The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD
Message Boards => Foaling Questions & Help => Topic started by: elizabeth.conder on December 02, 2020, 12:40:10 AM
-
Well, the spring did not quite go as I planned. With grad school, I have been very busy. Only expecting 1 foal in 2021. A new mare to me but I am very excited about her foal. She is 168 days along, which puts day 300 on April 12th. Still a long time to go, but figured I might as well start this thread. The sire is my stallion, RHA Redis Loaded Dice. He is a silver bay tobiano. The dam is Tibbs Tango Rhythem. She is a chestnut shetland blend, a daughter of Rhapsody's Latin Tango. He is 32 inches and she is 34. I hope the foal stays small haha. I will be streaming again once we get closer. I am hoping for a silver black tobiano...filly but I think that is the lowest color probability. Regardless it will likely stay. This will be Rhythem's second foal. I would add pictures for some reason it never works for me...
-
CONGRATULATIONS!! If you want, send me the pictures to my email: dcwolcott@tnni.net and I'll be happy to upload them for you.
;D
-
I might do that. For some reason, I have to resize and reformat each one. BUt I will try once more. I'll include pictures of when they were in show shape. Far from that now lol. Rhythem was actually the 2015 World Grand Champion Jr mare, but now she is just a pasture puff haha.
-
Dice first and then Rhythem
-
Both BEAUTIFUL!!!
-
Looking forward to watching her progress :)
-
I agree with Ryan. It's nice to have this thread to follow along!
Even more than before, we appreciate it because we can't be together...sometimes even if we want to.
-
Thank you!
Rhythem is just short of 200 days. She is FINALLY showing a baby bump. Doing very well though. Thought I might mention this as well. I have another mare, Rhapsody, I was positive was bred. She would be 16 days ahead of Rhythem. She has not come back into season and has developed what looks to be a baby bump. Everything pointed to being in foal...BUT she has tested negative 3 times. Once with a blood test and 2 times with a wee foal 120. I am thinking maybe a late miscarriage...but that does not explain her baby bump. Who knows haha. She?ll be under camera with Rhythem just in case. Rhythem is pretty buddy bound anyway so she would need a buddy when I bring her up for foalwatch. That makes Rhapsody the logical choice just in case she somehow is hiding that foal from tests lol. For that reason I will start foalwatch a bit early to cover my bases with her. Unless she comes back into season or shows clear evidence of not being in foal before that. Vets out here do not like to US them, mostly because they are not super experienced in it. Oh well just a waiting game. In the meantime here are a few more pictures...a couple of Dice who they were both bred to. Rhythem next and Rhapsody last.
-
Dice
-
Rhythem
-
Rhapsody
Just a bit about her...she?s 33.5 inches 6 years old, and AMHR registered. I?ve been hoping to take her to be officially measured so I can hardship her AMHA. I really like her bloodlines and personality. Her sire is Little Kings Big City Buck and her dam is Rowbucks Simply The Best so she?s heavily Buckaroo bred.
-
More information on Rhapsody please.
I have a couple mares from the same farm as her dam, so interested in how her dam is bred. The farm is Lucky Hart, but Renee has used both the Lucky Hart Prefix and the Rowbuck prefix; I'm not sure how she decides which she is using.
-
Let?s see if this works...if not I?ll do it manually.
-
Not very clear so I?ll try again...
-
I thought they might be more closely related, but they are not. My mare is Lucky Harts Simply Sophia, grey mare by Lucky "C" Farm Robby, out of Sweetwaters Golden Junie (she's a Roan Ranger daughter).
My other Lucky Hart bred mare is Bonny, a smoky cream (registered cremello, but fairly certain she's smoky cream), she's a George daughter out of a smoky silver black mare.
-
Beautiful girls!
-
We're more than happy to do an extended foal watch!!!
-
I highly doubt she?s in foal with the three negative tests, but I?d rather be safe than sorry. Especially since she?s not been in season since May and is unexplainably wide.
-
Absolutely to be better safe! And we don't mind a bit!
-
Well I couldn?t take it anymore. I had Rhapsody ultrasounded. She is negative. Not surprised at all but relieved I don?t have to wonder anymore if I would miss an unexpected foaling. Anyway. Rhythem is now 220 days and doing great. Still very little belly to show. But I have felt lots of foal movement. Very excited for this foal. Although foal watch with grad school should be interesting...🤔
-
Glad you won't be worrying anymore and can focus on Rhythem!!
-
Rhythem is officially past 270 days. So I guess I can start thinking about eventually getting excited. Working on installing a new camera system and then hopefully she will be up on camera. No changes yet as expected. But a good friend just had a foal born at 298 days so I am anxious to get everything prepared. Rhythem is still tiny, although has lost her normal fit look. Not showing much at all. If I did not know her I would not even suspect it haha. But plenty of foal movement. Had to start clipping my herd as were already consistently into the 80s and they were so hot. Hopefully past the cold at this point. Day 300 is April 16 (or something like that, I need to check dates). I will see if I can get a couple pictures to load. And a bonus one of my 2020 colt and his haircut haha. Oh and, I sold a mare in foal to my stallion last year. She foaled a healthy tiny colt a couple days ago. He is really small, only a 6.5 inch cannon which is exactly what the new owner wanted. I will (hopefully) include a picture of him as well. The dam is a half sister to my Rhapsody. Hated to sell her but she was a bit small and more stocky than what I was going for. Loved her and her bloodlines though. We were really hoping he got his sires silver, but I?m thinking not. He?s got light eyelashes, but his black points are just to black I think for silver.
-
Glad things are progressing smoothly!! Can't wait for the camera to see how things move ahead. Thanks for the pictures, we LOVE pictures and all looks well. Your colt looks good with his haircut. Totally understandable clipping when it's so hot! I'm sure the herd appreciates it! Praying for a healthy little one for you!! ;pray ;pray
-
Well we are just shy of 300 days. Rhythem is under camera now. I expect I have a while yet, she has a small start to an udder but her belly has really popped the last couple of weeks and she is getting nice and soft in the backend.
-
Checked in...cameras working. Can't wait to check later today and tonight!
Exciting news!
-
Well I?m getting close to 24/7 foal watch if not already there. Her udder pretty much quadrupled in 12 hrs. Ph is starting to drop and she couldn?t be looser in the backside without the foal just falling out. Her behavior is drastically different and it?s supposed to storm all night. And of course next week is finals week. 🤯
-
Standing quietly in her stall. Keep us posted on her pH. Behavior is a key factor, and it looks like her nipples could still fill a bit more, but she's looking good!! Praying for a safe and uneventful delivery of a healthy little one!! ;pray ;pray
-
Has been quietly in her stall. So pretty!
-
Thank you! She?s been stalled a lot more because of finals week. Going from a bachelors to a doctorate in physical therapy in less than 3 years is exhausting. Between that and the rain and her sporadic changes I feel best making sure I can see her at this point. I?ll try to get some new pics later. But she went from that udder to about a third of it till last night when it got significantly bigger than that. Ph is still high. Hoping she holds out till the weekend after my finals. But ready for her to possibly go before.
-
WOW! What an achievement you have been doing!!
I understand your concern about her stalling. Exercise is very good preparation for the hard job she will have ahead of her birthing this little one. Even a little time outside will help.
Praying for great finals and an uneventful birth of a healthy little one! ;pray ;pray ;pray
-
Thank you!
Currently, still testing in the 8.0 range so hopefully a few more days. But her milk has changed from thin and oily to thick and sticky. Still clear though. Can?t tell much of the foals position from the back as she has never carried wide at all. I?ll have her out in the afternoons some when I am home and not gone for 4-5 hrs at a time.
-
Looking very good, and udder is progressing VERY nicely!! ;pray ;pray
-
Well her udder is even bigger. Teats are not quite filled. But she?s got thick sticky fluid that?s turning cloudy. Ph is still sitting in that 7.8/8.0 range but starting to change. Hardness, not diluted, is off the charts, well above 800. Not enough to dilute so it?s just to see change. She squirts milk when expressed. Using a brix refractometer as well to monitor quality. A few other breeders and I have a theory on refractometers and impending foaling. We want above 25 on it to consider it high quality colostrum. They start at 0. She?s finally got enough ?milk? to test. Last night at 9 she tested 17. This morning at 9 she?s at 24. So in theory, her her ph should drop soon with that hardness and brix.
-
All sounding like things are moving perfectly!!
Quietly eating so all is well! ;pray ;pray
-
Well she is being nice and methodical about dropping. Brix is 28, hardness (undiluted) is off the charts, ph is about 7.0.
-
Don't see her, so she must be outside getting her exercise this morning. I'm a pH girl myself, so I'm watching for that to drop, but I am also willing to learn new things.
Come on momma. Stretch, roll and enjoy your outside time!! ;pray ;pray
-
Ph is my go to as well! I like hardness imply cause once it starts going up ph should drop soon. I use the brix, actually Holly taught me that, to check colostrum quality to decide if a foal needs supplementation. But we are discovering that it also shows the change in milk as they get closer. Can?t really predict it like ph though since they all get different quality colostrum... she was out a few hrs and then I had to run a town over. She should be back outside this afternoon.
-
Standing quietly in her stall. Good momma!!
-
Okay she?s officially in foaling range testing 6.2/6.4. Udder is about full. Milk is thick, sticky, and white. She?s very uncomfortable and it?s supposed to storm tonight
-
She's standing quietly nibbling at the edges of her stall walls. I have a little running around to do today, but will be watching as much as I can! Very exciting and praying for an uneventful foaling of a healthy little one! ;pray ;pray
-
Happy to get her breakfast, I see.
What a good momma she is. Just quietly eating while you do all your work around her. Good girl!
Hope your finals are over and you can rest a bit and enjoy having a weekend !!
-
Yes she thankfully decided to hold off foaling till I was through. Finished my last one yesterday. Thankful she didn?t go last night either as I had back to back emergencies. First my dog got bit by a rattlesnake and had to go the emergency vet where he was admitted that was about 10:30. Then about 12:30 I found my 15 year old cat (who is my buddy and goes everywhere I go) severely hypoglycemic to the point she was barely responsive. So rushed her to the same vet. Didn?t get back till 1:30. Thankfully my sister was home and watched Rhythem for me. Boone (my dog) just had his second round of antivenom. And they are still trying to stabilize Happy?s (my cat) blood sugar.
That said. Rhythem is testing about 6.0 this morning and had a bit of wax. So it should be soon...
-
WOW! When it rains it pours. Sending prayers for your dog and cat, and hopefully full recoveries for both. ;pray ;pray
Everything in the stall quiet and looking good! ;pray ;pray
-
Happy and Boone both got to come home late last night. So beyond grateful. Rhythem has decided to alter course and go backwards. Udder is smaller and ph is higher. I?m done trying to predict this mare lol.
-
I have had a mare like that. But watch out! The next you know her pH will drop to 6.2 and you'll be off to the races!!
-
Ph is back to below 6.4. She?s been below 7.0 for 5 days now. Who knows what she?s planning.
-
Yup! That's what happens, and it's so sudden. She's standing quietly in her stall. Keep us posted, and I'll keep looking in. ;pray ;pray
-
Finally testing 6.0 with a very good udder. Hopefully soon.
-
Can't wait!! Standing quietly in her stall.
Wait a minute. Are those little legs I see? I believe they are, but had to enlarge and having to see them behind momma. So, am I right?
YES I AM!! I see a pinto little one with nice, long legs with lots of white hiding behind momma and looks to be nursing!! So tell us about this little one!!
-
I haven't opened the camera at all, so will go on Diane's comment, and say Congratulations!
-
Thank y?all. Red and white pinto colt foaled about 1:36 am this morning. Was a red bag so he was a little slow getting up and going. But doing great now. You?re right he has some long legs! I need to measure his cannon. He?s not that big but quite tall. Looking forward to seeing him until some more.
-
There is something in front of part of the 1st camera that limits what we can see of that boy!
He is quite the spitfire....tearing around the stall !! So fun to watch!! The first camera is in color, and he is quite a handsome and colorful boy !!!
-
For some reason flys love to land on the lens of the camera. No idea why. There aren?t even that many of them but they cluster around the cameras.
Not sure why I can?t get both cameras to be color. That one just insists on staying black and white.
He?s certainly a little spitfire. Loads of attitude but still shy. He?s still unfolding but here are some pics from today.
-
What a handsome little boy!! A beautiful color, wonderfully long legs, and looks nicely proportioned.
BEAUTIFUL!!
He is eating again, quite ravenously! Poor momma -- he is a hungry, demanding boy!! He was knocking around the ball earlier!
-
Thank you! I?m pretty pleased with him so far. Hopefully he?ll grow into those legs one day. His personality is really starting to blossom. He?s all colt lol, feisty and independent. I knew he?d be a handful his first night when he was trying to get Rhythem up by climbing all over her. Rhythem has been great with him which I?m always glad to see. Still trying to decide on a name fir him. I?m so slow at this part haha.
-
Well the little guy finally has a registered name. I knew his call name before he was foaled. HPR Dancin With Bravado AKA Bravo. I?m eager to clip and see what?s under all his baby fuzz. Got a preview after he played in the rain the other day. Also, I?m sure you?ll like this addition to my herd considering her spots lol. I?d been looking at this filly for a long time and finally pulled the trigger, so here is Silver Leaf DK?s Touch Of Glory. Trying to get a bit more weight on her. Enjoy her mare stare at me. Need to practice squaring up a bit more, too stretched. She?s only 20 months old.
-
Little Bravo is certainly looking very nice! and such a cool name!
Your herd is growing nicely and your new mare very pretty. I especially like the appaloosa snowflakes coming in from her pintaloosa bottom lines. Just lovely ;D