Why breed for foals this early? May be a silly question

[Happy Valley]

I am wondering why breed mares to foal during such cold weather? I am hoping to expose Jazzy and Carly to Cruiser in June or July for a May or June foal, when the weather is nice. It doesn't get cold here until late November, if then, but we do have cold (and wet or icy) weather in February and WET WET WET in March. April is iffy.

Is there an obvious reason right in front of me?

I am worried to death that Megan and Starbaby will foal in the middle of a cold snap and I won't be there to help dry the foal and lose it.

Friends try to ease my worries by reminding me that they are horses after all and God made them to live outside (mine are in the barn right now), and these are used to being outside and they will do just fine. It's just that the babies are SO SMALL and would lose heat so quickly, even if they are in the barn.

Stacye

 

[mininik]

"Is there an obvious reason right in front of me?"

For some it's an advantage in the showring. The earlier foals are born in the year the older and more mature looking they are for Weanling, Yearling & 2 Yr. Old Halter classes. This is also very common in Thoroughbreds used for racing...

:

 

[KenBen]

My favourite time for foals is April as then they can be weaned in September. I then can sell them and not keep over the winter. But it seems that this system is not working now as I have foals coming from April to August.

Ken

 

[Becky]

I think you need to be prepared to monitor those mares 24 hours a day. Miniatures are horses, for sure, and can live outside quite well with adequate shelter and the right diet. However, miniature mares should be watched closely prior to foaling no matter the time of year they are foaling in. Miniatures can and do have dystocias that can be life threatening and they should be watched round the clock. I don't think time of year is much of a problem if you have the proper facilities to foal them out in. I had one mare foal two weeks ago in the 60's. Another mare looks about ready to foal now and it's in the teens! She is in a fully enclosed barn today with deep bedding and an infrared heater on.

 

[Happy Valley]

For some it's an advantage in the showring. The earlier foals are born in the year the older and more mature looking they are for Weanling, Yearling & 2 Yr. Old Halter classes. This is also very common in Thoroughbreds used for racing...

I knew about the racehorses, and it would be advantageous to have a two year old that is REALLY two, not one and a half, but it seems to me that the minis are "cuter" younger! Good thing I am not a judge! I like to see weanlings and yearlings looking like what they are: weanlings and yearlings! I like to see two year olds look more "grown up", though.

I will breed for foals later, myself, as I can't stand this worry. My heart rate has not been normal for three weeks now, what with waiting on them, now getting them and wondering about these ladies. These will be the first foals born on my farm and I want to do it right. Honestly, I have lost enought weigh that my jeans zipped up really easily! Not Kidding.

Stacye

My favourite time for foals is April as then they can be weaned in September. I then can sell them and not keep over the winter.

Now THAT makes sense.

I think you need to be prepared to monitor those mares 24 hours a day.

That's the thing. I have no barn of my own (still waiting on the bulldozer or whatever to level the site) and they are in my Dad's barn across the pasture (about 1/10 mile). I can get out there several times a day over weekends, but during the week it's twice a day for feeding and maybe a peep in before bedtime. I don't know if a foal-cam would reach over here, and even if I ordered one would it get here in time? Making myself crazy.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]Are these mares due now?? Then 1/10 of a mile away is no place for mares that are due to foal! Someome needs to be watching them round the clock.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[disneyhorse]

Well sometimes you have to consider that the whole country isn't as cold as it might be where you are... here in southern California the coldest it gets where I live is the low 40s and that is certainly not cold enough to automatically threaten a foal's life! I don't mind having an early foal... our show season starts in March here.

I think it's healthier for early babies to travel to Nationals... so an early foal would be old enough to show at Nationals if that is the breeders' intents.

Andrea

Edited to add:

COLD is definitely NOT going to be the #1 killer of your foals. Difficult deliveries and not being able to break out of the sack is the main concern... and if you are not able to have someone monitor your mares 24/7 then you need to be able to easily face the reality that both the mare and foal might be dead the next time you go check on them. It only takes 30 minutes for a mare to deliver, and only a few minutes longer for your mare and foal to need help. Many many breeders on here know the reality of foal and mare deaths even when the births are attended, and that is why they (we) are always so concerned about mares that are close to their due dates being watched so carefully.

 

[Cathy_H]

We now try to breed our one or two broodmares to foal after May............ We have had a few foals September & later & one in December. When those were shown against long yearlings they still held their own & even won at times.......................... Don't like this wishy washy Kentucky weather going into spring. The big bonus for having them during nicer warmer weather for me is I can go out, watch, play & enjoy the foals more........................ Wanted to add it is suppose to get in the single digits here in Kentucky tonight. I know there are foals already on the ground & I know there are some that do not have the proper housing for this frigid windy weather.

 

[Becky]

I'm with Lyn J. You need to find somebody to monitor those mares constantly as they approach foaling. I would hate for you to lose a foal or possibly a mare too, just because nobody was there. Not trying to scare you, but after doing this for years, it's very important to be there. Critical, actually.

 

[Happy Valley]

Are these mares due now??

Lyn, I am not sure WHEN they are due. They were both exposed from mid February until early May, so it could be even April. Megan has bagged up, croup soft, inside vulva red, but Starbaby has not. Both are about the same size, belly-wise, and both fetuses seem to have similar activity levels. Megans maybe a little more.

OK, will a camera or alert system reach here from the barn? What is that alarm that will call my phone? I've heard those discussed. I DO NOT want to be posting sad news on here. I really pray that this will come out just fine.

 

[4mymirage]

Well, we want all our girls to have their babies by April so when show season is here, we can go to shows together and not have to leave someone home to be there watching for foaling problems

It is easier for us to have the mares in the barn in the winter foaling and out on pasture with their "run ins" when we are showing in the summer.

 

[DebiM]

Stacye, whether it be below freezing or over a 100 outside brings no greater risk than a Miniature foaling unattended. If you can't monitor then 24/7 then it may have been better to leave them where they were until after foaling. Did the sellers stress to you how important it is to monitor Minis? I just read your last post and I think that's very smart trying to get something set up. EquiPage has a system that will ring the phone.

That aside in the deep south we have more problems with summer foals due to the extreme temps over 100 than we do with freezing in the winter. I have a mare like Becky that could foal at anytime. The mare is in the barn with hay bedding and heat in the attaching stall. After the foal is born I'll turn hers on as well.

Debi

 

[RJRMINIS]

Do you have a garage next to your house??? If so I would set up temporary foaling stalls, until you get your barn built.....at least this way they would be closer for you to go out and check on.............

Otherwise....you could do what I did when I had full-size horses in the pasture! I drove my truck up there to where they where and parked it when they where showing signs of foaling......Had my pillow and blanket and spotlight!!!

Now that I raise miniatures it works so much better with our camera cause I can stay in bed and watch!

:

But if you do have a garage, carport anything.....back out the vehicles and put up some panels with some nice straw.......That way you have them close!!!!

:

 

[Erica]

I prefer FEB-April babies........show season starts early May and I would prefer all foaling done by them (yet nothing usually happens as you want)

Then if I sell a foal and the new owner wants to show them at Nationals, they are weaned and ready for their owners.

We can have some cold days in FEB but nothing that a stall, blanket and Kaglo can't take care of for the first few days.......for the most part our winter in AR is quite mild.

I had a foal born Jan 30 and he is doing wonderful. Got another that will probably go next weekend maybe?

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Ours aren't due until March-May. If I had a proper barn (long story!), I wouldn't mind them being born in February here in Northern CA, (but wouldn't purposely breed for that). As we have the opposite problem here - I don't like summer babies as it can get to hot. I would rather try to keep them warm than to try and cool them down - the new foals that is. It is easier to me to blanket a foal than worry about shade, fans, ambient heat in a heatwave.

It is also nice to have older foals that are eating on their own (still with their dams) in the summer, so if we're at a show, I don't worry as much.

 

[Happy Valley]

That aside in the deep south we have more problems with summer foals due to the extreme temps over 100 than we do with freezing in the winter.

I didn't consider the heat. Something to think about.

All's still well, and I am checking into an EquiPage system. If not that, then we do have a carport attached to the house and I can move them out here. If it would just dry up out there I have the run in shed that Kissime, Jeff and Bockie were using practically in the backyard, but it is a muddy mess right now.

Don't worry forum "midwives," I am going to do what it takes within my capabilities to make sure these babies come into the world without incident, and I thank you all so much for the suggestions and for stressing the importance of monitering them. Taken as a whole, the knowledge and support found on this forum is tremendous, and I am glad that I am able to tap into it.

:

Did the sellers stress to you how important it is to monitor Minis?

It was mentioned while walking through the pasture that they would give birth in about thirty minutes and that if it took longer than that to call the vet. I do have my vet's number on my cell, and he will come if I need him. I have a backup, too, but that one is not as reliable as my primary.

 

[Robin1]

I stop breeding my girls the end of May. It has been known to be well over 100 degrees in April and May here. By June its more like 115, thats just too hot for a newborn. Well actually its too hot for everything.

:

Robin

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Well one thing to remember is that young foals cant regulate there own body tempature.. and heat is equally if not more so dangerous.

A foal taking a 20 min nap in the hot summer sun can easily "cook" itself and get heat stroke

I much prefer to keep a foal warm then try and keep one cool.

I had one born late july he was body clipped within hours it was over 100 degrees out.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]What happens if these mares try to foal between visits??? remember too that the equipage can go off every time they lay down so dont just assume they are just laying down. My foaling stall is 25 feet from my living room. I have a camera on 24/7 and still I had a mare foal out of the range of the camera and the foal was tiny and she didnt get out of the sack. Even tho they are literally in my back yard... AND I have a camera AND a baby buzzer.... I still lost one a few years ago..... random checks of a barn 1/10 of a mile away isnt enough watching for two mares of unsure gestation. Please get them up to your house.... make sure someone is available day and night. In the last 3 years I have had 7 foals and had to assist 4 getting out. A foot over the head, a foot back, placenta previa (red bag) and both and a resusitation of a foal that wouldnt breath..... if any of these four happened inbetween scheduled checks. all 4 babies would be dead and so would two mares. PLEASE get them to the carport ASAP.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[CLC Stables]

I have my mares on Camera, and have halter buzzers on them................because yes they are quick and I fall asleep. The buzzer wakes me up.

I have the horses about 50 feet from the house, they are actually in the pasture which lines the backyard, but the barn (the new one) is behind the garage.

Be careful................and watch more...................BEST OF LUCK.