The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD

Message Boards => Foaling Questions & Help => Topic started by: Holly on September 21, 2016, 11:57:29 AM

Title: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on September 21, 2016, 11:57:29 AM
Its been a while sense Ive had bred mini mares, and I am wondering at about what stage of gestation you can typically feel the first fetal movement.
In the welsh and bigger mares I can usually feel the foal move around 5- 6 months.

I am asking because Precious could be 198 days today, and Ive felt nothing in the way of foal movement. Ive been trying , and been very patient. Ive tried many different times a day, after eating, after drinking and randomly.
 
Precious was first put with Legacy 3/6/2016 and has been with him sense. Ive had her sense 8/7/2016 and havent observed any signs of heat or breeding. I stay home so would know for sure. Ive had 3 positive P Tests, but am not certain on the percentage of accuracy of that test yet.  The manufacturer says that the test can be accurate at 90 days post last cover date.
With that information I figured out that if she didnt take in March when first with Stallion then its possible she could have bred April and possibly may, and still get positive results.

So concluding this leaves me wondering,is she 198, or possibly she could only be closer to 138 days, in which case I could understand why I havent felt foal movement yet, and why her belly isnt as firm as I would expect for a mare close to 200 days along.

I am thinking, maybe I need to have an Ultrasound done to see if we can determine gestation, or if perhaps she has some metabolic disorder causing her to be overweight.

I dont want to focus on her loosing to much weight if she is in foal, but again I really dont want her to founder either.  I felt like she had slimmed down a bit, but she is bigger than when she got here.... Way to much grass, I have made her a dry lot now, so hoping that will help.

Just trying to wrap my brain around all this...
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Chanda on September 21, 2016, 02:04:25 PM
I don't think I've ever felt movement with my minis, but did with my AQHA mare.   And, I don't know the time frame, but want to say I heard 5-6 months along.
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Rocklone on September 21, 2016, 02:52:28 PM
I didn't really feel anything in Charm until about 7 months. And it was very small. There was more movement around 9 months, but never huge amounts.
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on September 21, 2016, 03:30:32 PM
That makes me feel better.

This is one reason why I like knowing breed dates. :)
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Rocklone on September 21, 2016, 04:05:17 PM
I'm going with June 12thish for Goldie, and really hoping that is when she took - not 3 weeks prior! Then again, i knew charms dates to the day, and she foaled a couple of weeks before she was "due" however that may have been totally normal for her. Unless you know the mares foaling dates previously, its hard to know what their pattern is.
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: dcwolcott on September 21, 2016, 06:37:10 PM
I raised a ton of little ones, and I have to admit, I never felt foal movement no matter what I tried.  Then, my little ones would let me know they were there -- closer to the 3rd trimester -- by doing some rolling, flipping and kicking around!  I always tried what everyone said to do, but never did "feel" them -- but I sure did SEE them when they were getting closer to delivery.

Best of luck, and maybe someone here knows the secret!  LOL
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on September 26, 2016, 11:46:10 AM
I must admit, Ive ALWAYS felt movement, I probably spend way to much time trying, and so far nothing yet.
perhaps Precious just isnt as far along as I thought. I do know theyve been together from March 6, 2016. I know I havent seen her cycle sense she has been here sense Aug 7.  So there could be a chance she didnt take in March but perhaps did in April or May.
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Ryan on September 26, 2016, 07:00:35 PM
Holly and others , did your mares start cycling later this year that they usually do ?

Only one of my mares has cycled so far and it started this morning.  They both usually start in Aug, though it has been alot colder this year compared to last.
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Rocklone on September 27, 2016, 03:26:04 AM
Mine didn't start til may which I thought was quite late
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on September 27, 2016, 09:02:54 AM
Kate foaled in Feb and has cycled sense. The minis came later.
 
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: dcwolcott on September 27, 2016, 05:16:34 PM
Funny how things can change year to year!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Lnight89 on October 10, 2016, 04:33:08 PM
I couldn't feel sugars foal move until the end of the 9th month8! And I would literally stay in there for hours and hours hugging her and feeling for her foal lol I always felt my saddle breeds way way earlier!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on October 10, 2016, 06:30:31 PM
Maybe it's easier on biggies :)
Though I did feel a few bumps from Precious foal so I am thrilled!!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Lnight89 on October 10, 2016, 09:20:35 PM
I think sugar had more fat around her covering her baby kicks haha Once I felt them I was SO happy! makes me sad that Syrup is already almost 4 months old!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Holly on October 11, 2016, 09:22:31 AM
I know those babies grow so fast!!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: paintponylvr on October 13, 2016, 03:14:18 PM
For me, when I've known dates, I always saw movement later before I felt it.  On several mares, I rarely have seen movement even though they were huge!

Glad that you felt one, that's exciting!!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: dcwolcott on October 13, 2016, 03:28:19 PM
I'm so jealous.  I never felt movement, as I said, until I could already see baby moving.  I sure did try though. So exciting you were able to feel that little one!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Rocklone on October 13, 2016, 05:14:51 PM
Diane you have to hug them! i only ever felt it when i was literally all over charm hahah!
Title: Re: Feeling foal movement
Post by: Chanda on October 13, 2016, 08:00:15 PM
With my AQHA mare when she was pregnant, I could tap on her belly in one certain spot and the filly would kick back.