Stormy's foaling thread

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Some vets need a very serious kick. It's like they don't want to come out if it's not going to be much money or is too far away etcetc. You wonder why some of them became vets!

I'm so very thankful for the vet I have now! Helps that he lives 12 minutes away as well
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Good vets are worth their weight in gold. They should be reminded of their awesome-ness on each visit.

Plus having adorable mini foals to see seems to help!
 
Hi, Its Brenda again. I am probably only 25/30 minutes from you. Depending on where in Circleville you are. I would be happy to share my opinion, but honestly, I am experiencing the EXACT same thing right now. My mare has a small bag some days. and then larger others. She is really big, but now I am second guessing about just being FAT! One of our vets came earlier this week for a different problem, and he couldnt even tell for sure. He guesses she is (I have no due date as not when she was bred) Says he cant say for sure but probably is! and like you, I can pay a minimum of $200.00 for external u.s. at osu, but after latest emergency vet visit, no way. At this point, I am almost ready to turn her out w/rest of the herd and just let what ever happens/ happens. ALMOST that is. I am free most of the weekend after I get off today. So id you want my not so professional opinion, be glad to help. The same mare I am watching foaled w/ a textbook right on time delivery last year, and another one of mine foaled in june. good luck!
 
naw thats so sad...
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maybe put a new thread up... on the main page asking people who live near your area use?
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I think I will try that, thanks Cassie

Some vets need a very serious kick. It's like they don't want to come out if it's not going to be much money or is too far away etcetc. You wonder why some of them became vets!

I'm so very thankful for the vet I have now! Helps that he lives 12 minutes away as well
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I agree, you are lucky! when I find one, i will hang on to them
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Hi, Its Brenda again. I am probably only 25/30 minutes from you. Depending on where in Circleville you are. I would be happy to share my opinion, but honestly, I am experiencing the EXACT same thing right now. My mare has a small bag some days. and then larger others. She is really big, but now I am second guessing about just being FAT! One of our vets came earlier this week for a different problem, and he couldnt even tell for sure. He guesses she is (I have no due date as not when she was bred) Says he cant say for sure but probably is! and like you, I can pay a minimum of $200.00 for external u.s. at osu, but after latest emergency vet visit, no way. At this point, I am almost ready to turn her out w/rest of the herd and just let what ever happens/ happens. ALMOST that is. I am free most of the weekend after I get off today. So id you want my not so professional opinion, be glad to help. The same mare I am watching foaled w/ a textbook right on time delivery last year, and another one of mine foaled in june. good luck!
We are on the Northside of Circleville,

www.LittleBittyBritches.com

What vet do you use? Do you have a website?
 
Oh no, this is just a hobby for me. No website. I am west side of Chillicothe. We have a few vets that we use, but I have not needed any vet care so I called someone from Greenfield that my husband and a neighbor used in past. I have called him a few times for advise, but like you, would love to find one who can be of more assistance with our small ones. I had another vet out once for a different mare and she was all ready for him to examine and as soon as he saw her he said, " oh no way, she is too small" and she was one of my bigger ones! So I learn from this forum and do my best! Mine are really healthy it seems.
 
I am very lucky with my vets as they are very helpful and willing to come but they are not really close. I have a cow vet just up the road who is great with foaling if it is an emercency.
 
I'm sorry Kara, it is turning out so difficult to get a vet out.

It'd seem if you were concerned that they'd come out to alleviate your worry,

after all they are getting paid.

Would it be possible for you to trailer her, the hour up, to the vet recommended

that knows about minis? Or know someone with a trailer that would lend a hand?

I know folks worry about the udder size. I am watchful, too. However, one of our mares

never develops much of a bag until delivery, so I while I do watch for progress it just isn't what I hang my hat on for signs of delivery.

I also do not test milk.

I watch for tummy development, the tail head and butt softening, and how her girl part progresses. Maybe if she did develop a bag I would use that but she doesn't, so .....

I mentioned before that she went 365 days this year. In years past, with her previous foals she delivered between days 312 and 328...

It's difficult when this mare is new to you but you do know she has successfully delivered

healthy foals before. There is some comfort in that.

With your earlier difficult experience I also don't blame you for worrying.

Wish I had a magical answer to comfort you.
 
Also, is the vet you found that you would have to trailer to an hour north south east or west of you. If you don't mind, I'd like to have that info as well. If it's not too far.
 
I'm sorry Kara, it is turning out so difficult to get a vet out.

It'd seem if you were concerned that they'd come out to alleviate your worry,

after all they are getting paid.

Would it be possible for you to trailer her, the hour up, to the vet recommended

that knows about minis? Or know someone with a trailer that would lend a hand?

I know folks worry about the udder size. I am watchful, too. However, one of our mares

never develops much of a bag until delivery, so I while I do watch for progress it just isn't what I hang my hat on for signs of delivery.

I also do not test milk.

I watch for tummy development, the tail head and butt softening, and how her girl part progresses. Maybe if she did develop a bag I would use that but she doesn't, so .....

I mentioned before that she went 365 days this year. In years past, with her previous foals she delivered between days 312 and 328...

It's difficult when this mare is new to you but you do know she has successfully delivered

healthy foals before. There is some comfort in that.

With your earlier difficult experience I also don't blame you for worrying.

Wish I had a magical answer to comfort you.
Thank you, I love this site so it does help. Hearing stories like yours lets me realize that we have a good chance of everything being ok. i have read many times not to trailer a pregnant mare towards the end of the pregnancy, has anyone else heard of this? I dont want to make things worse for her, i do have a trailer, and have considered it. i think i will give her another week or so and see if i notice any progressions before i go and stress her. I appreciate any and all help from each of you. And I appreaciate you all very much watching her for me, and giving tips and advice. So, far she has given me no major worrisome signs, I think it is just me being paranoid.
 
Also, is the vet you found that you would have to trailer to an hour north south east or west of you. If you don't mind, I'd like to have that info as well. If it's not too far.
Yes, the vet is in London, her name is Dr. Chris Courdette (sp?) She has alot of knowledge with Buckeye miniature horse farm who is also here in Circleville. They have been a HugE help to me with info and showing me how to clip for show, and get ready, and just have been GREAT! they highly recommended her.
 
i have read many times not to trailer a pregnant mare towards the end of the pregnancy, has anyone else heard of this?

So, far she has given me no major worrisome signs, I think it is just me being paranoid.
Paranoia is easy to come by when you've had a bad experience.

I had also read about not trailering mares late in pregnancy.

When we moved down here, after loosing our home and business in a flood, I had no choice.

I was given some great advice by Maryanne-Miniv (on this forum) as she and her husband were in the commercial horse hauling business.

She said to move the herd as a family, so as not to stress her, and she'd do fine.

We had a friend with a big 5th wheel horse trailer that had enough room to haul our big horse plus all our minis in one load. The trip was an hour and a half from where we were previously.

She foaled 8 days after moving here, right on her normal schedule.

So maybe if you were able to trailer her with her best buddy she could handle the hour trailering, with no concern.

She would have rest from the trailer movement while at the vets office then she could handle the ride back home.

I'm sure someone has asked this previously ... Is there any chance she had any later breedings, to the stallion, other than the dates you posted earlier on so that maybe her progress is right on for where she seems to be?
 
Yes, the vet is in London, her name is Dr. Chris Courdette (sp?) She has alot of knowledge with Buckeye miniature horse farm who is also here in Circleville. They have been a HugE help to me with info and showing me how to clip for show, and get ready, and just have been GREAT! they highly recommended her.

ok thanks, I will write that down. not so far for me
 
That's great advice equisize. I may give it a week and see if I notice any "real" changes. She was in with the stallion after the dates we bred her, so that is a possibility, however we never saw signs of her in heat again, but I know they can he sneaky!
 
Think calm and peace Kara. I know it is difficult, but please try not to stress.
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I think Stormy is progressing just fine. If she takes a little longer to cook this baby than you think she should, then that too is fine. So many of the mares seem to be going well over their due dates this year, and as you said Stormy ran with the stallion and you simply presumed that he caught her at the first date, because you didn't see her covered again??

Others will probably scream at me, but FORGET about milk testing - apart from the fact that (given the possible second covering date) you are too early to think about testing, it also bothers her and stresses you because every time you read the results you are worrying because there is no change! If you really want to test, then wait until she has formed a bag that shows she has plenty of milk in it and not now while she is filling the milk glands in the front.

Neither would I think about trailering her to a vet, far too stressful for her and anyway the latest that mares should travel before foaling is 4 weeks, preferably before this. We moved our mares from here to Cathy's farm this year 5 weeks before they were due (and we had the correct dates as they were hand bred just the one session). One mare foaled 2 days later, luckily the foal was ok, but was weak. A second mare foaled two days after this out in the field, no dropped tummy and no milk to speak of, we lost the foal as it never got out of the bag (the mare was happily grazing in the field 2 hours before). The third mare did manage to complete her pregnancy and foaled with all the correct signs and safely in her stable with Cathy assisting. Did we have the problem with the first two mares because we travelled them? We will never know, but we will not be travelling them in the future unless it is months before they are due!!

So please try to relax and trust Stormy a little. She knows what she is doing and if you step back and leave her be, then perhaps you can both enjoy these last weeks of her pregnancy together. She is not ill, she is showing no signs of ailments etc. She may be unomfortable on occasion when the foal is lying in a different position, but this is normal, just as it is normal for you not to be feeling or seeing much movement from the foal - it will often depend upon how much space there is in her tummy because like us humans, some carry more 'water' round their babies than others, which, of course cuts down on the space for movement. Spend time with her, just observing her, getting to know how she feels as she progresses, watching her changing shape and understanding her different moods. Be ready for the possible day that she seems to really want your company - it might mean a foal that coming night if all else looks right (it has happened to me with several of my girls).

Good luck - you will both be just fine.
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great advice from both Nancy n Anna! if she still doesn't progress in a week maybe you can ring the vet and get their opinion whether they think its safe to go there? or they come to you... or whether she is on track n just to watch her...

try not to stress, I know its hard (I have my bouts of stressing LOL) but all will be ok and you will have a gorgeous little foal shortly!
 
Thank you Dianne, Nancy, Anna, and Cassie! I did not test her milk today, but I did look at her, and it looks like her nipples are starting to separate, and not touch each other, i did take a pic. Also, possibly loosening in her vulva a little. She rolled in dirt and it wont come off today with the brush, it is so hot, she was so sweaty, 95 degrees F here, and didnt cool down much for night time either poor girl, we put an extra fan on her. So, thats why she suddenly looks to have more spots! still the same old Stormy in there.
 
Aww poor you dont stress try and enjoy this is the exciting bit
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baby will soon be here and stormy looks hapy and healthy thats the important thing
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How is Stormy today. This heat is really something after that brief bit of Autumn we had! I'm sure our girls agree
 
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