|
|
Regular
Posts: 55
| My mare's first foal for me was early, does this mean she will foal early each time? I understand normal is from 320 with average bring around 340. My mare was 326 and I was caught off guard. Luckily everything went well, but I would like to be ready for the next one. I will ask my vet, but I would like to know your opinions and experiences. Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 428
Location: God's country | One of my mares had a premature foal last time she foaled. My vet and I have talked about it extensively and she recommended ultrasounding her periodically to make sure the placenta looks normal. I don't know if that would work in your situation, but that's probably what I am going to end up doing. She thought there was enough of a risk to recommend this, I guess. |
|
| |
|
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
  
Location: Texas | No, it doesn't mean she will foal early each time.
I have a mare who foaled early once due to poor management by a previous owner. foal was born alive and died later on. Might have survived had the people actually taken it to a vet, but they didnt.
Because she had that history, when I got her the first pregnancy we kept her on regumate for 100 days and she foaled at 343.
Her second pregnancy we were on regumate for about 50 days and she foaled at 344.
I am checking her tomorrow and I plan on keeping her on regumate through a heart beat check and then tapering off.
Mares can foal early one year, late the next…its just natural variation. Some mares are more consistent than others and some aren't. |
|
| |
|
  Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | No. Just because they go a certain length of time with one doesn't mean they will continue in the future. I have one that went 372 days last year. This year she went 348 days which was essentially the same as the other 4 mares that foaled this year. 2 colts, 3 fillies all between 346-348 days. |
|
| |
|
 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | OregonBR - 2014-06-03 4:23 PM No. Just because they go a certain length of time with one doesn't mean they will continue in the future. I have one that went 372 days last year. This year she went 348 days which was essentially the same as the other 4 mares that foaled this year. 2 colts, 3 fillies all between 346-348 days.
Ditto---Mother Nature can be very unpredictable. Well over half of our mares went 4 weeks plus late this year, by the time we were done you could blindfold me with dental floss when I got to work from checking them through the night. Still got one straggler left that is 3 weeks late. |
|
| |
|
 Canine Carryout Queen
Location: Oklahoma | Nope! and they can vary from year to year ... |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 55
| Thanks for all your replies, I knew you guys would know. I think I feel better now. I guess I can sleep for about 200 or so nights and be ready for late night checks. I am sure I'll have more questions later on. Thanks again.
|
|
| |
|
 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Both times my mare foaled 2 weeks early. She's an ass though. She waits for my trailer to leave the yard for a full weekend of barrel racing or rodeos and then she works like heck to get it out before mom gets home. Both times my hubby and son have been there to take care of mother and child. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 160
| Keep in mind that 320 days is considered normal gestation, not early. I've had probably 170 foals born here over the years and of that I've only ever had 13 foals born later than 340 days. The mares are fed well, wormed regularly and vaccinated annually. Most foal between 320-335 days and always a healthy baby. |
|
| |
Folks on-line