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Mare due to foal, this is my first....help!

7K views 50 replies 23 participants last post by  EmsTNWalkers 
#1 ·
First, let me say hello since I am new to the forum :)

My TWH mare, Dalilah is due to foal any time now. I got her in August of 2011 as a trail/pleasure horse. I board her at my neighbor's barn which is just down the road, so I can see her any time I want to. This was not an intentional breeding. Even though my mare comes from strong lines, and the stud is a wgc, I had no intentions of breeding her! She was turned out in pasture with several other mares, and when the barn owner let his mares in to the lot where he had turned out his stud to check/breed those that were in my mare was in with the bunch. He wasn't aware she had come up with the others, and of course the stud bee lined for my mare, bred her, and she caught! Needless to say I was not happy and only in the last few months have I actually become excited about the baby. Well, now I am on pins and needles and can't wait!!

This is my first experience with foaling, and I am a nervous wreck. I have done tons of research, have the books, foaling kit ready, vet on standby, etc. I check her several times a day and have been taking pictures to document progress. I would love to try and be around for the birth, but I realize there's a slim chance of that. I can't really tell if she looks ready or not! Please feel free to give any input, suggestions, advice, etc!

If I can figure out to post a pic I will
 
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#2 ·
If you are on a computer, choose go advanced on the reply box, then choose the paper clip symbol and attach pictures from your computer (limit of 10 per reply post).

As far as foaling and watching for signs, here is a helpful site for reference of possible signs a mare is close to foaling: Foaling

Also for future reference, if there is ever a time that a mare is bred by accident (whether by human error or a failure in fencing a stallion away from mares) and the breeding is undesired, there is an easy and inexpensive solution. Easy call to the vet and the mare is given a shot, but there is a time limit in which this can be accomplished.
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#6 ·
Gahhhh I can't wait! I'm looking for behavior changes and anything out of the ordinary for her. She is so laid back so I'm imagining she will be one to become agitated and restless. Also, I've tried to express milk to check it with color/taste/calcium and ph, but she will not have it! She's not one to kick, but she definitely shows her dislike when I attempt to mess with her ninnies. Any suggestions?
 
#7 ·
She is sensitive down there, some mares allow the touching and others don't. It can also change from day to day, more sensitive one day than other days. I don't know if you ever cleaned out her teats before her pregnancy, sometimes it is just a mare responding to touches she has never had experience with before.
 
#8 ·
You know that the stallion owner legally has to cover all your expenses associated with this foal, so call the vet as much as you feel you need to, it's on their dime. If I were you, I would arrange for the mare to foal at a vet clinic, and yes the stallion owner has to cover it.
 
#9 ·
Sunny, I have cleaned her udder area numerous times in the past and she never cared one bit. I even squeezed a nipple one time while trying to get off caked dirt and she could have cared less. I know they hurt now, I can tell that's what it is.

Waresbear, thanks for the confirmation on that. He is covering the expenses without any fuss, thank goodness!
 
#12 ·
Best wishes for a safe foaling and a healthy babe.

Can we see pictures of mom's face...we've got the boobies and the hoo-hoo but no face shot!!!

Just teasing a bit! When my clyde was near her due date I became obsessed with taking and posting "pony porn" pictures of her bits!
 
#25 ·
I'm pretty sure it was around April 4th last year, so She's at the 340 day mark now. I don't know if she's ever had a baby before, so no past time frames to go on. The foaling calculator I did said anywhere from March 1 -March 15. I realize it can go way past that and still be normal. How nerve wrecking!
 
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