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 Zeal Queen
Posts: 3826
    
Location: TEXAS | So I bought my son a mare not knowing she was pregnant and apparently the girl I bought her from didn't know. I've never had a mare have a baby so I'm nervous I'm not going to know when she is getting close. The original owner contacted me and told me she got in with the stud last May. But the vet didn't think she was that far along, he thought she wouldn't foal until next month or even June. I need to pen her up away from my geldings. Also, should I be worried about my geldings reaching through and getting the baby? I've heard of that happening and the baby gets killed.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | Depending on where you live, if you have fescue grass, yes definitely get her penned up. I don't imagine the geldings will try to get it, they will be curious, but I doubt mom will let the baby get very close to them for awhile.
Is this her first foal? |
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Zeal Queen
Posts: 3826
Location: TEXAS | lhighquality - 2015-04-14 8:54 AM
Depending on where you live, if you have fescue grass, yes definitely get her penned up. I don't imagine the geldings will try to get it, they will be curious, but I doubt mom will let the baby get very close to them for awhile.
Is this her first foal?
Yes this is her first. It was accident that she got in with the stud. She is 9 yrs old
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Pen her away from the geldings grain her up and worm her. The geldings won't have the opportunity to even sniff at the baby as mom will place her self between them . Watch for rocking of the back legs she will raise left - right left - right . When closer they start walking in circles in search of a quiet place to lay down keep away from rivers, creeks or ponds. They will also start nosing they rib cage. They will carry the tail higher. These are the signs they show where very close to foaling. Leave a leather or breakaway halter as they can be harder to catch after the foals come . You will need control so you can apply iodine to the navel and to check the mare make sure she is giving milk and the foal has nursed and any care they may need. Congratulations. Don't stay up all night waiting get some sleep. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | I have witnessed gelding's savaging a baby. It wasnt pretty. You do need to seperate her. Go to google and type in foaling mares. You will pull up thousands of articles to help prepare you and lean the signs of getting close. She will bag up, her udder will get full and her teats will fill up. Her tail head muscles will get very loose. Most mares will get "wax" at the end of her teats, but some will not. When they wax, foaling is usually within 48 hours. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | You may also check out the book "Blessed are the Broodmares". That helped me a lot. Waxing and a squishy butt are also big signs. I've had my broodie for two years. The first year, she waxed and gave birth 48 hours later. Last year, she didn't wax at all. They keep you guessing :) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Oh broodmares. I have seen maidens that love their babies, hate their babies, and just don't know what to do with them. You want to watch her when she first foals to make sure that she accepts it, and is dropping enough milk. Get her away from the fescue NOW, put her on alfalfa hay so she can have a healthy foal and have plenty of milk. Talk to your vet about any vaccinations she may need, and have a foaling kit ready with iodine/enema/trash bag (for placenta)/VET WRAP/etc. There is complete lists online. Also have a goat nipple and an empty water/coke bottle cleaned out in case you need to milk the mare and bottle feed the foal (If momma rejects, or if foal has problems standing). If possible, I would send her to a foal at your vet's (if they have that option). Try to catch her when she is getting ready to foal, so you can make sure she isn't red-bagging (when the placenta detaches before the foal is born) or the foal isn't positioned wrong. This is why a lot of people send their mares to foal at a vet clinic, especially one that has a night watch so someone is always there with them in case something happens.
I work night shift at a vet clinic doing this exact thing, foaling mares. haha So feel free to message me with any questions. :) |
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Zeal Queen
Posts: 3826
Location: TEXAS | Thanks so much!! I didn't realize how much went into having foals....which is why I never planned on having one LOL! My little boy is so excited though. He's 6 and goes out to her and rubs her belly and talks to the baby!  |
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