Tip for those on foal watch

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

I just thot I'd post a little something especially for newbies that I believe keeps me (sometimes) from expecting a foal everytime a due mare starts acting funny. Let's all remember the "dress reheasal."

I call it that, but I truly believe it's a carryover from the wild state. Mares in a wild herd do fake outs too. Only thing is, they are trying to "fake out" the predators. I believe a mare will do her little circles, tail swishing etc., in an effort to make predators believe that's normal for her. In the wild, any animal that exhibits unusual behavior can be (and usually is) singled out by predators for special attention.

If a mare pretends she acts like this all the time, then the predator might see it enough times from her to be fooled into thinking its normal for her & thus leave her alone. Or at least leave her alone long enough for her to actually have a foal at some point, without the predator being ready to pounce for it.

Of course, in our barns, there are no predators (hopefully), but I still think the "wild" kicks in & the mares do their dancing, even tho we're the only ones who see it. So, all that prep probably seems instinctual to the mare, just so the wolves will stay away.

I'm just bringing this up for newbies, cause I haven't seen it posted here & first-time mare watching can be sooooooo stressful. Who am I kidding? ANY mare watch can be stressful!

: :new_all_coholic:

: The trick is to figure out when it's for REAL. Happy foaling! I've got to get back to the monitor!

 

[lvponies]

That's really interesting!! I had never heard that before.

 

[Mona]

I have seen in from time to time in my mares too, but my theory is that it is a "false labor" just like women can have, where everything is there, and then it stops! UGH!

 

[littlearab]

I with Mona after having 5 kids myself know that it can be a false alarm!

: But at this piont, I just think my mares are playing with my mind!! :lol: After 2 weeks of this I do not have much left!!

:

 

[bevann]

I had never heard that before but it makes sense.Mare stare can make you crazy.Several years ago I watched every night for 8 weeks straight.I was using Breeder Alert that sets off an alarm when the mare lays down to foal.I got to the point that if a pager went off on TV or anywhere I started to jump up & run.Talk about Stress!!I was so sleep deprived that I ended up in the hospital 1 year.After that expensive learning experience I send my mares out to a professional foaling facility.It is cheaper than the hospital bill I had to pay. She has people who watch 24/7 and help with the delivery, make sure the baby is nursing, poops etc, gets an IGG done and just calls me when I have a baby.I usually pick up mom and baby when the baby is 2 or 3 days old.2 more mares to go there next week.

 

[coopermini]

I'm guessing our mare Nibbles must think we have a herd of predators outside. She goes through all the motions of starting labor right up to, but short of pushing out a foal. Then she pops up and starts eating hay. She does this several times a day plus 2-3 every night. She did the same last year only the last time she push out a foal but with no more warning than her practice events. No milk till she delivered, no marshmallow teats, and all that at 359 days.

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

Uh, I'm guessing you mean false labor instead of false pregnancy.................no, can't agree with you there. If it was false labor, then almost every mare would have it because they almost all go thru the signs & then shut down - at least a few times as they near delivery...........I'll stick with my original belief. :new_argue: I just posted this info here because so many people, especially those who are new to breeding/foaling. have no real idea of what that mare is doing with the dress rehearsals. It seems like the mare is just doing it to get their human all pumped up on coffee, then they smile & go to sleep! It can be extremely frustrating if ya don't know what's happening.

: Still today, a mare can fool me big time. Coffee until I'm almost giving off a humming sound, then the mare goes to sleep. Let's see, she doesn't know I'm watching, so it can't be PERSONAL........right? hmmmm....

:

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Excellent post Wee!

 

[Mona]

Uh, I'm guessing you mean false labor instead of false pregnancy.................no, can't agree with you there. If it was false labor, then almost every mare would have it because they almost all go thru the signs & then shut down - at least a few times as they near delivery...........I'll stick with my original belief. :new_argue: I just posted this info here because so many people, especially those who are new to breeding/foaling. have no real idea of what that mare is doing with the dress rehearsals. It seems like the mare is just doing it to get their human all pumped up on coffee, then they smile & go to sleep! It can be extremely frustrating if ya don't know what's happening.

: Still today, a mare can fool me big time. Coffee until I'm almost giving off a humming sound, then the mare goes to sleep. Let's see, she doesn't know I'm watching, so it can't be PERSONAL........right? hmmmm....

:

: OOPS! Yes, of course I meant false labor...to much sleep deprivation here too! Cannot think straight!

Sounds like you thought I was arguing with you...not at all. All I was saying is I've always considered them to be in false labour when they go through all the symptoms and don't produce. I don't mean just getting up and down and up and down. I am speaking of the ones where you SWEAR are in labor, and go out the to the barn, and it stops!

After re-reading your original post, I think maybe you and I are talking about 2 different things. You are talking about some generalized motions, whereas I was referring to the whole picture. Sorry about that.