Foal watch - pictures for thoughts - NEW PICS

[Blair]

My mare, Meri Di Anna, is now 335 days along. She is maiden so we have no history to guide us on this one. She did start slowly bagging up on day 321 and has dropped in her belly carriage at least 2 weeks now (maybe progressing though). She is letting me examine and try to milk her but only a few drops of clear so far. Let me know what you think once you see the pics!

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0456.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0457.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0460.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0461.jpg

[lisa l aka marci]

Oooohhhh she getting close! Marci is just over 300 days or so......a little behind!!!

[Cindy]

Her bag does not show much. Does not look very close but with maidens you never know.

[Blair]

Does her croup look like it has softened yet? Her udder is not nearly like the brood mares in my books but is way more than double what is was prior to day 320. Keep your fingers crossed that it won't come while I am at work! She is not pacing yet and has not pushed my gelding away from her side (his preferred location).

[Cindy]

Hard to say about the croup without knowing the horse and seeing her from day to day but I go more with the bag anyway with the softening secondary. I have found the bag to be more reliable. It may be bigger than it was but it is still not filled. But, like I said, you never know. Time to lose some sleep.

[appyday]

With clear fluid coming from the udder you still have time...get some sleep

[Abejita]

Maidens are sooo fun How does her croup FEEL? just poke around her tail head and you can guage how soft its getting.Also make sure to watch her vulva- should get droopier too..I agree with Cindy time to check throughout the night!

[Red Ryder]

Looks like a filly on the way!!!!

[Carol Nelson]

I agree with Cindy...I see a V-shape now to her belly profile...I see a hollowing to her croup...and I see a bit of wax on her nipples. Plus since maidens can have a tendency to go early, this is getting a little close. I had one drop a foal at 321 days that showed a whole lot less sign than your girl.
And get that gelding out of there...pronto!! :-?

You do know that mare can change in less than two hours....???

I agree...time to be taking night-watch...

[Blair]

Well, nothing last night (and a good thing - we had thunder/lightening storms). Today and tomorrow are supposed to be perfect weather and around 80 degrees so it would be good timing! Then we get colder again (40's/50's). Too bad I work away from home all day!!!

Di's croup is softer than it normally is (jiggles a bit when palpated) but I am not sure about the vulva. She rarely lifts her tail and she tightens up when I move it myself.

I am hoping to give her a bath today or tomorrow to get all of the winter mud off of her and get her washed up some in the udder and vulva region.

Thanks for all of the advice! As for moving the gelding, Di goes nuts if he is even removed from the paddock (an acre) to be groomed and ridden. We tried last week and she ran herself into a good sweat until we were done with him. All who have been around him with her (much more experienced breeders than I) agree to leave him with Di. He is a totally submissive gelding and she definitely tells him what to do and when. He was gelded early enough to miss the testosterone I think!

I will try to post updated pics tonight if they show anything!

[Beth Worden]

6 days - How's that? A pure guess. April 6.

[Blair]

soooooooooooooo......I just checked her again and her vulva has lengthed a lot and softened. Also, I was just talking with a friend who said "well when is the next Full Moon? They always have them then." Well, it is tonight/tomorrow night!!!!!!! This is getting interesting! She is still grazing but seems uncomfortable.

[PLEASURE PASOFINO]

tonite between 10 pm and 2am she will foal...........

Good Luck and have the camera ready!!!!!!!!!

[cristy]

Yeah if she is really attached to the gelding I would definately leave him. The first time my PPR mare foaled she was early with no signs the day before and rejected the filly, thankfully when I went out to feed the gelding had cleaned the baby up and the filly was trying to nurse from him while he nuzzled her rump and momma was at least 100 yards away. So geldings aren't necessiarly a bad thing.

[Blair]

Still no baby - the weather has gotten wicked windy/cold/snow flurries (after the several 70+ degree days) and I think she is trying to wait it out! Her udder has actually softened a tad too.

Hey Cristy - this is a Harry baby we are waiting on - don't you have one bred to him too?

[Abejita]

haha When I had my last go round of foaling 4 yrs ago..the first mare due waited for the weather to go bad after a nice stretch -She foaled on April 8th 2003..the night we got about a 1/2" of snow and wind after some 70 degree days ..so dont be so sure she is trying to hold it in!! ;-)

[cristy]

Well lets all pray Blair's mare waits at least until Monday, it is FRIGID out there today!

Yep, my ppr mare is bred to Harry too, (think Filly!) she is due May 11 with no signs so far (thank God).

I actually just went up and rode Harry Monday, now I remember why I chose him. WOW!!!
(Can't help myself, here are a couple pics of him after my ride)

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q310/cristy5513/Zonashorses015.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q310/cristy5513/Zonashorses013.jpg

[Blair]

Wow Cristy - good to see he is getting ridden now! Is that Tom on him? I never did get to see him under saddle in person but he is looking good! I am kinda hoping for a colt to geld - one mare is enough for me right now and I am not going to get into breeding regularly (famous last words right!!!). Darn cold weather - so far nothing yet for Di - today was day 340 but lets hope for warm weather soon!!

[CarolU]

All Right...WHO IS HARRY??? Man, he looks like Favorito except for TWO white socks instead of just a back one (I think he had a frong bulb too).

I like Harry...lots of horse there!

[cristy]

Harry is a PPR son of Areyto and Santana Sin Tacha (a Turabo daughter)

He was bred by Marcia Carrico, and is now owned by Zona Butler.

I'm in love- he is great!

(yes Blair that is Tom on him, I look like a hefalump and refuse to share the pics of me on him. :cry: )

[cristy]

oh yeah, Harry's real name is Carreyto de CDC

[Blair]

OK, now it is 10 days later and still no baby! The weather got really cold again, her udder actually seemed to shrink up some and I have been getting some sleep. Now for the past two days she is filling out again. Last night we got several drops of very thick, sticky, syrup like amber fluid. This morning I got enough (1/2 cc or more) to run a test strip with 2 bars turning color. The fluid was still amber and very thick but with more opacity. It appears to be waxing and drying after milking. Here are her pics from last night:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0469.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n298/pasofinowv/IMG_0472.jpg

Now of course the weather is good today but over an inch of rain expected tonight and cold/windy for the next 4 days again!!! And I have a cold/URI starting! :cry:

I am tempted to work from home today, get some rest since I don't feel well and keep an eye on her in case I have to stay up tonight! I will test again tonight to see if she has added more bars on the strip. Any new thoughts?????