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Tracking our Cowgirl

6K views 43 replies 17 participants last post by  Merlot 
#1 ·
We might be new around here and this is not our first time around foaling. This will be this mare's first foal - and is also the LAST foal from our old Stallion that we lost recently.
Cowgirl is a Reg AQHA mare - Okies Smoken Cowgirl
She is bred to Bull our late TB stallion - Bar V Cu Chulainn

She has a heck of a history behind her (a major abuse case that actually left a dent in her face and a huge fear of people) - with that in mind we decided that worse case scenerio she would become our stallions lifetime pasture mate (he would run the fences if we did not have a companion in with him, so we kept a pregnant mare in with him). He had limited fertility his last few breeding years so we really didnt hope that she would get pregnant, and her fear of people made regular vet checks for her a nightmare. In the last 15 months she has come a LONG ways from the fearful mare that stepped onto my trailer in 2012. My daughter can lead & groom her, we can saddle and ride her around the farm. She still can't leave the property without a total mental breakdown - so she likely never will (we are working on it though).

All that to say... she is DUE with his last foal sometime this summer :) And we are putting odds on sometime in June given the last VISIBLE times we saw him cover her being in mid-late June. (possibility she slipped and he rebred later possible, but not likely). We have treated her as a bred mare, though we were not able to vet check her thoroughly - us & the vet agreed the less stress on her given her history the better. She isnt our first rodeo with breeding & foaling. But this foal means a lot to us.

Guess y'all want photos huh?

Back in March: These two pictures say a LOT given when she arrived you could hardly catch her much less trust her.





June 1, 2013 - looking REALLY dropped here. She has been turned back out with our main herd pasture after the loss of our stallion. She adjusted really well in the mix. (That is my 2 year old "monster" enjoying his last day at home before heading to the trainer next to her.)


This morning (6/10/13) - back to "round" but her udders are staying full throughout the day now. (that's my cushings TB gelding in the background), her feed was in a bucket that she promptly knocked to the ground.
 
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#4 ·
So while the mare has her faults - that old man was our baby, faults & all (I wish I had more pictures of him when he was younger and in his prime).
Our stallion was known to put a GOOD mind on his foals regardless of the mares. I have never had a problem selling any of our few foals by him (we only bred 2 - 3 mares a year, some years only 1). The foal is already spoken for by several people if for some reason we opt not to keep it ourselves. But we cant wait to see how they crossed off together.
 
#6 ·
Thanks! As long as it is healthy and built like either parent I will be happy at this point.

So right now we are just waiting for a healthy foal and let decisions be made as they have to be made. It will be registered with AQHA so around here that is a help as well (TB was recorded with AQHA).

And for once it *is* nice to know if we decide to sell that it should be just a phone call or two away. Its not always that easy as any breeded knows all too well. We are up on the fence on what to do - more along the financial responsibility side than anything right now. Of course we would LOVE to keep and show it ourselves and keep that last legacy from our boy. Lots of opportunities to show AQHA around here.

BUT a lot of things have changed financially in the last 6 weeks and we are having to take a hard look at everything. (I sent my daughter's pony on a year's riding lease to a friend; cut our colt's training time from the planned 90 days to just 30 for the time being; didnt haul our TB mare out to be bred last month).

****Sorry... didnt mean to get long... just wanted to share her photos and pictures as we get ready for what will likely be our last foal for a few years, and will be the last foal from our old man. Our daughter goes out every night to pet her and rub her belly and tell the baby "good night" and to "hurry up to be born so she can pet it".
 
#7 ·
Yippeee... Barn check last night - in the middle of a lightning storm; Cowgirl is waxed over, extremely uneasy and very dropped with her tailhead very pronounced and loose. So we are looking like whenever she decides to uncross her legs.
DH stayed home today to keep an eye on her, we both said we would not be surprised if the foal hits the ground while I am at work. Was very surprised she didnt foal during last night's storm (I got no sleep checking on her every 2 hours round the clock). She is out now in the front paddock closest to the house to make it simple to check on her and no other horses besides our daughter's pony to bother her (DH just text me that she is over rubbing on the pony trying to mother him while he tries to decide if she is friendly or not).

Finally.... know it will be chestnut, hoping for a filly to carry the bloodlines on. And yes I am very excited for this foal.
 
#10 ·
Poor DH is on mare watch right now. Texting me constantly. This is his first solo mare watch. This morning teats were still waxed - large droplets. She is very much ready and now its a waiting game. Sunday afternoon her udder was "full" but no milk (just clear fluid), that obviously changed rapidly from then to Monday night - very white at evening feeding time, and waxed over 4 hours later at last evening check (which started the steady checks all night).

She is a maiden but I'm going to guess 24 - 72 hours max.
 
#17 ·
We have surely had enough rain already... I drove into work this morning with a followup storm to last night's storm.

Hope she gives up the foal soon as well as the troubles you have been enduring get resolved.
 
#19 ·
We have surely had enough rain already... I drove into work this morning with a followup storm to last night's storm.

Hope she gives up the foal soon as well as the troubles you have been enduring get resolved.
That is the truth... I would love a few days of NO rain just to play catch up and let the ground absorb some of this. Both rivers around us are pushing flood stage, and one of the roads we go up to ride is currently closed (again) because the river is up to the roadway on the bridge.
 
#18 · (Edited)
STILL NO FOAL.... I hate the waiting game with a maiden....*lol* she is absolutely miserable. Heavy Storm at feeding time, then a full moon when it cleared out. I did my 11pm, 1am & 3am checks by moonlight without bothering with a flashlight it was so bright. Figured I could add some pictures from last night though.... (pardon the mess it has been non-stop rain for the last month it seems) I have temp panels up for paddocks in areas to try to salvage some grass in the back field... and some things just arent getting done during lightning storms.


Last night between storms.... side view - I honestly hate this pic because with her so heavy it "looks" like she is ribby.


Rearview.... dropped


tailhead is actually low enough my entire hand fits in the "dip"


just hangs off the end of her udder while she is standing grazing


we had milk as of yesterday morning.... didnt ph test (out of strips).


**Thanks Roadyy, it is working its way around topsy turvy. At least we are at a holding point right now. If my husband could land another job it would help (last job they lost their contract so he lost his position when they downsized).
 
#20 ·
I know that feeling all to well. I have a pond in the middle of our 5 acres and the property runs down to it from the back and from the front. Once it fills to overflowing then the yard and part of pasture starts flooding. I tried to bush hog the yard a couple of weekends ago even with standing water just to knock the top off and you can't tell I touched the grass. Just looks like I had been muddin in the yard with a 4wd tractor. Which I guess I was technically. lol

For living in a town called Youngstown, it sure makes one feel old with all this water to dredge through to do minimal chores. lol
 
#22 ·
3am. Red bag delivery. Right after the last storm blew through at 1am. Had been watching her close since 11pm. But after the intial scare filly & dam are in great shape. Filly on her feet 20 minutes after birth, and nursing within 45 minutes. Needless to say I had an hours worth of sleep last night in a chair in the barn ~ had 2 dogs laying around and my daughter's pony glued next to me thinking he was a dog.


 
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