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Meyla's Foaling Thread

5K views 32 replies 9 participants last post by  rosti 
#1 ·
Well, I finally have time to start this thread.
Our Icelandic mare, Meyla, is due July 15th. Or at least that's what I have written down as 130 or 140 days. I'll see if I can find her breeding date and recalculate because I don't know what calculator I used.
She is 13 years old and this will be her first foal. She is bred to an Icelandic stallion by the name of Funi.

Here are a couple of pictures of her from past years, and also the stallion. His pictures are property of Red Feather Icelandics.
The other photos of her were taken today. She looks like she isn't going to make us wait an extra month anyway! Usually, from the back, she looks bigger-must depend what position the foal is in.
 

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#3 ·
I think you meant 340 days gestation on July 15th not 140 days LOL

She has a bit of bagging to do yet, still uneven with a crease in the front. She could very well still have the foal in the middle to end of July... Or next week, mares are tricky and sneaky about everything especially if we think we know something about when they will release a hostage :D

Edit: looking at the pictures you took today, her weight isn't looking good as you can see ribs and the top line in front of the hip is not in good flesh, especially for a very pregnant mare who is going to loose even more fat/condition when she starts nursing ;)
 
#4 ·
Yes I meant 3 not 1! Goats are 150 and that must be the reason for my typo.

Although I do see the crease, the uneven appearance is due to the angle of the camera-they are even.

About the weight.... Yes, I have a different thread with regard to her weight. I got lots of very good advice and she is doing better. She began getting free choice hay about five weeks ago as well as mash twice a day. We were gone for ten days and just got back, and the chore person didn't feed her the mash. But she actually gained a little weight when we were gone. Just on the grass hay. So I'll start the mash again tomorrow and hopefully we'll be good!
 
#5 ·
The crease is at the front of the udder as it is filling, when the udder is full, the teats will be filled out and pointed outwards (easier for foal latching) and there won't be a crease between the udder and the belly.

Most mares are uneven in udder size, emphasized when they start bagging ;)
 
#6 ·
Cute! I agree with the weight and I'm glad you're aware and dealing with it. What kind of mash are you feeding her? At this point in her gestation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to start feeding a mare & foal ration. It's higher in protein as well as a little higher in fat and other minerals to help support the growth of baby. I don't know where you're located, but I used this stuff with my mare when she was in foal and she kept condition wonderfully. Just make sure to feed as per the instructions.... you don't want to overfeed either.

Hi-Pro Feeds - Step 3 Classic Sweet Horse Feed

ETA: I don't know why this shows up as the classic sweet horse feed, but I'm referring to the step 1 mare & foal feed at the top of the page when you click.
 
#13 ·
Teats are filling, started to point outwards so she is getting closer. Can you get a few drops of milk expressed? Express a few drops and taste it, bitter tasting means that the milk isn't even close, bland tasting means the milk is transitioning, sweet tasting milk means that the milk is ready for a foal ;)
 
#19 ·
Good thing I got the foaling stall all ready! Last night was the first night she stayed in it! I didn't think she'd foal for a couple more days but thought, "just in case" and "get her used to it." Outside is just a dry lot and straw's probably more sanitary to be born on than sand and dirt.

Came out this morning and the foal was walking around, dry, and the placenta was gone. I wasn't sure what had happened to it as I couldn't find it in the straw. Do horses eat it? And then one of our dogs stuck her head under the fence and grabbed something that had been buried in the straw. Aha!

Anyway, it is a filly! Looks like her sire when he is shed out for the summer. I think he's called a blue dun.
I can't get very good pictures as the lighting is terrible in there and I don't know how to fix that.





 
#22 ·
Thanks! Oh we found it-that's what the dog grabbed from under the fence. I watched a video online of how to examine it and did that. Everything appears to be there and be normal. It was very interesting! I'm going start doing the same with the goats after they kid just for the fun of it.
 
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