The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD
Message Boards => Foaling Questions & Help => Topic started by: elizabeth.conder on November 17, 2019, 01:20:41 AM
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Hi everyone,
I?ve been a part of this group for a while but just not very active. I?ve had minis for a while but no foals. I am really hopeful I have one due in March this year. I?d love to hear your thoughts.
The mare is Rocky Top Aristocratic Belle Star. The stallion is RHA Redis Loaded Dice. They are both 32-32.5 inches. First pic is July this year, second pic is normal winter. 3rd was Mid October. Last is today.
I?ve been mistaken before so I really hope I?m not again. She was on measured hay over the summer but is now on free choice so some of the weight gain is from that I am sure.
Thanks
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Pictures
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Other pictures of the sire just because I take so many.
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Hi Elizabeth! Long time no see, but this is great news and I'm crossing my fingers for you, as this pair is quite nice lookers!
Keep us posted on new pictures as we're excited for you and with you!!
;pray ;pray
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Thank you! I am super excited. Both were shown when they were younger but are super sweet too.
Hi Elizabeth! Long time no see, but this is great news and I'm crossing my fingers for you, as this pair is quite nice lookers!
Keep us posted on new pictures as we're excited for you and with you!!
;pray ;pray
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I also have my fingers crossed for you.
If due in march, she is in perfect time frame to do a weefoal 120, to preg check.... if you decide to go that route let us know the
Results!
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I am actually hoping to do that in a few weeks. I had one test but seem to have lost it. id do it sooner but she is not very cooperative with the whole process 😂
I also have my fingers crossed for you.
If due in march, she is in perfect time frame to do a weefoal 120, to preg check.... if you decide to go that route let us know the
Results!
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Very exciting Elizabeth, have my fingers crossed for you :)
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Hit day 220 about a week ago. I have definitely felt a foal and seen movement, so no wee foal test needed!
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AWESOME!!!! So excited for you....and us!
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Me too, Very excited for you :)
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Day 257. Belle is doing great. I have decided to foal her put at the vet since she is currently boarded. I am finishing up a degree and I want to ensure there will be someone with her to foal in case there is an issue. So the vet had me bring her in for an ultrasound. First thing he did when he walked in was ask incredulously if she was actually in foal. She doesn?t have much of a belly to speak of. Untrasound did show a good healthy foal. But I think Belle would win the prize for smallest foal belly at this point. Still has plenty of time to grow. Getting so excited!
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Not likely, I'm sure I can top it with Tana's maiden foaling pictures.
This is Tana first thing in the morning:
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And, about 1PM the same day:
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And, about 1PM the same day:
That?s pretty amazing! I?d seen them before and it never fails to amaze me. Mine might get second to yours 😂
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This was also today.
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Also today
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While you don't want them to get fat, you also want to be sure to feed enough to keep them in condition. So, are you feeding at least 1.5-2% of her bodyweight in forage? 250# mini that would be 3.75-5# forage daily, more when it's cold and as pregnancy progresses. adding a commercial feed of some sort as needed? If she tends toward easy keeping, a ration balancer is a great choice for most minis; maintenance is about 1/4-1/3# depending on size of mini and particular ration balancer, double it for late pregnancy and early lactation.
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She had been on square bales but is now on free choice round. Also gets about 1.5 lbs of mare and foal feed. She has never been one to gain much weight. Even when others put on 30 lbs she might put on 5. This was back in November when the foal was positioned differently.
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She's looking quite good, and remember as she moves up to 300+ days baby will be starting to add on the fat so all is well. Can't wait, and am always surprised with Chanda's pictures of Tana!!
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Thats really exciting the ultrasound showed up a foal :)
Looking at the pictures I was wondering where she was hiding it :)
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She's looking quite good, and remember as she moves up to 300+ days baby will be starting to add on the fat so all is well. Can't wait, and am always surprised with Chanda's pictures of Tana!!
Thank you! My stallion has always had smaller foals and both of them are 32 inches. So I?m expecting a reasonably small foal as well. Dice had 5 foals when he was with his previous owner. One colt and 4 fillies. I know two fillies were shown AMHR.
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Thats really exciting the ultrasound showed up a foal :)
Looking at the pictures I was wondering where she was hiding it :)
That?s half the reason I was unsure she actually was in foal. Some days it?s obvious and some days she looks like she is not in foal. 😂
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Is this her first foal or has she had other babies? I can't remember.
She'll start to look more in foal as baby starts to gain weight. If she's a maiden mom that also explains baby being carried high and tight so no worries. She looks good and we're excited for you!!
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This is her first. She?ll be 7 in March
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Perfect. It explains the carrying being up high and tight. All perfectly normal, but helps us know we are not watching a mare whose little one is carrying in a "saggy tummy". It explains baby being a bit more difficult to "find" and to be watchful for changes.
All just perfect, and I'm excited for you!!
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Thats great news , cant wait to see what she is hiding in there for you :)
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I'm excited for you too. Is she due near the beginning of March or the end? Has your vet given you a date as to when he wants you to move her to his premises - a wise decision in your circumstances I agree? Is she your only breeding mare this year? Sorry, so many questions but I'm just trying to catch up lol!
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I had another mare bred, but she didn't seem to take. She'll be 300 days Feb 21. 320 days is March 13th. The vet suggested March 1st. I will keep an eye on her progress and might take her earlier if I think she is progressing fast. The vet is about 15-20 minutes away from her current barn.
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I am thinking Belle will foal early. Although who actually knows? She has already started a bit of a bag. The vet suggests we keep a close eye on her. I think she?s also finally getting a bit of a belly...she hit 274 days today.
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A bit of a belly is just fine! We'll pray she goes to at least 300 days, and hope for a few more after that, hoping for March 13th.
As she nears delivery, we would like some "special" pictures that will help us know she's getting closer. The first picture would be a full side view right down at her level -- so you're taking the picture looking right across from her. The second would be taking a picture standing behind her, again, right down on her level.
Both pictures will help us guage how baby is "riding" and positioning within momma. Even with a maiden mare, there are certain things that will be moving baby along to lining up and getting in position for birth, so we'll be able to help you know when to take momma to the vet for delivery.
So excited for you!! (and us!)
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I can certainly get those pictures. I started to take her in last week because of her progress. But we have it a couple of days and the vet and I decided to wait. The vet wants her there for sure by March 1st, 303 days.
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Yes, we have time yet, but March 1st sounds about right just to be sure all is well. Can't wait to see her progress and let the excitement build!
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She is looking great :) Cant wait to see whats she is cooking for you in there :)
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I agree with Chanda's feeding recommendations. Particularly if she's one who doesn't put on weight easily at the best of times, you might want to bump her grain up.
I've seen pregnant mares lose condition fairly quickly when switching from squares to rounds. For some reason, the round bales in this part of the world just don't live up to the same quality as the squares do.
If you see her with her face shoved up in there non-stop, that might be another indicator that she needs a calorie boost. Give her a little hug. If you don't have to press rather firmly to feel ribs, spine or hip bones, she might need more hard feed. Even vets tend to OVERestimate a minis weight, so you might want to keep that in mins too.
Otherwise, she's bright, shiny and seems well loved! Looking forward to watching with you. 8)
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I agree with Chanda's feeding recommendations. Particularly if she's one who doesn't put on weight easily at the best of times, you might want to bump her grain up.
I've seen pregnant mares lose condition fairly quickly when switching from squares to rounds. For some reason, the round bales in this part of the world just don't live up to the same quality as the squares do.
If you see her with her face shoved up in there non-stop, that might be another indicator that she needs a calorie boost. Give her a little hug. If you don't have to press rather firmly to feel ribs, spine or hip bones, she might need more hard feed. Even vets tend to OVERestimate a minis weight, so you might want to keep that in mins too.
Otherwise, she's bright, shiny and seems well loved! Looking forward to watching with you. 8)
Thank you! I have upped her grain. She is getting between 1.5 lbs and 2lbs a day of a mare and foal feed. Plus whatever she steals from the other mares hahaha. She is the dominant mare so if they see her coming they leave pretty quickly. Even the stallion takes off if he sees her coming. She has lost her topline, but I cannot feel ribs at all. For the last month she has also been out in a pasture with plenty of good grass. So hopefully she'll continue to put on weight. The good news is the vet wasn't concerned. Regardless, I trust yall's opinion and want to get more weight on her. I am going to have to move them up closer to the manager's house it looks like. There are a bunch of coyotes but they leave the horses alone, but we have had a bunch of feral hogs has come into the area. There is a feedlot close by and they have a lot of feed sitting around so the pigs have all kinds of attractants. They could cause a problem.
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HOGS!! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
[If you're on a time crunch, skip over the section between the *'s. It's a story. 8)]
It's been many years (in the last century!) since I've been where hogs are. Frankly, I'd be 10 times more concerned about them than all of your other predators put together. They're big, strong, super intelligent and completely disrespectful of anything to do with humans. Between their similar sizes, her dominance and their disrespect, I'd get her moved sooner rather than later. That will give her time to adjust to her new paddock closer to the manager before she foals.
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My own direct encounter wasn't with ferals it was with pet pigs. A place where I boarded had a trio of crossbred pigs they'd taught tricks to. Things like fetch, gee (right) and haw (left), shake, sit, speak and I don't remember how many others. They had to WORK for their dinners!! >:D ;D ;D
Anyway, one day when I was helping the owner do evening chores, she told me to be a bit more vigilant than usual. The pigs were breeding and that made them more unpredictable. "Treat the boar like a breeding stallion," she advised as he crossed in front of me shaking his head up, down and around and grunting in anticipation as he normally did. I stepped back to give him a bit more space and continued on to the second trough to drop feed.
We were done in about 10 minutes. As we latched the gate after stepping out, she asked me to wait so she could show me the boar's new trick. "He'll sit up and beg!" She called him over using his training snack--day old bread--and he ran right over. "Beg!" she commanded. His behind plopped right down and he lifted his head and one front leg. As she reached over to hold the treat above his head to encourage him to lift the other leg, she exclaimed "Julie, your thigh!!" I glanced down to see a bloody tear as long as my hand on the inside of my inner thigh. It was stinging, not really enough to hurt much, but similar to a paper cut. My pant leg was drenched in blood down to my knee.
We went to the bathroom and when I took off my jeans to inspect the damage, we were shocked. It was twice as long as the rip....almost 11 inches and an inch deep. Had it been a couple of inches closer to the inner thigh, I might have been FORCED to go to the ER. (I didn't want to go because I knew what paperwork etc. they'd be required to fill out and the agencies they'd probably have to report to because it was caused by an animal.
Who vaccinates a pet pig against rabies?) As it was, since her husband was a field medic in the military, we draped a sheet over my lap to protect my modesty and he put in a couple of stitches and a WHOLE LOT of butterfly bandages. We were all surprised at the lack of pain and the cleanliness of the cut. The edges were so neat that it was like an incision. I still carry a 4" scar 12 years later, and we never did know if he pegged me whilst I was in the pen or when he came to do the trick.
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My point to that rambling story is this: feral hogs are easily the size of a 32 inch mini. They have no qualms about making their way under and through fences to get to feed. Be proactive and try to put our little Belle far far away. In the meantime, we'll all be watching with bated breath for updates as the blessed event nears. ;pray
P.S....make sure you have your secondary foaling kit available. You know, the one with a coffee/hot chocolate thermos, snacks, toilet paper, handiwipes, a book, etc. Even though the vet is to foal her out you'll still need them. ::)
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HOGS!! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
[If you're on a time crunch, skip over the section between the *'s. It's a story. 8)]
It's been many years (in the last century!) since I've been where hogs are. Frankly, I'd be 10 times more concerned about them than all of your other predators put together. They're big, strong, super intelligent and completely disrespectful of anything to do with humans. Between their similar sizes, her dominance and their disrespect, I'd get her moved sooner rather than later. That will give her time to adjust to her new paddock closer to the manager before she foals.
*************************
My own direct encounter wasn't with ferals it was with pet pigs. A place where I boarded had a trio of crossbred pigs they'd taught tricks to. Things like fetch, gee (right) and haw (left), shake, sit, speak and I don't remember how many others. They had to WORK for their dinners!! >:D ;D ;D
Anyway, one day when I was helping the owner do evening chores, she told me to be a bit more vigilant than usual. The pigs were breeding and that made them more unpredictable. "Treat the boar like a breeding stallion," she advised as he crossed in front of me shaking his head up, down and around and grunting in anticipation as he normally did. I stepped back to give him a bit more space and continued on to the second trough to drop feed.
We were done in about 10 minutes. As we latched the gate after stepping out, she asked me to wait so she could show me the boar's new trick. "He'll sit up and beg!" She called him over using his training snack--day old bread--and he ran right over. "Beg!" she commanded. His behind plopped right down and he lifted his head and one front leg. As she reached over to hold the treat above his head to encourage him to lift the other leg, she exclaimed "Julie, your thigh!!" I glanced down to see a bloody tear as long as my hand on the inside of my inner thigh. It was stinging, not really enough to hurt much, but similar to a paper cut. My pant leg was drenched in blood down to my knee.
We went to the bathroom and when I took off my jeans to inspect the damage, we were shocked. It was twice as long as the rip....almost 11 inches and an inch deep. Had it been a couple of inches closer to the inner thigh, I might have been FORCED to go to the ER. (I didn't want to go because I knew what paperwork etc. they'd be required to fill out and the agencies they'd probably have to report to because it was caused by an animal.
Who vaccinates a pet pig against rabies?) As it was, since her husband was a field medic in the military, we draped a sheet over my lap to protect my modesty and he put in a couple of stitches and a WHOLE LOT of butterfly bandages. We were all surprised at the lack of pain and the cleanliness of the cut. The edges were so neat that it was like an incision. I still carry a 4" scar 12 years later, and we never did know if he pegged me whilst I was in the pen or when he came to do the trick.
*************************
My point to that rambling story is this: feral hogs are easily the size of a 32 inch mini. They have no qualms about making their way under and through fences to get to feed. Be proactive and try to put our little Belle far far away. In the meantime, we'll all be watching with bated breath for updates as the blessed event nears. ;pray
P.S....make sure you have your secondary foaling kit available. You know, the one with a coffee/hot chocolate thermos, snacks, toilet paper, handiwipes, a book, etc. Even though the vet is to foal her out you'll still need them. ::)
That is crazy! I cannot imagine what that would have been like. Texas is pretty infested with feral hogs. Saw a video the other day where a sounder of probably 150 pigs ran across the road. Unfortunately, they are not going away anytime soon. I actually wrote a paper about the issue. Kind of rambling, but did you know that there are 8.9 to 16.4 pigs per SQUARE MILE. Multiply that by 268,597 sq miles in Texas = lots of feral pigs. They also predicted that 66% of the population every year would have to be removed to keep the population from growing and only about 30% are being removed right now. At that rate, the population would triple in three years. >:(
Anyway, I am planning on moving all my minis ASAP. I definitely do not want the hogs getting too close. Thankfully the farm manager shoots them on sight. But it is hard to even make a dent in the population. The bad thing about moving them is they will no longer have access to much grass. But they have plenty of hay and grain. Because she is being boarded I am actually going to leave her at the vet to foal to ensure she has as much help as she needs. Belle is putting on lots of weight now and finally looks in foal. Not as big as a seasoned broodmare, but as a maiden that is to be expected.
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Hows your little mare coming along Elizabeth ? :)
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Hows your little mare coming along Elizabeth ? :)
Coming along great! We have had some crazy weather. It was in the 80s Fahrenheit and two days later we had 6 inches of snow. Two days after that it was in the 70s. And now it is in the 30s, windy, and wet. Today is day 290. She doesn?t have much udder formation yet, but I know that can change in the blink of an eye. But I am thankful she slowed down since she started getting some at about 270. Her tailhead is super loose and has been for a while. I don?t have super recent pictures.
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All sounds like she's moving ahead just perfectly! Keep it coming little momma! Day 290 is just perfect, steady and strong!
You'll see an udder form as she nears her delivery date, I'm sure, but if not, it WILL show up so baby can drink -- even at the birth. They do surprisingly well, and if she gets an udder we'll want some pictures of that, as that can also clue us in on how soon to look for delivery.
She's doing just fine!!!
Crazy weather Ryan! I know there has been some Censored days here as well -- low 30's and now it's in the 80's again. I love when it's cold though. :D
The HOG issue is upsetting for sure. I had a neighbor that had 20 hogs that he captured from the wild and put on his property. One day, I look out and they are "out" and rooting up the whole yard at our houses. Since I was heading out to feed, when I went out, they jumped into feeding troughs and pushed away the horses. Lots of upset horses!
It was my GREAT PLEASURE to send them to wherever they go when they are dead! >:( Never looked back, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Sounds like your farm manager is doing a great job are eradicating them! Good for him!
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Good to know we are not the only ones dealing with crazy weather. Not usually a fan, but I am looking forward to winter this year.
I had no idea there was so many feral pigs in Texas, bit like our problem here with rabbits.
very excited for you :)
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I had no idea there was so many feral pigs in Texas, bit like our problem here with rabbits.
very excited for you :)
except rabbits aren't typically dangerous to people. But, I've heard rabbits are rampant in Oz.
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All sounds like she's moving ahead just perfectly! Keep it coming little momma! Day 290 is just perfect, steady and strong!
You'll see an udder form as she nears her delivery date, I'm sure, but if not, it WILL show up so baby can drink -- even at the birth. They do surprisingly well, and if she gets an udder we'll want some pictures of that, as that can also clue us in on how soon to look for delivery.
She's doing just fine!!!
Crazy weather Ryan! I know there has been some Censored days here as well -- low 30's and now it's in the 80's again. I love when it's cold though. :D
The HOG issue is upsetting for sure. I had a neighbor that had 20 hogs that he captured from the wild and put on his property. One day, I look out and they are "out" and rooting up the whole yard at our houses. Since I was heading out to feed, when I went out, they jumped into feeding troughs and pushed away the horses. Lots of upset horses!
It was my GREAT PLEASURE to send them to wherever they go when they are dead! >:( Never looked back, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Sounds like your farm manager is doing a great job are eradicating them! Good for him!
Yes we 'take care' of them as often as we get a chance. I had a picture on a game camera with three sows and 21+ piglets. All my minis have been moved and should be quite safe now.
Good to know we are not the only ones dealing with crazy weather. Not usually a fan, but I am looking forward to winter this year.
I had no idea there was so many feral pigs in Texas, bit like our problem here with rabbits.
very excited for you :)
I have heard about the rabbit problem there! It is crazy!
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Small update. You'll have to ignore the mud. We have had so much moisture, it is ridiculous. Belle's attitude has deteriorated a LOT. She is typically super laid back and friendly. So much so that I have given my smallest nieces and nephews short rides on her without her having any prior training. But she actually nipped me yesterday. She is also starting the very smallest bag. Still has a lot to do there but it is a start anyway. The first picture was from yesterday and the rest are today.
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Attitude and temperament are things to look for late in pregnancy. As there is less room in there for the foal to move around, poor mum starts to feel it a bit more. Probably best to hold off on the short rides for now. Her udder looks great and I've seen much smaller at this stage of a pregnancy , so she is doing great. You will notice it go up and down all the time. When shes up and moving around it will go down. After she has been resting or laying down you will notice it fuller. Once you are seeing it stay the same , you know you are getting serious.
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I had no idea there was so many feral pigs in Texas, bit like our problem here with rabbits.
very excited for you :)
except rabbits aren't typically dangerous to people. But, I've heard rabbits are rampant in Oz.
No certainly not dangerous to us humans but what they do to the ground here , causes many broken legs in horses and cattle. I have a shocking problem under some conifer pines. They build 6 story mansions under the ground, its crazy.
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Attitude and temperament are things to look for late in pregnancy. As there is less room in there for the foal to move around, poor mum starts to feel it a bit more. Probably best to hold off on the short rides for now. Her udder looks great and I've seen much smaller at this stage of a pregnancy , so she is doing great. You will notice it go up and down all the time. When shes up and moving around it will go down. After she has been resting or laying down you will notice it fuller. Once you are seeing it stay the same , you know you are getting serious.
Oh for sure, no rides now. Last one she gave was back in June.
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I had no idea there was so many feral pigs in Texas, bit like our problem here with rabbits.
very excited for you :)
except rabbits aren't typically dangerous to people. But, I've heard rabbits are rampant in Oz.
No certainly not dangerous to us humans but what they do to the ground here , causes many broken legs in horses and cattle. I have a shocking problem under some conifer pines. They build 6 story mansions under the ground, its crazy.
We actually used the rabbits in Australia for an example in one of my college classes a while back about how destructive species can be when introduced to a non native habitat. It was shocking!
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Attitude and temperament are things to look for late in pregnancy. As there is less room in there for the foal to move around, poor mum starts to feel it a bit more. Probably best to hold off on the short rides for now. Her udder looks great and I've seen much smaller at this stage of a pregnancy , so she is doing great. You will notice it go up and down all the time. When shes up and moving around it will go down. After she has been resting or laying down you will notice it fuller. Once you are seeing it stay the same , you know you are getting serious.
Just perfect, Ryan!! The attitude change is expected and she might change again to be more "needy" -- we'll just have to wait and see! But an encouraging and positive change!
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Officially day 300. I think Belle still has a bit. She goes to the vet a week from tomorrow so in the meantime I?m keeping a close eye on her. She?s not moody anymore which is nice. Anyway here are a few pictures. Her bag is growing daily.
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Looks like she is elongating nicely, and bag is good -- nipples not filled yet, so there is some time, since she's being nice enough to "give us" a bag to see.
She's definitely looking good! You must be very excited!!
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I really am! Counting on a few more days so I?m not crazy yet but that?ll come . I think she is ready to lose this weight. She Just wants to stand around now, no interest is running around. And as you can she she has quite the character.
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How cute is that!!
We know, little momma, but get your rest as you're about to be REALLY busy with that little one!!!
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How cute is that? Bless her. She seems to be progressing perfectly and I'm sure you will miss her when she pops off to the vets next week. Hope all goes well and you can welcome her and the new little one back home as soon as possible.
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How cute is that? Bless her. She seems to be progressing perfectly and I'm sure you will miss her when she pops off to the vets next week. Hope all goes well and you can welcome her and the new little one back home as soon as possible.
That is the hope! Thankfully the vet is set up where I can go visit her at pretty much anytime.
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Fingers crossed for you Elizabeth , ill try to check in over the weekend :)
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How is she ? :) ;pray
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Yes, update please!! ;pray ;pray
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Day 312. We?re in a holding pattern. Not too much change right now. She does have clear milk now. She has really sloppy manure and is still pretty loose in the back end. But still not much development in the udder. The vet decided to ultrasound her again and everything looks good but he does not think she is ?as far a long as we think.? I agree she has a ways to go but I know she?s day 312. That was the last day she was in the pen with Dice and was very much in season. I know she hasn?t been in season since. And she?s VERY VERY obvious when she is in season. Anyway I guess we will see. I am going to be gone for a couple of days so she?ll stay at the vet till I get back and then she?ll come home till she is closer. Here?s a few updated pictures.
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Just for reference, this is her in January.
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Shes elongating perfectly. Glad everything is going well :)
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Ryan, that's exactly what I was coming here to type!! She's doing fine and I'm so excited for you!!
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It?s been a while since I?ve updated here so I figured I?d post a few new pictures. Belle still has one of the tiniest foal bellies I?ve seen.
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She is looking great and that udder is moving ahead for sure!
Chanda, can you share the pictures of Tanya with us here? Elizabeth, Chanda's Tanya was one who didn't look pregnant either -- even on the day of delivery! LOL
Looking good!
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Hahaha it?s pretty crazy. I believe she actually shared the pictures of Tanya here a page or two back? I actually just looked it up to compare. It?s insane how well some mares hide it.
On a different note, plans have changed and now I?m foaling her out myself. I hope to have her streaming soon.
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And we're here for you, and look forward to seeing her on camera soon. Just so you know, if you need any help at any time you can always call me at 863-990-3210 and I'm happy to be awakened at any time day or night. Getting these little ones safely to the ground is the most important thing!!
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Holly is some of the same groups I am in on Facebook. So she is helping me get it all set up. It has been a long process at part of it blew out. Then it?s taking the new part forever to get here. She is still testing 7.8 but has definitely got more udder even compared to yesterday?s picture. She has lost a lot of muscle toe in her hindquarters but still has tail resistance. So I?m just hoping she holds out till Friday so I can get her streaming. ;pray ;pray ;pray
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We'll look forward to it. ;pray ;pray
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Well the camera is finally working. And trust me, it took a LOT of time and help from a couple of people (including Holly) But hopefully it?s good to go. The quality is questionable at times but hopefully we can fix that. A tornado passed about 1/2 mile away 2 nights ago so part of the problem may be that. Anyway here is the link if anyone wants to watch. http://www.marewatchers.com/camera/cam/1309
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Well I've checked it out and it is working fine. Looking down on Belle, you can see that pregnant belly -- even if looking at her sideways doesn't show much since she's carrying so high and tight. But she's looking just right! She looks so light colored though, I thought she was a darker color -- almost looks like a buckskin looking down on her. Looks like she's enjoying her hay! Great job getting her on cam!
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I am so happy it is working! It took forever to get up and running. We just kept having one problem after another. I could not believe it.
She is actually black, but she sunfades really badly, especially with her winter coat so she rarely looks black. Also she has a funky rushed clipping job.
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Also, I am fairly certain she has nd1 so that messes with her color a bit.
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Those light colored inner ears are a very strong indication of nd1.
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I'm almost totally a moron where DUN is concerned. I've only ever had 1 dun mare who gave me a gorgeous dun colt with all the primitive markings and stripe -- who turned out exceptionally beautiful and is now a great herd sire. But as to the genetics -- give me appaloosa genetics anytime! THOSE I understand! ::)
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Hahaha, I really don?t understand them as much as I wish I did. All I know is that nd1 creates the primitive markings but doesn?t dilute the coat. So she looks like she has a dorsal stripe. But she isn?t technically a dun.
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Cam is working perfectly for me, well done you! 3.30 pm and she is laying down but seems to be breathing quite fast?? Not that easy to see. With that udder I wouldn't have thought she would keep going much longer. Cant wait to see what she's been hiding!
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;pray Good Luck Elizabeth :)
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Cam is working perfectly for me, well done you! 3.30 pm and she is laying down but seems to be breathing quite fast?? Not that easy to see. With that udder I wouldn't have thought she would keep going much longer. Cant wait to see what she's been hiding!
I noticed her doing that earlier. I don?t know if it was the exact same time, but she was as kicking in her sleep too. Needless to say I was on my toes.
Crazy enough she lost almost all of it 2-3 days ago. But it is back and just as big if not bigger. She has been pretty elongated for a couple of days. Still testing at 7.8 with clear sticky milk. She has been pretty uncomfortable the last 24-36 hrs, which isn?t surprising at this stage.
;pray Good Luck Elizabeth :)
Thank you!
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Was just checking and she is standing quietly by the door. Guess she wants her exercise for the morning!! LOL
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Does her udder reduce when she goes out and then fill up over night when she's stabled? Staying filled all day is often a sign that they are really close to foaling.
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More like fill up over a couple of days and then disappear in like 12 hrs and then fill again over a couple of days. I do agree she has a bit left though.
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Elizabeth, here's the reference material on preparing yourself for the birth of your foal, that was a combined effort with several of the friends here, like Anna, that help with deliveries and how to help get babies on the ground safely. It was actually what caused this forum to begin, but that's another story.
Anyway, you can print it out for reference material so you're ready for any problem! Thanks Anna and those that contributed to its writing!
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This is perfect! Thank you so much! It is printing now and will join my foaling kit. Here are some pictures from tonight. Right about now till midnight is when it is the fullest. But I think she still has some filling to do. I just don?t know how fast that will happen. Still testing 7.8. She is still elongated, although not as much as it has been. I think she still has bit, but I guess we will see!
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DAAANNGG!! I think she's the most flexible horse I've ever seen. She's even more flexible than Gumby's horse Pokey. ;D :)) ;D
I'm on a Samsung cell phone, and can see her very clearly. Was that you I saw go in and brush out her tail and mane? She sure looked small next to a person. ^-^
Here's a ;pray that everything goes smoothly for you both.
Julie in NC
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Hahaha, yes that was me. I just clipped her. It has been so hot and she was so itchy. She sat through the entire thing with a look of pure bliss. She looks pretty funny right now because I had done a partial clip a couple of weeks ago so she has some hair of different lengths, plus it was a rush job.
She is 32 inches so pretty small but not tiny. I had to go with plan c on where to foal her out with the coronavirus and everything. So the stall is smaller than I wanted but she is 20 seconds from my bedroom which is nice.
Her udder is still fluctuating back and forth, but she has stayed pretty elongated. Somehow she is still testing 7.8. He belly has changed shape a lot today. Resulting in her topline looking pretty bad. I cannot feel ribs or hips. She is getting fed 2.5 - 3.0 lbs of a good mare and foal feed and plenty of hay. I had her on alfalfa, but she was having really sloppy manure so I cut that out. Adding stabilized rice bran now. But anyway, just felt I should let y'all know that.
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Nice view -- even easier to see, and she looks just happy munching her hay!
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Is she getting plenty of outside exercise Elizabeth? A lot of mares need (and enjoy) the chance to have a good roll (or two or three lol!) as it can help to adjust the foal's position this late in the pregnancy. I also have a lot of overwarm minis here at the moment as we seem to be having a bit of a heatwave. Not that I dare to think about clipping as the weather could change at any moment - some are talking about snow next week!!
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Yes she is now. The other places it was hard. I tried taking her for walks though. Now she is out with another small mare during the day.
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She is certainly looking rather uncomfortable right now poor girl, are you there with her just in case ..... Also a small word of warning (yes I'm a worrywart!!) - I would remove that haynet and put your hay on the floor inspite of the mess it might cause. If she does decide to foal and does a lot of rolling around or even simply spends some time lying on her back (lots of mine have done this!) then she could catch her feet in the haynet. One year when we had 13 to foal all in the month of May I was doing my usual visit to the barn (we live on site so easy for us), I went down the length giving everyone a few large handfuls of hay (useful to see who was keen to eat and who might be thinking about foaling and did this about every half hour throughout the night). Found two mares not wanting to eat, one of whom was showing signs of 'any minute now', so I waited and sure enough she was soon in labour. Went in to assist and lovely easy foaling. Came out again to check second mare and sure enough the foal was already on the way. So two lovely babies within 15 minutes (seasoned brood mares). Walked back down the barn to find another mare who had been happily munching her hay now on her feet again, mouth still full of hay, she gave her new baby a quick sniff to say hello, looked me in the eye as if to say 'here's another for you' and returned to hay munching!! I had to laugh she was just so laid back over it all - the older experienced ones are just so great!!
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Yes, they sure are, and just LOVE remembering with you, Anna. So wise and so experienced and you have so many wonderful stories to share!
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She is certainly looking rather uncomfortable right now poor girl, are you there with her just in case ..... Also a small word of warning (yes I'm a worrywart!!) - I would remove that haynet and put your hay on the floor inspite of the mess it might cause. If she does decide to foal and does a lot of rolling around or even simply spends some time lying on her back (lots of mine have done this!) then she could catch her feet in the haynet. One year when we had 13 to foal all in the month of May I was doing my usual visit to the barn (we live on site so easy for us), I went down the length giving everyone a few large handfuls of hay (useful to see who was keen to eat and who might be thinking about foaling and did this about every half hour throughout the night). Found two mares not wanting to eat, one of whom was showing signs of 'any minute now', so I waited and sure enough she was soon in labour. Went in to assist and lovely easy foaling. Came out again to check second mare and sure enough the foal was already on the way. So two lovely babies within 15 minutes (seasoned brood mares). Walked back down the barn to find another mare who had been happily munching her hay now on her feet again, mouth still full of hay, she gave her new baby a quick sniff to say hello, looked me in the eye as if to say 'here's another for you' and returned to hay munching!! I had to laugh she was just so laid back over it all - the older experienced ones are just so great!!
Thank you so much for this information. I only wish I?d seen it earlier. It?s okay bet Belle caught a hoof in the net for 2-3 minutes over night. Scared the snot out of me. I cut it off and it is now in the trash. I?d been planning on moving it after she foaled, but lesson learned. She was super uncomfortable all night. Her ph dropped to 7.2 finally, but it is back up to 7.8.
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Well Belle's udder FINALLY stayed throughout the day and actually drew some in the afternoon. It is even bigger this evening but still high ph. Not enough milk to check hardness when diluted. Undiluted hardness is well above 800.
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Won't be long now! Looking good. Her nipples could fill a bit, but that sagging elongation is great! She's getting very close it looks like. Praying for a safe and uneventful delivery of a healthy little one! ;pray ;pray ;pray
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Well here we are, day 342. And Belle does not seem to have any intention on foaling soon. Ph is all over the place. It dropped to 6.8 and I thought we were getting close. Now it?s back up to 7.5-7.8. Udder is very hard. Meanwhile, she is quite content and happy munching away.
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Looks like nipples are beginning to fill. Can you get us a couple of pictures so we can see how baby is riding and laying please, if possible.
One from the back, down at her butt level, looking forward which will help tell us how baby is positioning. As baby lines up, backbone to backbone, she may stop even looking pregnant from the back. If baby hasn't lined up, she'll be more wide, and that will tell us she has a little more time and some more good rolling may be in order to get baby positioned.
The second a full side view, down at her level, which tells us if baby is lining up for delivery. We'll be looking for the famous "V" which will show that baby is dropping and positioning properly. Even maidens can drop a bit.
Anna, I may not have explained this well. Chime in with a better explanation.
Praying for a safe an uneventful delivery of a healthy little one. ;pray ;pray
Can someone post some "V" pictures to help explain what we're looking for?
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I will get them soon. She is pretty uncomfortable today. She has not got the v shape. More of a rounded u. But three weeks ago, you could barely see a belly at all.
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Sounds like she's moving ahead nicely. Not every mare does every thing, but pictures somehow give us some ideas of "where" she is.
;pray ;pray ;pray
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Here we go. Testing 7.2 now
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;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray
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Congratulations Elizabeth :):):):):):):)
I can see you sitting in the stall , So happy for you !!!!!!
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Many congratulations!! So very thrilled for you Elizabeth. I've not posted much of late but I have been checking your cam several times a day - and then I still missed all the excitement! Colt or filly?
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!! S/He is beautiful, and looks like momma for sure!! Hoping she had an easy time for you. Baby is adorable and momma is VERY attentive! Good girl, Belle. So when was "s/he" born? Have we nursed and pooped? All important things! LOL Haven't seen nursing yet, but saw a lot of walking under momma's tummy head up looking. ...maybe this time....looks hopeful.....I think we have success!
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Such a cutie!!! I just love it when s/he walks under momma. So fun to watch getting those legs figured out, and nice long legs they are!
So happy for you, and just love watching this little one!
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Colt came last night at 9:15 pm. Once she finally decided to foal, it was over quickly. Within 20 minutes he was up and searching for milk. Did not take him long. He did poop and pee fine and I tested Belle's milk with a refractometer, it tested 28. I gave her banamine right away and she has been such a great first time mom. He is solid black, with 7.5-inch canons.
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Very cute. Glad it all went so smoothly for you.
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How is he going ? Have you decided on a name yet ? Hope everything is going well :) ( Oh and you are back to getting some sleep ) :)
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How is he going ? Have you decided on a name yet ? Hope everything is going well :) ( Oh and you are back to getting some sleep ) :)
He is great! Growing like a weed and Belle is absolutely the best mom. Yes I have decided on a name, High Plains Blazin Onyx AKA Onyx. He had 7.5 inch cannons and was 19.25 inches at birth. I?ll add some pictures from today. As for sleep, I finally got caught up but...I bought 2 more mares yesterday and one is in foal, ?due? in the next 2-3 weeks.
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here are a couple of pictures
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Oh he is lovely , glad everything is going well :) love the name :)
Few more sleepless nights coming up for you !!
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We'll look forward to seeing your new girl and tracking her here or on a new thread. Starting a new thread is always good, because you then have a "tracking" for each girl and her progress towards delivery. It can be helpful.
So hope to see a new thread for another new baby!!!
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Oh he's a real cutie, looks as though he might be a bit of a pickle too lol!! Do let us have the details of your new girls too, especially the in-foal girl please.