Babies having babies

Hi i'm pretty new on the forum and happy to be here. names Mandii, nice meet ya'll!

Anyways, not new to foaling but now that my mares have given me gorgeous foals. Now the fillies are new first time mommies [at age 5], and this granny [me] is a worry wort and wonder if I should have the vet foal out their first baby? Here's why I asked, when I first started breeding my minis at age 12 my minis were first time mommies and at the time I couldn't stay out and mare stare. The vet help foal them both and called me to take them home and spoil those babies with love hehe. Now I can mare stare, but i'm worrying if I bug them too much and etc.

Would love your opinions, thank you!

How about a foaling cam?

Its ok to worry, it shows you care! However you need to remember that horses do this by themselves everyday in the wild. Checking up every couple hours (or more when they get closer) will be sufficient, it really depends on the horse if your "annoying" them. Some mares don't care for people bothering them and others could care less. Either way I know its an exciting time and congrats! You'll have to put pics up of the babies when they arrive!

Its something everyone has to decide for themselves personally mine foal out in a pasture by themselves. I used to put them in stalls but found it was much better leaving them outside.

See if your vet can install a foal alert system, It goes into the birthing canal and goes off when the mares water breaks. It automatically calls a set phone number! We WERE going to have one installed in Ariel the day she foaled! Good luck!

This is minis you're talking about, correct? YOU MUST BE THERE PERIOD no ifs ands or buts. Minis have MANY MORE foaling complications than regular horses so you MUST be there and you MUST know what to do in each situation. If you cannot do that, then by all means have your vet foal them out.

All the different alarms and what have you are great to help, but can NOT be relied upon. If you mare decides to foal standing than the ones that buzz or page you won't work. If there is a positional issue keeping the foal from advancing, the sewn in ones won't work. If you're not watching, then a monitor/cam won't work. But they sure all do help!

I have a camera that goes to the TV in my bedroom, the breeder alert for when they lay down (those work great together because everytime your mare lays it goes off, so many false alarms!) and the best thing? Marestare. www.marestare.com my mares are online, and people from all over the world help me watch them and call if they notice anything. Marestare has saved MANY foals and mares, it's wonderful and inexpensive :)

Good luck! Hope all goes well :)

I recommend setting cameras up in your stalls if you stall your mares at night. Buy small tvs and put them in your house so you can mare stare from your house. I have 40-50 miniature foals each year so I know how tiring staying up all night every night can be. I also know how expensive having a vet out at your farm can be, especially if your mare doesn't foal that night. If I were you I would call and make sure your vet will be on call if you have an emergency or if she goes into foal. Most mares will give birth just fine their first time since they do have natural matural instincts but I would most definitely recommend getting cameras and small tvs to watch your mares.
-Bridget