hmm let's see if I can help any..
And I am thinking it means in the udder, not the area in front of the udder correct?
Mammary development includes the area in front of the udder as well as the milk veins run through there and as they swell/enlarge it'll cause the swelling in front of the udder..
But now what I am a bit foggy on is that a mare can go from slightly full( thats what I would refer to Sandy as right now- correct me if I am wrong)to FULL- meaning getting colostrum with a hard bag- in a very short period of time say a few hours?
Yep they can, and some don't get 'full' until AFTER they've foaled.. While the mare is "bagging up" it's not 'milk' that's enlarging her udder (though many mares do have liquid in their udders all the time), milk let down doesn't usually occur until a week or so prior to foaling (of course there are exception mares
) Our black pinto mare has a decent udder but was no where near what I would consider full and not tight at 9 pm check, came in the house, watched an hour tv show, went upstairs to my bedroom where the cam was, flipped on the tv to find her just finishing delivering her colt (our black appy TJ), when I went out as soon as I found them, her udder was HUGE to the point she was dripping milk..
But yet most will have a full - but not hard full- for weeks before foaling?But a considerably fuller than Sandy for weeks? I guess what I am asking is I realize Sandys udder isnt full as in imminent foaling full but is it considered in the "six week before foaling" full?
And this is where it gets tricky and why most of us breeders have little to no hair left on our heads foaling season to foaling season! EVERY mare is different, and just when you think you have one figured out she'll change her "pattern" on you..
The fact that she is developing an udder and *supposedly* (used that way as there's always the possibility of false pregnancy) bred, then yes I would say she's within in the 6-8 week udder development stage..
I am also curious about the filling and deflating- everyone says once it stays full it will be soon. So during the six week period can you expect the filling and deflating constantly until it reaches a FULL status and I realize that can last for days....
I've had a few mares that do the fill/deflate/fill/deflate etc and then I've also had mares that steadily filled up to foaling..
Having not foaled out a mare before and after being so confused with Bonnys udder adventure, I want to understand. I want to be there with Sandy. I realize there is always a chance to miss it.
Hun, hate to tell you this, but if you keep trying to "understand", you're going to drive yourself nuts! lol This coming foaling season will be our 6th foaling season, and while I've read as many articles/books/posts on here and other places as I can, have foaled out 11 mares, I KNOW I do not know all there is to know, and I'm sure those that have been in this for years and have seen 2-3-4 times as many foals will admit that too! Best thing you can do is read up, ask questions, but don't expect set in stone answers as in general, the info we can give is just that, 'in general' as every gal is different..
For me, our girls come into the foaling barn around day 300 (earlier if there's any udder development).. That way they can get used to being in the foaling stall, get acclimated to the "germs" in there (yes we disinfect the stalls and keep them routinely cleaned but there's natural germs etc. in them) From day 300 on they get checked at chore times and as we get closer to due date or a lot of development/changes in the mare then we start checking more often.. For me I start watching like a hawk when we have a full udder, teats distended and liquid easily expressed, vulva relaxed, dropped off at the tail head and behavior changes..
I will admit that out of the 11 foals we've foaled, I've not caught one
Have missed them all by 15-20 minutes or less, most of them have happened in between hourly checks, alarm clock goes off and I awake to babies just born or taking their first steps.. THANKFULLY, ALL have been born healthy with no problems with moms or babies..
So what is the secret?
Teach me how to speak horse and I'll ask my girls if they'll share
OH! Oppps! Sorry Lisa! My Bad!
