imagine.

MareStare has saved lives - of foals and of mares - I would highly recommend it. There are people from all over the world that use the service and that can watch your mare for you. So basically you can be covered at all hours of the day or night!!!!

Here is the link - if you don't already have it:

http://www.marestare.com/

Call Heather and have a chat with her - I guarantee that you will be impressed!!!!!

Cyndi

Misty Moon Equines

Canada

 

[zoey829]

Thanks so much. I think it is well worth the money. I was just worried no one would be watching. I didnt realize thier was so many memebers.

 

[CheyAut]

They have a forum. Make yourself a thread there. When your mare is close, post it and ask people to watch for you. THen you WILL have people watching

I used marestare last spring. I didn't make my thread yet as my mare wasn't showing any signs at all. She aborted her foal, but no one was watching her since I didn't make the thread for her yet (baby was dead before he came out, so it didn't matter in my situation). But that does tell me you need to make the thread for people to watch! And post updates on it to keep their interest. I LOVE marestare, and will do it again this coming spring.

You'll need to buy a barn cam, and a thing that will hook it up to your computer. Then you have to have your computer online when you want the camera online. But they'll tell you exactly what you need and help you set it up. They recomended the Dazzle 80, I think it was called, to hook up to my computer. They provide the software for you to use. I got my barn cam and the Dazzle on ebay. Camera was brand new, from the company that sells them, but it was $100 cheaper on ebay

My Dazzle I think was refurbished, I forget...

Ooh and the marestare forums can get very addicting, it's fun to follow the active threads and watch everyone's mares that are close! At work (I work graveyard) the techs that work with me and I would gather round when a mare was foaling!

Oh yeah, many people sign up (free) with a site (I forget what site) that you can have the link to put on your camera's webpage. Then if people see your mare going into labor, they can hit an alert. It takes so many people to set a low alert (forget how many...) or you or people you can pick to hit it once for a high alert. Then, anyone who is watching for mares and has the alert window open, when the alert goes off it makes a noise to let you know. That's how you can catch the mares having their babies.

It's so much fun and addicting... though when Ruby lost her foal I stopped watching the other mares, it was too painful for me. I'll start again though in spring.

Jessi

 

[justagirl]

MareStare :aktion033: , can't say enough good things about Heather and her wonderful MareStare .

You won't be disappointed .........

 

[zoey829]

It sounds great! I am doing it. I am just alittle confused about the alert thinng. Why wouldnt you always set it to an alert? Why would you pick low alert? If it takes so many people to sound the alarm?

 

[lvponies]

Jessi,

What camera system did you buy? I tried with Mare Stare last year, but never got my current equipment to work.

Thanks!!

 

[kaykay]

we had a blast doing it last year. we got so many great phone calls and emails of people watching along with us. I do still watch myself and rotate with my family. but we feel better knowing there are extra eyes. I cant wait to do it again next year

I think the alerts are low alert for a mare not quite ready high alert for a mare they think is going to foal any minute

 

[Erica]

I use Heather's Mare Stare and LOVE it!

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I think another reason many use it is for its marketing value. Once people get involved in your mare and spend time watching her with you ect they become attached to the foal before it is even born and I have found those with marestare or other type web cams really also use it for that as well so it does double duty

 

[backwoodsnanny]

We have never used Marestare but we are avid watchers and since we are night owls around here we have watched sometimes so others can sleep or go eat or whatever. We also throughly enjoyed watching some of our favorite mares have their babies last year since we didnt have any foals coming. I think its a wonderful service.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

No babies here either but you can't beat the folks on MareStare and all the folks that love to watch! Heather is super to work with, give her a shout!

 

[targetsmom]

We used marestare very briefly last year with our false pregnancy but did not use the forum feature. We just notified a bunch of friends and they all watched. We plan to use it again this year, with better results we hope. We also used marestare while we were on vacation so we could check up on our minis! We just moved the camera to a spot that would show most of their turnout area and took our laptop with us. Our petsitter could also check on things from her office. And our friends (and their kids and grandkids) just adored watching the minis.

Think outside the box - once you have all the equipment there is lots you can do for a very nominal monthly fee! And Heather is the best!

 

[wpsellwood]

Heather does a great job! We have had it for 2 yrs now. I work in the day so want to able to watch from work.

 

[Mulligans Run]

Well goodness guys... I'm blushing

: and I'm very grateful for the compliments.

We do not tote ourselves as a "foal/mare watching service" because of the liabilities involved, but if you ask people to watch - they will be watching. We have cameras all over the world, and it's wonderful to know that we can back each other up. When it's nighttime here - it's daytime in Australia..and they are watching. And vice versa.

We have saved so many mares and foals lives that it makes the cost of the camera and our service invaluable. We actually saved the life of one person, I'm not allowed to divulge the details...it's just incredible to know that it happened.

Something else to keep in mind when buying your cameras and considering the cost of them...they are good for more than just foaling.

• Sales - We put animals that are for sale on line live - a picture speaks a thousand words, but a live feed showing the temperment or movement of the animal is priceless.
• Pasture Cams - I had a pasture cam up and caught two of my mares colicing. They actually chose to do it in front of the cams where I could catch them and run home to handle it...no kidding.
• Property Surveillance - we use the cams to monitor our property.
• Monitor babies & sick animals - we watch our weanlings as they adjust and we keep an eye on injured or sick horses
• Boarding facilities - keep an eye on who is coming and going out of your barn...
• Live Events - we have just started broadcasting auctions, meetings, sales, clinics, etc.

The uses are endless and yes, the advertising is unbelievable. I have sold babies as soon as they hit the ground because someone was watching and wanted that foal.
As far as our service...we try very hard to be patient and supportive during setup and after. We walk you through every step and provide detailed instructions. We will do our best to get you online. Unfortunately, there are times when we can't do that - due to computer hardware conflicts, etc. But we try very hard to overcome all of that. Our main goal is to get you online and keep your animals monitored.

I hope this doesn't sound like a "sales flier". I just want you to consider all the things you can do with a camera system... like Targetsmom stated - "think outside the box". There are probably many uses that I haven't even considered yet.

Drop me a line if you want more information! Happy foaling...many prayers for a healthy foaling season!!!

 

[CheyAut]

lvponies, I forget the name... I will find out for you. It's the same one that was used on Suerte, the mare that it would seem would never foal, if anyone here was addicted to watching her like I was I will look for the name of it for you though. I think I paid about $200 for it.

Aha, here's the website

Jessi

 

[zoey829]

Thanks so much. I was already chatting woth someone online last night. I already have cameras I wonder if they would work. Or maybe I should look into get one of those camera that changes views. I noticed some camera changed views when I was watching. Thanks for all the help and all those ideas are great.